Step One.  Completion of the Preliminary Accreditation Consultation Visit (PACV) survey
The PACV survey and required fee is submitted by the college and the university to formally begin the international consultation process.

[NOTE: SDMCDS has already fulfilled the criteria for Step One.]

Step Two.  Observation of an ADA dental school site visit and individual consultation
Observation of an ADA dental school site visit in the U.S. and consultation with staff and site visitors following the visit is a required step.

[NOTE: We have completed this step as well.]

Step Three.  PACV self study report and consultation visit
Once the international college has completed the PACV self-study report, and submitted the appropriate fee, the report will be reviewed by the ADA. A PACV will then be scheduled.

[NOTE: We submitted the report on 12th March 2011 and are currently awaiting the scheduling of a visit by the ADA.]

Step Four.  Application for ADA accreditation.
Following the PACV, a report is submitted by the ADA team to the Joint Accreditation Committee on International Accreditation (JACIA). If the consensus of the JACIA is that the international college will be able to most likely achieve U.S. accreditation (i.e., the PACV is successful), the college may submit an application for accreditation and an application fee for accreditation to the ADA.

Once ADA is satisfied with the application, another site visit lasting one week will be scheduled.

Following the site visit, a preliminary draft site visit report is assessed by the ADA.  The dental college may respond to the preliminary report to correct factual inaccuracies and note differences in perception.  Both the preliminary site visit report and the college’s response are considered by the various committees of the ADA. The ADA then determines whether to grant the college accreditation status.