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 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 01) (PDF)
Comment Portal for the above Standards

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in General Practice Residency (Appendix 02) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards 

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Dental Public Health (Appendix 03) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards 

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Endodontics (Appendix 04) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (Appendix 05) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (Appendix 06) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Residency) (Appendix 07) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards

Accreditation Standards for Clinical Fellowship Training Programs in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Appendix 08) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for above Standards 

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Residency) (Appendix 09) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for above Standards  

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (Residency) (Appendix 10) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for above Standards

Accreditation Standards for Clinical Fellowship Training Programs in Craniofacial and Special Care Orthodontics (Appendix 11) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Pediatric Dentistry (Appendix 12) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Periodontics (Appendix 13) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Prosthodontics (Appendix 14) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Dental Anesthesiology (Appendix 15) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Oral Medicine (Appendix 16) (PDF)
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Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Orofacial Pain (Appendix 17) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards

At its Winter 2024 meeting, the Commission on Dental Accreditation directed that proposed revisions to Accreditation Standards found in Appendices 18 through 20 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 Spring 2024 Hearing will also be conducted.

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Advanced Education in General Dentistry (Appendix 18) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards     

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in General Practice Residency (Appendix 19) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards   

Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Endodontics (Appendix 20) (PDF)
Comment Portal link for the above Standards    

On February 1, 2024, the Commission adopted the Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Dental Public Health, with implementation July 1, 2025

• To be posted as available, Contact CODA Office

On February 1, 2024, the Commission adopted the Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Pediatric Dentistry, with implementation January 1, 2025

• To be posted as available, Contact CODA Office

On February 1, 2024, the Commission adopted the Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Orofacial Pain, with implementation July 1, 2024

• 2024 Orofacial Pain Standards (PDF)

On February 1, 2024, the Commission adopted the Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, with implementation July 1, 2024

• 2024 Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Standards (PDF)

On August 11, 2023, the Commission adopted revisions to the Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (Standard 4-16), with implementation July 1, 2024

• 2024 Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Standards (PDF)

• 2023 Dental Assisting Standards (PDF)