ADEA Guiding Principles for the Education of Oral Health Professionals in Emerging Workforce Models: (As approved by the 2011 ADEA House of Delegates)

In September 2009, the Board of Directors of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) approved the creation of the ADEA Task Force on the Education of Oral Health Professionals in Emerging Workforce Models. Its charge was to “enunciate a set of principles to guide the educational preparation of oral health professionals in emerging workforce models.” ADEA believes that its role, in collaboration with its member institutions, is to anticipate and prepare for changes to the curriculum and the academic environment that emerging workforce models will require as states consider modifying their practice acts to include emerging workforce models. The Association’s role is not to develop new workforce models, but to ensure the quality of the educational preparation of oral health professionals in these models. These guiding principles are based, in part, on the following assumptions: • Demographic shifts in society have major implications for the future composition of the oral health workforce. Professionals in the workforce of the future should possess values, attitudes, knowledge, and skills that enable them to competently meet changing societal needs. • A single standard of quality should apply when the same service is provided by different members of the oral health team. • The creation of new workforce models will require modification to the educational preparation of existing oral health team members to support the successful integration of emerging models. • The guiding principles articulated for emerging workforce models have application to and implications for the education of all oral health professionals. The ADEA Guiding Principles for the Education of Oral Health Professionals in Emerging Workforce Models aim to maintain high standards for the education, preparation, and competence of oral health professionals in emerging workforce models. These principles can inform and influence the education of oral health professionals in emerging workforce models to ensure they possess the values, attitudes, knowledge, and skills needed to provide quality oral health care. The American Dental Education Association encourages institutions, organizations, and policymakers that are designing oral health workforce models and those that are developing educational programs to prepare these professionals to incorporate these guiding principles into their planning and decision making.