American Council of International Dentists
A.C.I.D.
About A.C.I.D.
The American Council of International Dentists (ACID) is a non-governmental private certification organization for dentists, individual professionals, clinics, businesses, organizations and educational institutions. The purpose of ACID certification is to encourage, recognize and certify the accomplishment of professional goals and standards and to encourage continuous improvement through a comprehensive evaluation process.
At the sole discretion of the ACID Board of Directors, initial recognition and certification is granted annually. Under certain circumstances, the ACID may require visitation during the accreditation period.
ACID may accredit or certify business and professional activities not personal behaviors and life actions.
The only dentistry, business and professionals that are accredited and reaccredited by ACID are permitted to use the ACID logo and name in publications, displays and on websites.
ACID certification may provide exceptional opportunities to reveal your expertise and knowledge to perform at a highest level in your professional roles.
What Is Certification?
Certification is the professional recognition accorded to an institution, business, or individuals that meets established qualifications standards through evaluations by peer reviewers. Businesses and professionals concern themselves with quality assurance and continuous improvement.
Why Certification?
Certification requires evaluation against a set of standards to measure accomplishment of institutions, clinics and business goals, integrity, quality and reaching international standards.
ACID Vision, Mission, Objectives:
ACID inspires and enables a professional world through its accreditation and certifications of Dentists.
ACID‘s certification provides assurance that a business or individual meets the quality standards of the profession.
We inspect and evaluate business organization, operation, management, research and development.
Visions
Excellence in institutions, organizations, clinics, and professional quality certification internationally.
Mission
Our mission is to build lively and supportive international professionals, business owners, entrepreneurs, and scholars by distinctly expanding opportunities to connect and explore new ideas and experiences.
Objectives
- State of the Profession
- Internationalization
- Professional Impact
- Organization and Personal Management
- Quality control throughout accreditation for dentists
ACID Certifications
ACID certification is a third-party attestation of an individual’s level of knowledge or proficiency in a certain industry or profession. ACID certifications are time-limited; some expire after a period of time, while others can be renewed annually as long as certain requirements are met.
ACID Certification can significantly help your business gain access to worldwide businesses and professionals’ activities. Whether you are just starting a business or your company is already established, you can drastically benefit from ACID Certification.
Certifications Renewal
For some professions renewal usually requires ongoing education (continuing education – CEU’s) to be updated on advancements in the field.
The members must earn the specified number of CEU’s, from approved institutions or professional organizations.
Maintain Certification
To maintain Certification, business or individual ACID certificate holders must demonstrate that any relevant and appropriate continuing education courses (CE), seminars or training undertaken from ACID education and training department or any legitimate organization/corporation or an accredited/recognized university or institution.
ACID Information will be available about continuing education (CE) opportunities and new certifications. ACID often distributes an e-newsletter that keeps members informed about new statistics and best practices in the field. Webinars may be offered on hot topics as well.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
The American National Standards Institute defines the standard for being a certifying agency as meeting the following two requirements:
Delivering an assessment based on industry knowledge that is independent from training courses or course providers
Granting a time-limited credential to anyone who meets the assessment standards
Types of Accreditations/Certifications
There are four general types of accreditations/certifications. Listed in order of activities, development level and portability as follows:
Institutions
Corporations (businesses)
Professionals
Products
ACID Codes of Ethics
If members haven’t already picked up that credibility and trustworthiness are essential as a practitioner in a field, they will join a professional association. It’s vital to understand these codes in order to know what is considered best practice and what is accepted in the industry.
With credit to IABC and appreciations for providing the Codes of Ethics, ACID requires its Accredited, Certified and members to embrace these ethical guidelines in their work and to sign the following statement as part of the application and renewal processes: “I have reviewed and understand the ACID Code of Ethics.”
ACID reserves the right to terminate accreditation, certification and/or membership for any member found guilty of violating the code, laws and policies.
Code of Ethics
I am honest—my actions bring respect for and trust in the communication profession.
I communicate accurate information and promptly correct any errors.
