Issues to Cover With Dental Hygienist Programs<\/strong><\/h3>\nNow that you have decided to become a dental hygienist in Clearwater FL, you can begin the process of comparing programs and schools. As we discussed at the beginning of this article, many prospective students begin by looking at the location and the cost of the colleges. Perhaps they look for some online options as well. Even though these are relevant initial factors to consider, there are several additional questions that you need to ask of the schools you are looking at in order to arrive at an informed decision. Toward that end, we have included a list of questions to help you with your due diligence and ultimate selection of the ideal dental hygienist college for you.<\/p>\n
Is the Dental School Accredited?<\/strong> There are a number of important reasons why you should only select an accredited dental hygienist college. If you are intending to become licensed or certified, then accreditation is a requirement in nearly all states. In order to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Exam, your dental program must be accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CDA). Accreditation also helps guarantee that the training you receive is of the highest quality and comprehensive. Clearwater FL employers often prefer or require that new hires are graduates of accredited programs. And last, if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, usually they are not obtainable for non-accredited schools.<\/p>\nIs Adequate Practical Training Provided?<\/strong> Practical or clinical training is an important component of any dental training program. This applies for the online school options also. A number of dental hygienist schools have associations with regional dental practices and clinics that provide clinical training for their students. It’s not only essential that the program you choose offers enough clinical hours but also provides them in the type of practice that you ultimately would like to work in. For example, if you are interested in a career in pediatric dentistry, confirm that the program you enroll in offers clinical rotation in a local Clearwater FL dental practice that specializes in dental services for children.<\/p>\nIs There an Internship Program?<\/strong> Ask if the dental schools you are looking at have an internship program. Internships are probably the ideal means to receive hands-on, clinical experience in a real dental practice. They make it easier for students to transition from the theoretical to the practical. They can also help students create working relationships in the professional dental community. And they look good on resumes too.<\/p>\nIs Job Placement Assistance Furnished?<\/strong> Many students that have graduated from dental hygienist colleges require assistance getting their first job. Check if the programs you are reviewing have job assistance programs, and what their job placement rates are. Colleges with higher job placement rates probably have excellent reputations within the Clearwater FL dental profession in addition to large networks of contacts where they can position their students for internships or employment.<\/p>\nAre Classes Smaller?<\/strong> Ask the colleges you are reviewing how big on average their classes are. The smaller classes generally provide a more intimate environment for learning where students have greater access to the teachers. On the other hand, large classes often are impersonal and provide little one-on-one instruction. If practical, find out if you can attend a few classes at the Clearwater FL dental hygienist college that you are leaning toward in order to experience first hand the amount of interaction between students and teachers before making a commitment.<\/p>\n <\/strong>What is the Entire Cost of the Program?<\/strong> Dental hygiene programs can fluctuate in cost dependent on the duration of the program and the volume of clinical training provided. Other variables, such as the reputations of the schools and whether they are public or private also come into play. But along with the tuition there are other substantial costs which can add up. They can include expenses for such things as textbooks and commuting as well as school materials, equipment and supplies. So when comparing the cost of colleges, don’t forget to add all of the costs associated with your education. The majority of schools have financial aid departments, so make sure to check out what is available as far as loans, grants and scholarships in the Clearwater FL area.<\/p>\nAre the Classes Accessible?<\/strong> Before selecting a dental hygienist school, you need to make sure that the assistant or hygienist program provides classes that suit your schedule. This is particularly true if you continue working while getting your education and need to attend classes near Clearwater FL at nights or on weekends. And even if you enroll in an online college, you will still have to schedule your practical training classes. Also, while addressing your concerns, ask what the make-up policy is if you should need to miss any classes because of illness, work or family emergencies.<\/p>\nAttending Dental Hygienist School near Clearwater FL?<\/h3>\nClearwater, Florida<\/h3>
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, United States, northwest of Tampa and St. Petersburg. To the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and to the southeast lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 107,685.[5] Clearwater is the county seat of Pinellas County[6] and is the smallest of the three principal cities in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area, most commonly referred to as the Tampa Bay Area.<\/p>
Present-day Clearwater was originally the home of the Tocobaga people. Around 1835, the United States Army began construction of Fort Harrison, named after William Henry Harrison, as an outpost during the Seminole Wars. The fort was located on a bluff overlooking Clearwater Harbor, which later became part of an early 20th-century residential development called Harbor Oaks. University of South Florida archaeologists excavated the site in 1962 after Mark Wyllie discovered an under ground ammunition bunker while planting a tree in his yard.<\/p>
The area's population grew after the Federal Armed Occupation Act of 1842 offered 160 acres (0.65\u00a0km2) to anyone who would bear arms and cultivate the land. Early settlers included the Stevens, Stevenson, Sever and McMullen families, who claimed and farmed large tracts of land. Prior to 1906, the area was known as Clear Water Harbor. The name \"Clear Water\" is thought to have come from a fresh water spring flowing from near where the City Hall building is located today. There were many other freshwater springs that dotted the bluff, many in the bay or harbor itself.<\/p>
During the American Civil War, Union gunboats repeatedly raided the community's supplies, as most of the able-bodied men were away fighting for the Confederate Army. The town began developing in the late nineteenth century, prompted by Peter Demens' completion of the first passenger railroad line into the city in 1888. Clearwater was incorporated in 1891, with James E. Crane becoming the first mayor.[8] The area's popularity as a vacation destination grew after railroad magnate Henry B. Plant built a sprawling Victorian resort hotel named Belleview Biltmore just south of Clearwater in 1897.<\/p><\/div>\n