Certified Dental Editors (CDE) Requirements

Adopted February 28, 2003 in Chicago, Illinois by the AADE Board of Directors

I. Rationale for dental editor certification program:

A. Encourage systematic, sustained skill enhancement.

B. Encourage longevity of editorial positions.

C. Raise status of editors in dental organizations.

II. Requirements for certification:

A. Membership in the American Association of Dental Editors (AADE).

B. At least one year of experience in an editorial position.

C. Completion of thirty (30) hours of documented continuing education in approved subjects related to writing, editing and communications within four years of application:

i. Six total hours as a minimum should be completed in at least three of the following five subject areas:

Writing

Editing

Layout and design

Editorial leadership

Communications

ii. Candidates may submit evidence of completed coursework two years retroactively.

iii. Six hours must be sponsored by a dental organization.

iv. Formal university program hours towards a degree will not be counted towards certification.

III. Continuing education may include but may not be limited to the following categories:

A. Writing

i. Grammar

ii. Journalism

Reporting and newswriting

Feature writing

Editorials

Writing for the internet

B. Editing:

i. Copyediting

ii. Proofreading

C. Layout and design:

i. Photography and design

Photography and illustration

Desktop publishing

D. Editorial Leadership:

i. Management of periodicals.

ii. Ethics of journalism and dentistry.

E. Communications:

1. Public relations.

2. Grant writing and fundraising.

3. Speech writing and oral presentations.

IV. Potential sources of continuing education coursework may include:

A. AADE (annual conference and periodic workshops)

B. ADA (new editors conference)

C. Universities:

i. University of Chicago, Graham School medical editors program.

ii. UCLA online courses in journalism and writing (www.uclaextension.org)

D. American Medical Writers Association (offers three-hour courses in medical writing and editing around the country for its Core Curriculum Certificate).

E. American Medical Association (offers annual Medical Communications and Health Reporting Conference).

F. Commercial sources:

i. Fred Pryor/Career Track

ii. American Management Association

G. Board of Editors in the Life Sciences (six hours of dental editor credit to be assigned for passage of BELS certification exam).

V. Administration:

A. Name of award: Certified Dental Editor (CDE)

B. Course approval/awarding of the certification: AADE Certification Committee

i. Three AADE members (preferably previously certified)

ii. Appointed by the AADE President

iii. Deadline for certification application: July 1st every year

iv. Certification to be awarded to successful candidates at the AADE annual conference

C. Award format: certificate

D. Duration of certification: for a lifetime and continuous AADE membership is not required after receiving the certification.