A Step Forward for Continuing Dental Education: Revising the ADA CERP Standards

Dr. Marc G. Nuger, D.D.S.

The American Dental Association (ADA) Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition (CERP) has completed a significant overhaul of the ADA CERP Recognition Standards. This major revision marks an essential milestone in the ADA’s long-standing commitment to enhancing the quality of care delivered by dental professionals. For over 160 years, the ADA has been at the forefront of establishing rigorous Standards that ensure quality care for patients across the nation and beyond.

Through the ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program (CERP), the ADA sets the Standards for continuing dental education (CE) providers and approves those that meet its established guidelines. At present, over 490 CE providers hold ADA CERP recognition, with their courses accepted by licensing jurisdictions throughout the United States and Canada. The recognition of these providers extends to a growing number of international CE providers, further solidifying the global impact of ADA CERP Standards for continuing dental education.

The Need For A Revamped Framework

The revision of the CERP Standards is a direct response to the evolving needs of the dental education landscape. The original CERP Standards were created in the 1980s when continuing education mandates became widespread. These early guidelines were designed to help CE providers organize programs, advertise courses, and maintain accurate participation records. Over the years, some additions were made, but the fundamental structure and requirements of the CERP Standards remained largely unchanged.

Fast-forward four decades, and the world of CE has undergone a significant transformation. CE has shifted from a regulatory requirement that professionals had to meet to maintain their licenses to a powerful tool for continuous professional development. Today, dental professionals turn to CE not just to fulfill their regulatory obligations, but to enhance their knowledge, improve their practice, and ultimately improve patient care. This shift has made it imperative for the ADA to revisit and revise its CERP Standards to ensure they remain relevant and capable of addressing the current needs of CE providers.

As CE in healthcare continues to evolve, the need to incorporate principles of adult learning and professional development has become apparent. This emphasis focuses on identifying performance gaps and developing active-learning programs that foster improvement in both professional practice and patient outcomes. In this context, an assessment of the CERP Standards was timely, ensuring that the guidelines address the key requirements for effective and high-quality continuing education.

A Comprehensive Review Process

The revision of the ADA CERP Standards was a comprehensive process that spanned several years. Input was gathered from key stakeholders, including CE providers, boards of dentistry, and other healthcare professionals. Feedback indicated that, for some providers, the CERP application process, which evaluates providers for compliance with the Standards, is cumbersome and overly complex. As a result, the Commission sought to streamline and simplify the Standards, making them easier to understand and implement without compromising the core mission of high-quality education. The application process is being revised to reflect the newly updated Standards.

A significant guiding principle in the revision process was the ADA’s commitment to improving oral health through evidencebased, ethical, and quality care. The Commission also looked to the accreditation models used in other health professions, such as medicine, nursing, and pharmacy, for inspiration. CE Standards in these fields have increasingly shifted to emphasize principles of continuing professional development, which place a greater focus on improving professional performance and practice through active learning. These principles have demonstrated success in other healthcare fields by emphasizing measurable outcomes that improve patient care.

Key Changes In Ada Cerp Standards 2026

In September 2024, the ADA CERP Commission officially adopted the revised ADA CERP Standards 2026, set to take effect in June 2026. The revisions reflect the ADA’s commitment to improving CE offerings and aligning them with current educational best practices. Some of the most important changes include:

1. Streamlined Structure: The number of CERP Standards has been significantly reduced from 14 to just five. In addition, the individual requirements have dropped from 104 to 22. This streamlined approach allows CE providers to focus on the most essential elements that contribute to high-quality education.

2. Greater Flexibility for Providers: The revised Standards grant CE providers more flexibility in demonstrating how their programs meet core requirements.

3. A Focus on Outcomes: One of the most significant changes is the increased emphasis on measuring the impact of CE programs. The revised Standards encourage CE providers to assess outcomes to ensure their educational activities lead to measurable improvements in practice and patient care. This shift towards an outcomes-based approach aligns with broader trends in healthcare, where evidence of effectiveness is a key measure of healthcare quality.

4. Independence from Commercial Bias: The revised Standards emphasize the importance of delivering education that is free from commercial bias. 1. Under the revised Standards, CE providers will receive clear guidance on how to ensure that CE is free from conflicts of interest and focused on patient safety and outcomes. This is vital to maintaining the integrity of the CE process and ensuring that learners are exposed to accurate, balanced, and scientifically grounded information.

5. Alignment with Other Health Professions: The revised ADA CERP Standards incorporate elements of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education’s (ACCME) Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. These Standards, launched in 2020, have been adopted by accrediting bodies in nine health professions, helping to standardize CE across the healthcare field.

Fostering Interprofessional Collaboration

One of the most forward-thinking elements of the revised ADA CERP Standards is its alignment with those of accreditors in other health professions, in support of interprofessional continuing education. As the evidence linking oral health to systemic health continues to grow, collaboration between dental professionals and other healthcare providers has become more crucial. To support this shift, the ADA CERP Commission has worked to foster interprofessional collaboration through its participation in Joint Accreditation.

Launched in 2020, Joint Accreditation offers CE providers a pathway to meet accreditation requirements for multiple health professions with a single set of guidelines. This initiative encourages providers to offer programs that foster collaboration and teamwork across different healthcare disciplines. The revised ADA CERP Standards 2026 align with the criteria of other accrediting organizations that participate in Joint Accreditation, with the goal of improving professional performance and patient outcomes. By promoting interprofessional education, these Standards are helping to ensure that dental professionals are wellequipped to work as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team.

Retaining Patient Protection

While the revised Standards introduce a more flexible and outcomes-driven approach, they also retain critical patient protection requirements. CE providers that offer courses involving procedures on patients will still be required to meet strict guidelines to ensure patient safety and care quality. These requirements are vital for maintaining the trust of both dental professionals and the public.

A FORWARD-LOOKING APPROACH

The adoption of the ADA CERP Standards 2026 signals a new era in continuing dental education. These revised Standards will allow CE providers to better meet the needs of dental professionals and ensure that their programs are impactful, relevant, and aligned with the latest developments in healthcare. By emphasizing outcomes, independence from commercial influence, and interprofessional collaboration, the ADA CERP Commission is helping to guide the profession toward a future of continuous improvement in both practice and patient care.

The Commission is confident that the revised ADA CERP Standards, once implemented in 2026, will help CE providers meet the evolving demands of the dental profession and continue to advance oral and overall healthcare. These changes will empower dental professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed in an increasingly complex healthcare environment, while upholding the highest Standards of care for the public.

Dr. Nuger serves as the Chair of the ADA Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition. He has served as the CE Committee Chair for the Maryland State Dental Association. He maintains a private practice in general dentistry in Glen Burnie, MD.