I obey laws and public policies; if I violate any law or public policy, I act promptly to correct the situation.
I protect confidential information while acting within the law.
I support the ideals of free speech, freedom of assembly, and access to an open marketplace of ideas.
I am sensitive to others’ cultural values and beliefs.
I give credit to others for their work and cite my sources.
I do not use confidential information for personal benefit.
I do not represent conflicting or competing interests without full disclosure and the written consent of those involved.
I do not accept undisclosed gifts or payments for professional services from anyone other than a client or employer.
I do not guarantee results that are beyond my power to deliver.
Policies Updates
It’s amazing how much one piece of legislation can impact on a profession. A section of the ACID is devoted to updating members about these changes. We also advocate for the profession and notify members about how to prepare for any change.
Institutional Accreditation/Certification
Accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met. If standards are met, accredited status is granted by the agency.
Accreditation is a process of validation in which institutions are evaluated. The standards for accreditation are set by a peer review board.
Accredited qualifications, also known as regulated qualifications, are those that are reviewed, recognized and monitored by the regulatory bodies in order to make sure that they meet specific criteria and quality standards.
Accreditation and Certification Process
Accreditation and certification are a process for implementing any formal process. It is a systematic procedure for evaluating, examine, reciting, and authorizing systems prior to or after an institution is in operation.
Become an Accredited Institution
Earning an accreditation in the United States is a voluntary, nongovernmental process. Schools, colleges and universities are requested to be evaluated and/or have their programs evaluated by an independent accrediting agency. Accrediting agencies are private educational associations.
Accreditation in the U.S. and other Countries
For institutions located within the United States, regional accreditation of the institution is required for accreditation eligibility. Not all countries have the equivalent of regional accreditation, and the government may provide the authority to grant diplomas, certificates and/or degrees. When considering any degrees or programs, students are encouraged to contact institutions they may wish to attend in the future as well as the human resource department of specific employers. Diploma, certificate and/or degree acceptance policies will vary by institution and employer.
Eligible for Certification and Membership:
You are eligible to become certified or member with ACID if you identify yourself as one of the following types:
- Any institutions, training centers and organizations major in dentistry
- General Dentists
- Dental Clinics
- Endodontics
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Dental Public Health
- Orthodontics
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
- Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
- Periodontist
- Prosthodontist
- Restorative Dentistry
- Dental Anesthesiology
- Dental Implant
- Oral Medicine
- Pediatric Dentist/Pedodontist
- Orofacial Pain
- Dental Hygienist
- Dental Restoration
- Manufacturers
- Research Centers
Membership
Whether you are interested in accrediting and certifying your business and profession, developing your business and knowledge, strengthening your network, furthering your career or in need of some quality friends, ACID membership can be a great option for you. In addition to providing information about your chosen field, ACID can enhance your personal and professional development and provide endless networking opportunities.
Being a member in ACID means having a committed professional development association dedicated to building careers with the highest level of professionalism.
The membership year for all membership categories is 12 months from the date your application is approved.
ACID Certification/Membership Benefits:
- Networking:
ACID may offer courses, conferences, seminars and workshops. These will be opportunities for you to socialize with others in your professional field.
- Job Fair:
There is a job fair where you can make contact and stay up to date with the HR people who are responsible and looking for right employees.
- Extend your knowledge:
Staying informed on your industry’s trends will only help you in the long run and will put you one step ahead of the competition. With ACID courses, conferences, seminars, workshops and webinars to keep themselves and their members up to date on the latest innovations, research and trends.
- Mentoring:
Mentoring is the foundation of ACID when it comes to working with younger members. You may never get into the room with someone at the top of your field, for a very long time. But ACID could pare you with someone much more knowledge and experience.
- Leadership:
ACID gives you an opportunity to develop your skills as a leader, and this is important not only for your personal growth, but for your growth in your business as well.
- Improve Your Network:
Networking is a very important key for the leaders of the community. Making connections is critical, and joining ACID gives countless opportunities to connect on a local and global level. Creating professional relationships is important, and joining ACID allows you to have a sense of security, trust and confidence. You’ll be able to support and help one another in reaching your professional goals and be a professional leader in the field.
