What are standards?

Standards in dental education are essential guidelines that ensure educational programs meet high-quality benchmarks in teaching, clinical training, and patient care. At our oral health accreditation agency, we develop and uphold these standards to guarantee that future dental professionals receive the education and skills necessary to provide safe, effective, and ethical care. These standards serve as a framework for quality assurance, helping institutions maintain excellence, adapt to advancements in the field, and protect public trust. By setting rigorous expectations, we ensure that dental graduates are well-prepared to meet the evolving needs of patients and communities.

How do we develop standards?

The Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC), in consultation with its partners, develops and approves standards for educational programs educating and training dentists, dental specialists, dental interns/residents, dental hygienists and dental assistants. CDAC also develops and approves standards for institutional dental services.

Standards are developed according to a robust process that involves consultation with subject matter experts (SME) along with relevant stakeholders that can include regulatory authorities, examination boards and educational programs. Through each phase of the development process we engage in consultation and public review to ensure our standards meet the needs of the professions we serve.

Educational programs interested in applying for accreditation may download the accreditation standards applicable to their area of study from this section of the website. Educational programs should download our Guide to Accreditation (PDF 94 KB) for information on the application process and deadlines, or visit the Accreditation Process page on our website.

Download the Standards

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