Congratulations on your appointment to serve as Site Visitor to the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association.
The mission of the Commission is to “serve the public and dental professions by developing and implementing accreditation standards that promote and monitor the continuous quality and improvement of dental education programs.”
The Commission will rely on your expertise as a dental educator and/or practitioner to ensure the continued success of our mission. You will assist with the evaluation of dental or dental-related education programs.
As one of the approximately 550 individuals who play a vital role in this accreditation process, your first assignment is to complete the Commission's Site Visitor Training Program. The Commission has a very strong commitment to site visitor training and requires all program evaluators to complete training prior to participating as a site visitor. First, you must complete this web-based training program – including the self-assessment located in Unit 7. Second, you will attend a formal training workshop at ADA Headquarters. If you cannot attend the workshop, you will attend a site visit as a trainee, accompanied by Commission staff and/or very experienced site visitors.
After initial training is complete, ongoing training and communications are provided via several methods. "Consultant Update" sessions are offered at national dental-related meetings. Recent activities and news items are posted periodically on the Commission's website. Links to other accreditation-related websites are also provided for your reference.
The Commission is very proud of its approach to site visitor training and considers this site to be a "work in progress." Improvements and expansions to the site are ongoing. If you have recommendations on how the site might be enhanced, please communicate your ideas to Commission staff at any time.
I hope you enjoy your tenure with the Commission on Dental Accreditation. The dental profession is most appreciative of your willingness to commit your time and talent to this important endeavor. We all have the responsibility of ensuring that quality dental education opportunities are available to the public. I am sure that you will find the work to be challenging, enlightening and fulfilling.
Thank you,
Dr. Frank Licari
Chair, Commission on Dental Accreditation (2024-2025)