- Give back to the community:
ACID coordinates socially conscious initiatives to support community efforts. We make sure to be plenty of options internationally for members to choose from if members are looking to give back.
ACID back” to the profession, perhaps by presenting at one of our events or by authoring an article in online journals. While this is an admirable thing to do, it’s a win-win transaction as it also raises your profile in the professional community.
- Make a new friend:
Use ACID clusters as an opportunity to escape the norm and meet new professional people that may give you a reason to come out of your shell a bit more and have fun and do business as well.
- B2B: Business-to-Business, which is a model that focuses on selling products and services to other companies. Think of it as a supportive enterprise that offers the things other companies need to succeed or get a leg up on the competition.
- Professionalism:
It might be the most skeptical of reasons to join, but there’s no doubt that membership of ACID is seen as “A” plus by prospective employers. Your association with the brand sends the message that you are serious about your profession, and you are willing to put your money where your mouth is.
- Bonuses:
Most of ACID services are offered for members only either free or with substantial discount that easily covers the cost of membership.
- Awards:
ACID is also sponsors for Recognition Awards, Achievements Awards and Leadership Awards. These awards are important because they shine a light on outstanding work that should be shown but might otherwise have remained undiscovered. Our professional awards honor organizations and individuals whose passion, talent and expertise make the greatest contributions to the field of profession.
You can honor recognition, achievement and leadership, when you nominate a project, program or individual for one of these prestigious awards. The awards recognize organizations, products, projects, people, books and articles.
- ACID Annual Conference:
Enjoy discounted member rates that allow our members to present research and project activity attend professional workshops, go on tours, and network with leaders.
- Use ACID Certificate and Recognitions internationally.
- Unlimited Reputable Representation.
- Participate in ACID’s Member forums.
- Use ACID Logo if you are an active member.
Institutional Accreditation/Certification
Accreditation is a type of quality assurance process under which services and operations of institutions or programs are evaluated by an external body to determine if applicable standards are met. If standards are met, accredited status is granted by the agency.
Accreditation is a process of validation in which institutions are evaluated. The standards for accreditation are set by a peer review board.
Accredited qualifications, also known as regulated qualifications, are those that are reviewed, recognized and monitored by the regulatory bodies in order to make sure that they meet specific criteria and quality standards.
Why ACID Institutional Certification Matters?
Our certification assures institutions’ programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical dentistry fields that are leading the way in innovation, emerging the new world of fashions, designs and beauties, anticipating research, treatment and safety needs of the public.
Accreditation and Certification Process
Accreditation/certification is a process for implementing any formal process. It is a systematic procedure for evaluating, examine, reciting, and authorizing systems prior to or after an institution is in operation.
Become an Accredited Institution
Earning an accreditation in the United States is a voluntary, nongovernmental process. Schools, colleges and universities are requested to be evaluated and/or have their programs evaluated by an independent accrediting agency. Accrediting agencies are private educational associations.
Accreditation in the U.S. and other Countries
For institutions located within the United States, regional accreditation of the institution is required for accreditation eligibility. Not all countries have the equivalent of regional accreditation and the government may provide the authority to grant diplomas, certificates and/or degrees. When considering any degrees or programs, students are encouraged to contact institutions they may wish to attend in the future as well as the human resource department of specific employers. Diploma, certificate and/or degree acceptance policies will vary by institution and employer.
Eligible for Accreditation
You are eligible to become accredited or member with ACID if your institution identifies itself as one of the following institution types:
- Any universities, colleges, training centers, institutions and organizations major in dental
- Any dental clinics and dental centers and related businesses
International Institutions
An International Diploma, Certificate and Degree granting institution and any dental center. The institution must provide a certified translation of an official document from an appropriate government organization in their respective countries stating approval, recognition or accreditation.
International Practitioners
Al International Practitioners major in dental must provide a certified translation of an official license to practice from an appropriate government organization in their respective countries stating licensed to practice in the field.
