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 Summer 2022 meeting, the Commission on Dental Accreditation directed that proposed revisions to Accreditation Standards found in Appendices 2 through 4 be distributed to the communities of interest for review and comment, with comments due June 1, 2023. Comments will be considered at the Summer 2023 Commission meeting. 

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (Appendix 2) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Pediatric Dentistry (Appendix 3) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards 

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Orofacial Pain (Appendix 4) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards

At its Winter 2023 meeting, the Commission on Dental Accreditation directed that proposed revisions to Accreditation Standards found in Appendix 5 be distributed to the communities of interest for review and comment, with comments due June 1, 2023. Comments will be considered at the Summer 2023 Commission meeting.  

Accreditation Standards for Dental Assisting Education Programs (Appendix 5) (PDF)
Comment Portal for the above Standards

At its Winter 2023 meeting, the Commission on Dental Accreditation directed that proposed revisions to Accreditation Standards found in Appendices 6 through 7 be distributed to the communities of interest for review and comment, with comments due December 1, 2022. Comments will be considered at the Winter 2024 Commission meeting. A Fall 2023 Hearing will also be conducted in conjunction with the October 2023 American Dental Association (ADA) Annual Meeting.

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Dental Public Health (Appendix 6) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Orofacial Pain (Appendix 7) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards

View more details on upcoming hearings and deadlines for comments. 

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)