Topics to Ask Dental Hygienist Colleges<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Port Orchard WA, you can begin the procedure of comparing programs and schools. As we discussed at the opening of this article, a number of potential students start by checking out the cost and the location of the colleges. Possibly they look for some online alternatives as well. Although these may be important initial points to consider, there are a few additional questions that you should address to the colleges you are looking at in order to make an informed decision. Toward that end, we have provided a list of questions to help you with your evaluation and final selection of the best dental hygienist school for you.<\/p>\n
Is the Dental College Accredited?<\/strong> There are several important reasons why you should only choose an accredited dental hygienist school. If you are planning to become certified or licensed, then accreditation is a requirement in virtually all states. In order to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination, your dental school must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA). Accreditation also helps establish that the instruction you receive is comprehensive and of the highest quality. Port Orchard WA employers often prefer or require that job applicants are graduates of accredited schools. And last, if you are applying for financial aid or a student loan, often they are not offered for non-accredited schools.<\/p>\nIs Enough Clinical Training Provided?<\/strong> Clinical or practical training is an important component of every dental training program. This applies for the online school options as well. Most dental hygienist schools have associations with area dental practices and clinics that provide practical training for their students. It’s not only important that the school you select provides adequate clinical hours but also provides them in the type of practice that you subsequently would like to work in. As an example, if you have an interest in a career in pediatric dentistry, make sure that the college you select offers clinical rotation in a local Port Orchard WA dental office that focuses on dental treatment for children.<\/p>\nIs There an Internship Program?<\/strong> Ask if the dental colleges you are considering sponsor internship programs. Internships are probably the most effective way to receive hands-on, clinical experience in a professional dental practice. They make it easier for students to transition from the theoretical to the practical. They can also help students build professional relationships in the Port Orchard WA dentistry community. And they look good on resumes as well.<\/p>\nIs Job Placement Assistance Furnished?<\/strong> Many students that have graduated from dental hygienist colleges need help landing their first job. Ask if the programs you are researching have job placement programs, and what their job placement rates are. Colleges with high job placement rates probably have excellent reputations within the Port Orchard WA dental community as well as extensive networks of contacts where they can position their students for employment or internships.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Small?<\/strong> Find out from the schools you are evaluating how big typically their classrooms are. The smaller classes tend to offer a more intimate environment for training where students have greater access to the instructors. Conversely, bigger classes can be impersonal and provide little one-on-one instruction. If practical, find out if you can sit in on a few classes at the Port Orchard WA dental hygienist college that you are leaning toward in order to experience first hand the degree of interaction between students and teachers before enrolling.<\/p>\n <\/strong>What is the Total Expense of the Program?<\/strong> Dental hygiene programs can differ in cost depending on the duration of the program and the amount of clinical training provided. Other factors, for instance the reputations of the schools and if they are public or private also come into play. But besides the tuition there are other significant expenses which can add up. They can include expenses for such things as textbooks and commuting as well as school equipment, materials and supplies. So when analyzing the cost of schools, remember to include all of the costs associated with your education. Most colleges have financial assistance departments, so be sure to check out what is available as far as grants, loans and scholarships in the Port Orchard WA area.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Accessible?<\/strong> Before enrolling in a dental hygienist college, you need to verify that the hygienist or assistant program provides classes that accommodate your schedule. This is particularly true if you continue working while getting your education and must go to classes near Port Orchard WA in the evenings or on weekends. And even if you choose an online college, you will still need to schedule your clinical training classes. Also, while making your inquiries, ask what the make-up practice is if you should have to miss any classes due to illness, work or family issues.<\/p>\nAttending Dental Hygienist School near Port Orchard WA?<\/h3>\nPort Orchard, Washington<\/h3>
Port Orchard is a city in and the county seat of Kitsap County, Washington, United States.[5] It is located 13 miles due west of West Seattle and connected to Seattle and Vashon Island via the Washington State Ferries run to Southworth. It is named after Port Orchard, the strait that separates Bainbridge Island from the Kitsap Peninsula.[citation needed]<\/p>
The Port Orchard area was first settled in 1854 by Wiliam Renton and Daniel Howard, who set up a saw mill there.[6] The town that was to become Port Orchard was originally platted in 1886 by Frederick Stevens, who named the new location after his father, Sidney. The town of Sidney was incorporated September 15, 1890, and was the first in Kitsap County to be both platted and incorporated. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Navy sought a suitable location for another installation on the west coast, and found it with the assistance of Sidney's residents in Orchard Bay (this installation would later become the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard).<\/p>
The county seat was originally in Port Madison, but moved after a popular vote to Sidney in 1892. In December of that same year, the residents of Sidney petitioned both the state legislature and the Post Office Department to rename the city to \"Port Orchard.\" The legislature refused, as Charleston (now West Bremerton) had also requested that name. The Post Office Department, however, went through with the name change, and as a result the Port Orchard post office ended up in Sidney, and the Charleston post office ended up in Port Orchard. It wasn't until 1903 that local politician Will Thompson convinced the state legislature to correct this confusing situation, and relocated the Charleston post office to Charleston, at the same time renaming Sidney to \"Port Orchard,\" as it is known today.<\/p>
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.52 square miles (22.07\u00a0km2), of which, 7.24 square miles (18.75\u00a0km2) is land and 1.28 square miles (3.32\u00a0km2) is water.[1]<\/p><\/div>\n