Accreditation Benefits
- The process of preparing an accreditation self-evaluation and self-study increases the focus on quality of learning and renews commitment to the educational mission.
- The accredited institution reinforces a commitment to continuous improvement, development and invention.
- Accredited status creates greater visibility and provides prestige and credibility for the institutions and treatment centers.
- Accreditation protects the interests of students and faculty and institutions by ensuring that the educational programs and services offered have attained a level that meets standards that were developed by experts and scholars in the field.
- Accreditation provides a sense of pride within the institution and practitioners.
- Accreditation may lead to more successful expression of dental and business credits.
- Accredited status may be printed in the institution website, catalog, business cards and advertising materials.
- Accredited by may help institutions and organizations position for the future of integrated healthcare and treatments
- ACID provides guidance to all institutions and organizations’ quality improvement efforts and help them to develop their programs and activities, because Accreditation involves preparing for a survey and maintaining a high level of quality and compliance with the latest standards.
- Quality education, high standard of organization, Patient safety and quality of care issues are at the forefront of ACID standards and concern.
- Achieving accreditation makes a strong statement to the community about an institution and organization’s efforts to provide the highest quality of education, treatments and services.
- Accreditation may provide a marketing advantage in a competitive educational and health care environment and improve the ability to secure new business.
- ACID provides continuing support with professional advice, CE classes, conferences, seminars, workshops to its members in a variety of topics and settings internationally.
- Accreditation can attract qualified staff and faculty, who prefer to serve in an accredited institutes and organization.
- Accredited institutes and organizations also provide additional opportunities for staff to develop their skills and knowledge.
Step by Step for ACID Accreditation
Institution or Programs new to accreditation have a required Preparation and Review before the onsite visit. A request for Self-Study Reports is on January, April and September of the year of on-site visit.
Before Valuation and Eligibility
Before our institution seeking ACID accreditation, your program should determine if it falls into the categories that we accredit, and that it meets our Minimum Requirements. Prior to seeking an accreditation review, each program must have a functioning valuation process in place that meets ACID criteria for accreditation in five areas: Institution Objectives, Program Educational Objectives, Student Outcomes, Feature Plans & Improvements and Continuous Improvements.
Requesting Initial ACID Accreditation
A Request for Accreditation Review is required from all institutions/programs seeking initial accreditation if the institution has no currently ACID accredited programs in the same dentistry. The deadline for Accreditation Review is January, April and September.
ACID Renewing Accreditation
Institution and/or Programs that are renewing an existing accreditation must submit a request for preparations and review. Your institute or/and program will need to submit a Request for Accreditation Review for any general/comprehensive visits, interim visits, or interim reports.
You must mail to ACID office official transcripts for two graduates from the most recent graduating class for each program requesting review.
ACID Accreditation outside the U.S.
While ACID accreditation process for programs outside the United States is identical to the process for institutions and programs within the U.S.A., there are different logistical requirements international programs should consider.
In addition to submitting an application and other materials, institutions and/or programs outside of the U.S. must have each appropriate education authority, recognition, or accreditation agency within their country complete a request for acknowledgement from to be submitted with the Application and formal request for evaluation.
Accreditation Types
Institutional Accreditation
ACID evaluates overall schools/colleges/university quality but does not focus on specific academic or professional programs.
Programmatic Accreditation
ACID evaluates academic or professional programs of study, not an institution as a whole. A specific academic or professional program of study can be granted accreditation at a variety of certificates, diploma and degree levels.
Professional Accreditation
ACID may evaluate dental specialists, clinics, treatment and research centers.
Valuation Process
Mission Statement and Goals
Valuation planning begins with the institutional mission statement, which describes the communities that are served and the institutional purposes and other characteristics that define your institution. At the same time, your institution’s valuation leader should work with an appropriate mix of faculty and administrators to develop a plan of action and timeline to ensure departmental assessment goals and deadlines are met.
