{ association insights } Executive Office Updates MDA Discontinuing ADA CERP


Commitment to high-quality CE for your licensure and responsible stewardship of member resources remains


by VICKI WILBERS, MDA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR R


ecently, some members have asked about the MDA’s decision to discontinue its participation in the American Dental Association’s


Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) at the end of 2025 — and what that change means for MDA-sponsored continuing education (CE) moving forward. Questions about CE are understandable, as it’s central to maintaining licensure, sharpen- ing clinical skills and upholding professional standards. Therefore, we want to address these questions directly.


A THOUGHTFUL, BOARD DECISION


The decision for the MDA to sunset its ADA CERP provider recognition was not made lightly or without extensive review. The MDA Board of Trustees conducts regular reviews of its programs through strategic analysis. The ADA CERP program was first evaluated in 2022, after reviewing detailed analysis on costs, administrative burden, evolving standards and return on investment.


In 2023 — again after reviewing subsequent revisions to ADA CERP standards — the Board concluded that continued participa- tion no longer made sense for the Asso- ciation. Increasingly complex reporting requirements, forthcoming rigorous changes to the program standards, substantial ad- ministrative workload and rising costs were not aligned with the limited number of CE programs the MDA itself provides.


In short, the Board determined that ADA CERP recognition was no longer necessary for MDA to deliver high-quality, licensure- accepted CE in Missouri. And, as you can see by the sidebar on the next page, some states


10 focus | WINTER 2025 | ISSUE 4


bordering MDA are not ADA CERP accred- ited.


WHAT MATTERS FOR LICENSURE


One source of confusion is the perception that ADA CERP — or similar programs like AGD PACE — are required for CE to count toward licensure renewal. In Missouri, they are not.


The Missouri Dental Board is the authority that licenses dentists and dental hygien- ists in our state. The MDA has long been recognized as an approved CE sponsor by the Missouri Dental Board, independent of ADA CERP. That approval remains unchanged.


Importantly, all eight MDA component societies are already approved CE sponsors through the Missouri Dental Board as well. While ADA CERP recognition had previously been “extended” to components through MDA, component CE has always been ac- cepted for licensure based on state approval — not ADA CERP status. That will continue. Additionally, any individual local component society can apply for ADA CERP and become a recognized provider, should they desire.


Programs like ADA CERP and AGD PACE often describe themselves as markers of qual- ity — and historically, many members have


viewed them as a gold standard. Certainly, ADA CERP and AGD PACE set standards for quality dental education; there is no debat- ing that. But accreditation programs like these do not alone determine educational excellence. CE quality comes from thought- ful course design, qualified instructors, evidence-based content and relevance to real-world practice. Those elements are not exclusive to any single recognition program. MDA’s focus remains on delivering education that matters. To that end, the MDA has a dedicated CE committee, established policies and professional oversight that ensure our programs meet high standards of clinical relevance, ethics and educational integrity.


BROADER VIEW OF MEMBERSHIP VALUE


CE quality and acceptance are essential and they will continue uninterrupted — but membership value extends well beyond a sin- gle accreditation label. Continuing education is one benefit of MDA membership — but it is not the only one, nor is it the defining one. Advocacy, regulatory protection, workforce development, practice support, leadership representation and professional community are core to what the MDA provides.


MOVING FORWARD WITH CLARITY


We want members to know that what has not changed is our commitment to high- quality education, compliance with licensure requirements and responsible stewardship of member resources. We appreciate members who raised thoughtful questions about accreditation, and we hope this communica- tion is clearer on the decisions of the MDA.


Contact Vicki at vicki@modentalmail. org or call the MDA office.


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