Dental Hygiene Program Receives Reaccreditation
South Florida State College’s Dental Hygiene program recently received its reaccreditation from the American Dental Association Council on Dental Accreditation (ADA CODA).
“Accreditation is voluntary, but if a student does not graduate from an accredited program, they are not eligible to take the licensing board exams,” said Rebecca Sroda, associate dean, Allied Health. “Accreditation means a program meets the highest level of national standards, that graduates are able to practice successfully, and that patients are receiving the highest quality care.”
To be reaccredited, the program had to conduct and submit a self-study detailing how it met the six standards established by the ADA required for accreditation. The self-study included a review of the program’s curriculum, faculty credentials, the program’s strategic plan, and student learning outcomes. Following the self-study, the ADA conducted an on-site visit where two representatives viewed various areas of SFSC’s Dental Hygiene program and interviewed its faculty, students, and college administrators. SFSC’s Dental Hygiene program was granted 100 percent approval with no recommendations.
Accreditation is awarded for seven years. The SFSC Dental Hygiene program was originally accredited in 2005. Its next reaccreditation process will begin in 2019.