Objectives & Student Outcomes
Institution and Program educational objectives are based on the needs of the institution and/or program’s constituencies and are expressed in broad statements that describe what graduates are expected to attain within a few years of graduation. Student outcomes relate to the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that students acquire as they progress through the program and describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation. Defining educational objectives and student outcomes provides faculty with a common understanding of the expectations for student learning and supports consistency across the curriculum, as measured by performance indicators. Performance indicators represent the knowledge, skills, attitudes or behavior students should be able to demonstrate by the time of graduation that indicate competence related to the outcome.
Conduct Valuations
Valuations offer a framework through which you can identify, collect, and prepare data to evaluate the achievement of student outcomes and program educational objectives. Effective assessments use relevant direct, indirect, quantitative, and qualitative measures appropriate to the outcome or objective being measured. Appropriate sampling methods may be used as part of an assessment process.
Efficient and effective assessment strategies require an understanding of the arrangement between educational practices and strategies. This can be accomplished by mapping educational strategies to learning outcomes. Strategies for data collection and analysis need to be systematic and consistent and focus on valuation related to the performance indicators.
Appraise Valuation
Appraise processes interpret the data and evidence accumulated through the assessment process and determine the extent to which student outcomes and educational objectives are being earned. Considerate evaluation of findings is essential to ensure that decisions and actions taken as a result of the valuation process will lead to program improvement.
Decision Making
Valuation provides a framework for a meaningful feedback process, which is critical to strategic decision making. Creating and maintaining an ongoing quality assurance system helps to keep your institution and program relevant to the professions it serves, supports the highest quality student experience, and confirms that your graduates are well prepared for their careers.
Fees Schedule
MEMBERSHIP:
Individuals’ Membership Annual Fee $510
Schools/Organizations/Businesses Annual Fee $710
ACCREDITATIONS/CERTIFICATION (Institutions & Organizations):
Initial Application Fee: Submit Application for Accreditation (nonrefundable) $710
On-Site review (inside the U.S.) $2,100
On-Site review (outside the U.S.) $4,200
On-Site program reviews $1,950
Extra day, per evaluators (inside the U.S.) $210
Extra day, per evaluators (outside the U.S.) $500
Visit to branch/satellite locations:
Per location $1,950
Annual Fee (Institution) $450
Annual Fee (Program) $200
Each program reviewed $290
Change of Name $200
Change of Ownership $550
New Program $550
Online/Distance Education $750
Non-Credit, Short-Term Modules $400
Travel Expense Expenses Incurred
| After travel has commenced (outside the U.S.) | No Refund |
| Non-refundable travel costs (outside the U.S.) | Actual Cost Incurred |
RENEWAL OF ACCREDITATION
Renewal of Accreditation (inside U.S.) $750
Renewal of Accreditation (outside the U.S.) $1,500
Extra day, per evaluators (inside the U.S.) $210
Extra day, per evaluators (outside the U.S.) $500
Visit to branch/satellite per location $500
Travel Expense Expenses Incurred
Institutions Outside the U.S. Travel Expenses:
Travel expenses include but are not limited to roundtrip airfare (business class), lodging, transportation, meals, international calls, visa costs and travel medical and security insurance, airport pick-up, escort and daily ground transportation between each of the visit locations.
Interim Reviews
In some cases, the results of an on-site review may call for an interim report. This does not require an additional on-site review but there are still some charges for institution/program reviews.
On-site Reviews Cancellation Fees
Cancellation fees will be charged when an institution cancels an on-site review.
Workshops & Conferences
ACID holds several workshops and conferences for accredited members and initial applicants to involve and learn more about accreditation criteria, policies and procedures. The institutions may have chance to share ideas on current issues involving proprietary institutions.
Workshop Fees
The workshops and conferences registration fees are not including transportation, hotel accommodations and other expenses.
Institutions will be registered for a workshop only when they receive confirmation from ACID.
| Initial Accreditation Training | $1,050 |
| Programs Setup | $750 |
| Consultation and Review | $1,900 |
| Staff Training | $650 |
| Deferral | $350 |