CCP Review Update

June 18, 2025

Since the external review of our Continuing Competence Program (CCP) in 2023, we have been working to make the CCP more effective. The review resulted in several recommendations to enhance dental assistants’ understanding of and experience with the CCP. Here is an update on our progress so far:

Spring 2024

Plan to Implement Recommendations

From the recommendations in the CCP Review Final Report, we put together an implementation plan to guide our work. We identified steps to take, what we could do quickly and what would need more time, and we set priorities.

May 2024, ongoing

Streamline CCP Resources

We are reviewing CCP information and documents to remove overlap and make the information more accessible and easily understood. We have already updated or removed some material and will keep reviewing as we make other changes to the CCP.

July 2024

Add Guiding Prompts to Learning Records

The prompts describe the information we want dental assistants to include in their learning records. Our goal is that dental assistants connect their learning to improving care and outcomes. We are looking for reflective responses demonstrating how their learning has impacted their practice—insightful statements showing professional growth and meaningful application in practice.

We are pleased with the improvement we saw in the 2024 CCP records we reviewed during the 2025 audit.

August 2024, ongoing

Review Competency Profile

Reviewing the Competency Profile for Dental Assistants is one of the biggest projects in our plan. It requires significant time and effort to ensure the best outcome. An updated Competency Profile will support upcoming changes to the CCP.

The review identified gaps, current practice realities, and the need to align entry-to-practice competencies with the National Standards for Entry-to-Practice established by the National Dental Assisting Examining Board.

Over 250 stakeholders, including the public, dental assistants, educators, employers and members of the Competence Committee, contributed through surveys, consultations, and focus groups. These engagement efforts provided diverse perspectives, which were combined with environmental scans and literature reviews as the basis for updating the Competency Profile.

After a thorough review and input from subject matter experts to validate proposed changes, we created an initial draft of the new Profile.

September 2024

Introduce CCP Support by Video

On-demand videos make CCP support available to dental assistants on their schedule. The CCP video series offers concise and accessible guidance on the Continuing Competence Program, emphasizing the Assess–Achieve–Analyze approach.

December 2024

Update Audit Support Video

Introduced in 2023, the CCP Audit video offers help for dental assistants participating in the CCP Audit. The CCP Review identified on-demand videos as an effective tool for CCP guidance.

Our Work Continues

We are reviewing the initial draft of the Competency Profile to determine if we need to reach out for additional stakeholder input to ensure it effectively captures dental assisting practice.

Once we have a new Competency Profile in place, we will shift our focus to other ways of enhancing the CCP.

Thank You!

We sincerely thank all stakeholders who participated in the 2023 CCP review and, more recently, the Competency Profile review. Your feedback and expertise have been invaluable in enhancing the CCP and shaping the updated Competency Profile.

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CCP Review Update

June 18, 2025

Plan to Implement Recommendations

Streamline CCP Resources

Add Guiding Prompts to Learning Records

Review Competency Profile

Introduce CCP Support by Video

Update Audit Support Video

Our Work Continues

Thank You!

Current date: June 21, 2025

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