A career as a hygienist offers a wide range of opportunities. Services provided by dental hygienists include patient assessment procedures, managing and treating periodontal conditions, placing and finishing dental restorative materials, applying preventive materials to the teeth, teaching patients appropriate oral hygiene to maintain oral health, nutrition counseling, teeth whitening services, performing documentation and office management activities, developing and implementing community oral health programs, and more. The Clark College Dental Hygiene program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education. Graduates receive a Bachelor of Applied Science degree. Students who successfully complete the program qualify to take national, regional, and state board examinations for licensure and are prepared to enter clinical practice. The program includes all responsibilities allowed by Washington state law. Clinical experience takes place in the Clark College Firstenburg Dental Hygiene Education and Care Center under the supervision of licensed dentists and dental hygienists.