CDAC Launches Second Public Consultation

Revised 2nd Draft Accreditation Standards for Oral Health Care Education Programs

Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC)
Consultation Period: October 14 – December 15, 2026 (60 days)

Invitation to Provide Comments

The Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) invites interested parties to participate in a second public consultation on the Revised Draft Accreditation Standards for Oral Health Care Education Programs. Following the first consultation, CDAC reviewed more than 250 comments and reconvened its Working Groups to consider the feedback and revise the draft standards.

This second public consultation is focused on the revised draft and provides an opportunity to confirm whether the changes have improved the clarity, feasibility and application of the standards before they proceed to final review and approval.

Note to Readers: This 2nd draft refers to a guidance document. The references are included for information purposes only to indicate that some outcomes will be supported by additional examples and complementary information. This guidance document is not included in this second public consultation and does not introduce additional requirements for programs.

Consultation Package

The following documents and feedback tools are provided for the second public consultation:

  1. Revised 2nd Draft Standards – the updated Draft Accreditation Standards for Oral Health Care Education Programs.
  2. Summary of Changes – a high-level overview of the key revisions made following the first public consultation.
  3. Short Online Survey – for brief, general feedback on the revised standards and the changes made.
  4. CDAC Comment Template – for detailed or clause-specific comments on the revised draft.

What Is CDAC Looking for in the Second Public Consultation?

The second consultation is intended to determine whether revisions made following the first consultation have improved the standards. CDAC is particularly seeking feedback on:

  1. Clarity of the framework: Is the presentation and hierarchy of the standards clear and easy to follow?
  2. Required evidence: Are the required-evidence expectations clearer, more specific and proportionate, with less unnecessary documentation burden?
  3. Feasibility: Is the required evidence appropriate and feasible for implementation by your program?
  4. Consistency and duplication: Does any ambiguity, overlap or unnecessary duplication remain?
  5. Application across programs: Can the standards be consistently interpreted and applied across Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene and Dentistry programs?

Notes on Cultural Safety and Indigenous Peoples

During the first public consultation, CDAC received comments regarding the need for greater consideration of Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous-specific expectations within the standards. For the revised draft, CDAC has retained Domain 6 – Cultural Safety and Community Centered Care as a broadly applicable domain, with general requirements intended to support cultural safety across the diverse populations and communities served by oral health care programs.

Recognizing the importance and complexity of Indigenous-specific education and cultural safety, CDAC will explore the future development of additional guidance in consultation with appropriate experts. This work may provide further guidance to programs on education and training related to providing culturally safe care for Indigenous Peoples. CDAC welcomes feedback during this consultation on whether Domain 6 provides an appropriate foundation within the accreditation standards.

How to Participate

Review the revised 2nd Draft Standards together with the Summary of Changes below and submit feedback using either or both of the following methods.

1. Online Survey Form 

Submit brief or general feedback on the revised 2nd draft using this CDAC Public Consultation – Invitation to Comment Survey.

2. Email Submissions

Send written clause specific feedback using the CDAC Comment Template to Ester Williams, Manager of Standards Development at: [email protected].

Submission Instructions

  1. Be as specific as possible when identifying an area that remains unclear, difficult to implement, or requires further revision.
  2. Where suggesting a change, provide proposed wording or a brief rationale where possible.
  3. Submit comments by Tuesday, December 15, 2026.

What Happens Next

Following the close of the consultation, CDAC will review the feedback received and determine whether further revisions or clarifications are required. The standards will then proceed through CDAC’s final review and approval process. Additional information on implementation, transition expectations and supporting resources will be communicated along the project.

 Contact Us

For questions about this consultation or if you require the draft in an alternate format, please contact:

Your feedback shaped this draft. Please help us shape it again!