Public Release to all Stakeholders of Oral Systemic Educator Certificate Program (OSECP)

National Network of Healthcare Hygienists (NNHH) is slated to offer the first "non-university" certificate program in the world to be accredited by an outside credentialing body in not just dental hygiene, but all of dentistry. Dental CE providers like AGD PACE and ADA CERP approve CE providers. Contrary to popular belief, they do NOT accredit or even review individual programs, which is why NNHH decided to pursue a first in dentistry - accreditation with ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB). 

"Personnel credentialing accreditation signifies that the credential holder meets industry requirements-and that an organization has met, and continues to meet, standards for quality improvement. Additionally, the ANAB symbol signals to an employer that the credential holder has undergone a valid, fair, and reliable assessment to verify that they have the necessary competencies to practice." ¹

Far above & beyond regular continuing education in dentistry to date, ANAB audits individual programs and the organizations that publish them for 168 global standards of quality assurance in an array of career fields.

Searching for and completing accredited courses ensures that students have received education that meets recognized global standards, enhancing credibility in that field.

NNHH is breaking new ground by meeting BOTH AGD standards and ANAB standards, providing Registered Dental Hygienists with higher-level programs that are far more affordable than university degrees, and attractive to healthcare systems as a mark of quality and excellence. Students are not just sitting in a conference room on their phones, receiving a Certificate of Attendance like most live CE, they are able to watch and rewatch lectures while taking notes, as many times as needed based on their learning style, and are assessed at the end of this comprehensive program with a 90 question exam and capstone project. It bridges the gap between existing CE and a degree, which hygienists said they desired in a 2019 survey put out by NNHH. The program also offers a new career pathway option for burnt out hygienists, that many certificate holders desire - a chance to specialize like RNs do.

“This program has renewed my passion for dental hygiene. I have used information gained from the courses on a regular basis to better serve my patients. It has helped me have more confidence in collaborating with medical healthcare providers to work together and offer our mutual patients the best care, in an effort to improve their overall health. " 

 Debbie Mull, RDH, CH-OSE

In April the Oral Systemic Educator Certificate Program (OSECP) 1.0 was audited on the rigorous standards that have been set for Certificate Programs under ANSI/ASTM E2659-18 by ANAB assessors. Certificate program managers were given time to correct the items that did not conform to ANAB standards.

As NNHH nears final submission of the corrections, they must implement the changes required and publicly announce them to all stakeholders, to reach ANAB standards. The second edition of the OSECP will be called version 1.1, and it will go live on July 15, 2024.

To receive a certificate of completion, the OSECP 1.1 requisites are:

1. Possess a valid Dental Hygiene License
2. Pass a final assessment within two attempts
3. Complete the entire program (100%)
4. Complete a Capstone Project
5. Complete a Certificate of Completion Application

View the curriculum and instructors of the Oral Systemic Educator Certificate Program HERE

¹ Retrieved from ANAB website on 7/1/2024 (https://anab.ansi.org/accreds/personnel-credentialing/)