Valencia Community College is a multicampus institution in the heart of Orlando. The West campus offers several health-related programs, including dental hygiene. You can obtain an Associate in Science in dental hygiene, making you eligible to take the state board exam. The program began in 1978 and boasts a clinic, where students complete mandatory lab hours. Other campuses offer courses in EMS services, radiography and respiratory care.
As of 2011, UCF is the second largest public university in the nation and offers undergraduate and graduate medical programs. You can choose from three undergraduate nursing degrees and more than a dozen pre-professional degree programs, including biology and molecular biology. For upper level students, several dozen programs can be selected from the nursing, medical or health and public affairs departments. Each program has prerequisites and core classes. No matter the program, you are expected to complete classroom and lab time in addition to hands-on training.
Situated near downtown, the school focuses solely on health care education, offering associate through doctorate degrees. You must complete core classes in English, math and social sciences in addition to degree-specific courses. You can choose from a variety of programs, such as the nursing, nuclear medicine and nurse anesthesia programs. No matter which program is selected, you also will be required to complete credit hours in biology, chemistry, psychology and hands-on practical hours.
Orlando Tech provides a variety of certificate and diploma programs in several health fields. You can choose from six programs, including dental assisting, lab assisting and practical nursing. The programs, which can be completed in about a year, focus on providing you with the clinical skills to start working immediately after you graduate. You will receive hands-on training at local facilities and preparation for the state board exam in your field. Perhaps the most diverse degree is the practical nursing one, which prepares you for a career in hospitals, nursing homes or at-home health care. You'll learn to take a patient history, perform an overall health assessment and take vitals in addition, among other skills.