Program Search
You can search on this website for Canadian dental education programs and health facility dental services accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC).
Use the search tool on the bottom left to locate an accredited educational program or health facility dental service by province and program category.
Use the search tool on the bottom right to search for dental specialty programs offered at various universities across Canada.
Note: the list of accredited programs was last updated in December 2023. This list is updated in December of every year.
CDAC Accredited Programs
All CDAC accredited programs are subject to a comprehensive review that includes an onsite accreditation visit on a pre-determined cycle. Followng the in-person site visit programs are required to provide CDAC with annual reporting to maintain their accreditation status, in addition to the requirement for more extensive annual reporting for any programs that had specific recommendations at their most recent survey visit. Programs will receive an accreditation status with or without reporting. Definitions of accreditation status are listed below.
Accreditation Status
The following accreditation statuses may be granted to an educational program or health facility dental service. Graduates of the programs/facilities that hold these statuses are recognized for registration/licensure with the provincial regulatory authority. Denial of accreditation, following a program survey, indicates that there are program deficiencies in meeting the accreditation standards.
Preliminary Approval (for DDS/DMD and Dental Specialty educational programs)
On the basis of a survey visit or comprehensive submission of documentation addressing the accreditation standards, the educational program is granted year-by-year Preliminary Approval if it continues to appear to meet the minimum requirements as established by CDAC after initial enrollment of students, and until such time as students are enrolled in the final year.
Approved (without reporting requirements)
Based on a survey visit and institutionally prepared comprehensive documentation addressing the accreditation standards, this classification, when granted to an educational program or dental service, indicates that the program achieves or exceeds the minimum requirements or standards for approval as established by CDAC. This accreditation classification indicates that the program has no serious deficiencies or weaknesses. However, recommendations, or suggestions relating to enhancement of the program or dental service, are generally included in the evaluation report.
Length of term: Based on the educational discipline.
Approved (with reporting requirements)
On the basis of a survey visit and institutionally prepared comprehensive documentation addressing the accreditation standards, this classification is granted to an educational program or dental service, where specific deficiencies or weaknesses exist in one or more basic areas of the educational program or dental service. The deficiencies or weaknesses are considered to be of such a nature that they can be corrected in a reasonable length of time. This accreditation classification is considered adequate to meet the eligibility requirements for licensure and board examinations in the case of educational programs or to maintain adequate standards of patient/client care in dental services. An institution receiving the status of Approved (with reporting requirements) must provide a progress report the following year.
Provisionally Approved (with reporting requirements)
On the basis of a survey visit and institutionally prepared comprehensive documentation addressing the accreditation standards, this classification is granted to an educational program or dental service if it has been determined that the program or service has deficiencies or weaknesses in one or more specific areas. This accreditation classification signifies the seriousness of the deficiencies or weaknesses but is considered adequate to meet the eligibility requirements for licensure and board examinations in the case of educational programs, or to maintain adequate requirements of patient/client care in dental services. The deficiencies or weaknesses are considered to be of such magnitude that, if not corrected, withdrawal of the program’s or dental service’s accreditation status will result. In order to maintain the status of Approval, evidence of significant progress must be demonstrated within one year.
Length of term: One (1) year
Intent to Withdraw
On the basis of an institution’s failure to address recommendations from an accreditation survey report, CDAC may initiate its intent to withdraw accreditation status as of the next meeting of CDAC. Programs are notified by CDAC of an action to withdraw accreditation.
Denial
If a new program/service does not meet the accreditation standards, initial program accreditation can be denied.
The pdf files linked below list each accredited program with their accreditation status, last accreditation visit, and next planned accreditation visit.
