Accreditation Standards

The Commission on Dental Accreditation develops and implements accreditation standards that promote and monitor the continuous quality and improvement of dental education programs. These accreditation standards are copyrighted, but they may be downloaded for educational use. Reproduction of Commission documents is permitted by permission only. Please review the Commission’s Policy on Reprints.

Continue reading to view current, revised and proposed accreditation standards relevant to dental education programs.

Hearing information can be found on the Hearings on Standards/Comments Due page.

Circulation of Proposed Revised Standards

At its Winter 2023 meeting, the Commission on Dental Accreditation directed that proposed revisions to Accreditation Standards found in Appendices 1 and 2 be distributed to the communities of interest for review and comment, with comments due December 1, 2023. Comments will be considered at the Winter 2024 Commission meeting. A Spring 2023 Hearing and Fall 2023 Hearing will also be conducted.

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Dental Public Health (Appendix 01) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Orofacial Pain (Appendix 02) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards

At its Summer 2023 meeting, the Commission on Dental Accreditation directed that proposed revisions to Accreditation Standards found in Appendices 3 through 19 be distributed to the communities of interest for review and comment, with comments due June 1, 2024. Comments will be considered at the Summer 2024 Commission meeting. A Fall 2023 Hearing and Spring 2024 Hearing will also be conducted.

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Advanced Education in General Dentistry (Appendix 03) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in General Practice Residency (Appendix 04) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Dental Public Health (Appendix 05) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Endodontics (Appendix 06) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (Appendix 07) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (Appendix 08) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Residency) (Appendix 09) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Clinical Fellowship Training Programs in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Appendix 10) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Residency) (Appendix 11) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (Residency) (Appendix 12) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Clinical Fellowship Training Programs in Craniofacial and Special Care Orthodontics (Appendix 13) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Pediatric Dentistry (Appendix 14) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Periodontics (Appendix 15) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Prosthodontics (Appendix 16) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Dental Anesthesiology (Appendix 17) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Oral Medicine (Appendix 18) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Orofacial Pain (Appendix 19) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards

On August 11, 2023, the Commission adopted revisions to Standard 2-7 (Instruction) and Standard 3-6 (Faculty) of the Accreditation Standards for Dental Assisting Education Programs, with immediate implementation.

• 2023 Dental Assisting Standards (PDF)

On February 10, 2023, the Commission adopted the Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Dental Public Health, with implementation July 1, 2023.

• 2023 Dental Public Health Accreditation Standards (PDF)

On February 10, 2023, the Commission adopted the Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Dental Anesthesiology, with implementation July 1, 2023
.

• 2023 Dental Anesthesiology Accreditation Standards (PDF)