title: Advancing our profession: are higher educational standards the answer?
abstract: Educational models in health care professions have changed drastically since on-the-job training models. The purpose of this manuscript was to investigate how the professions of physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant, nursing and respiratory  therapy have advanced their educational models for entry into practice and to recommend how dental hygiene can integrate similar models to advance the profession. The recommendations are to create an accreditation council for dental hygiene education and to mandate articulation agreements  for baccalaureate degree completion in developing and existing programs. Dental hygiene must continue on the path to advance our profession and glean lessons from other health professions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Hygiene, College of Allied Health Sciences, Georgia Health Sciences University, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Erin S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Boyleston
authors.forename: Marie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D032022:Delegation, Professional; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D004500:Education, Graduate / Q000592:standards; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D009726:Nurses / Q000592:standards; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D011364:Professional Practice; D016730:Program Development; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards