Certified Clinic Director Program

Core Framing:

CCD is designed for dental professionals actively serving in a clinic director role. Priority consideration is given to individuals currently leading clinical teams and overseeing operational performance across their organizations.

Aspiring directors may apply and are considered as space permits.

Why This Program?

Clinic directors are often promoted for clinical excellence, but not formally trained for executive leadership. The ADA Certified Clinic Director™ program changes that by providing a structured approach to developing essential leadership capabilities, ensuring clinic directors across all settings have the knowledge and skills to succeed. Leaders of this cohort will have opportunities to engage with subject matter experts and have the unique opportunity to leverage the ADA’s unique resources for clinical excellence and evidence-based dentistry.

This is your opportunity to:

• lead with confidence: strengthen leadership and team performance skills.think like an operator: interpret KPIs, manage budgets and optimize clinical systems.Protect and grow the organization: navigate compliance and risk; evaluate business growth and integration strategies.

Why leaders choose CCD

• Small cohort size: 50-70 leaders per cohort
• National representation: participants come from diverse practice settings
• CE credits: earn 35 hours of CE.
• Flexible time commitment: 6-month immersive experience

Structured. Rigorous. Designed for working leaders.

This six-month executive credential balances live virtual instruction, in-person engagement, case-based learning and self-study modules, balancing executive rigor with real-world flexibility.

• Live cohort-based webinars: Expert-led discussions, twice a month.
• Self-paced e-learning: Reinforce knowledge with guided study materials.
• Real-world application: Learn clinical leadership skills in true-to-life scenarios
• In-person kickoff event in Chicago: Network with industry leaders and peers.
• Earn 35 CE credits: Enhance your professional development while earning CE 

Primary audience (Priority)

• Current clinic directors (any tenure stage)

Secondary audience

• Dentists transitioning into director roles
• Multi-site leaders seeking standardization
• Practice owners

Selective cohort statement
The CCD program maintains a limited cohort size to preserve high-impact executive dialogue.

Inside the CCD Cohort

CCD maintains a selective national cohort model to preserve executive-level dialogue and high-impact peer exchange. Leaders engage in confidential, strategy-driven discussion with fellow clinic directors leading across diverse practice settings. Unlike traditional CE programs, CCD fosters confidential executive dialogue, allowing leaders to discuss real operational challenges in a trusted peer environment.

September: Welcome & Orientation
October: Essentials
November: Quality
December: Finance
January: Operations Management
February: Operations Management
March: Leadership & Culture

• Updated CV
• Personal statement and program goals
• Two references
• Letters of recommendation

The Certified Clinic Directors program features approximately 70 clinic directors from various practice settings within dentistry. When building each CCD class, we are looking for a strong cross-section of candidates representing a mix of diverse experiences from varying subsectors of dentistry. Our selection committee gives priority consideration to individuals actively serving in a clinic director role. Cohort composition reflects a diverse cross-section of experience levels and practice settings.

Rolling review

• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
• Applicants are notified as applications are evaluated.

Lifelong leadership network

Upon completion, CCD alumni gain exclusive access to a private LinkedIn network reserved for cohort graduates. This forum supports continued executive dialogue, peer collaboration and strategic exchange well beyond the formal cohort experience.