CDAC Launches Public Consultation – Invitation to Provide Comments

Draft Accreditation Standards for Oral Healthcare Education Programs

Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC)
Consultation Period: April 17 – July 16, 2026 (90 days)

Introduction

The Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) invites all interested parties to participate in a 90-day public consultation on its Draft Accreditation Standards for Oral Healthcare Education Programs.

This modernization initiative reflects CDAC’s commitment to:

  • Strengthening public protection and patient safety,
  • Aligning accreditation with entry-to-practice competencies,
  • Advancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and cultural safety, and
  • Supporting continuous quality improvement and innovation.

These draft standards are intended to replace the current accreditation standards for Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, and Dentistry programs, establishing a unified, outcomes-based framework for oral health education accreditation in Canada.

The transition to a single outcomes-based model is designed to:

  • Promote consistency and clarity across the three oral health disciplines,
  • Enable greater flexibility in program delivery and innovation, and
  • Ensure graduates are prepared to meet contemporary practice expectations and societal needs.

CDAC values the input of all interested parties and encourages detailed feedback to ensure the standards are clear, relevant, and implementable across all program types.

Purpose of this Consultation

CDAC is seeking feedback to ensure that the standards are:

  • Clear and understandable
  • Relevant to current and emerging practice, as well as educational needs
  • Feasible for implementation
  • Aligned with public and patient care expectations

All feedback received will ensure that the standard is clear, comprehensive, fair and aligned with national regulatory and best practices in Canadian oral healthcare education, accreditation principles and public safety.

Scope of the Standards

The Draft Accreditation Standards for Oral Healthcare Education Programs are organized into six domains:

  • DOMAIN 1: Public Safety and Risk Management
  • DOMAIN 2: Governance and Quality Assurance
  • DOMAIN 3: Program Design, Delivery and Resources
  • DOMAIN 4: Student Learning Experience and Support
  • DOMAIN 5: Assessment and Evaluation for Entry-to-Professional Practice
  • DOMAIN 6: Cultural Safety and Community Centered Care

How to Participate and Submit Comments

Interested parties are invited to access and review the Draft Accreditation Standards for Oral Healthcare Education Programs here (PDF, opens in a new tab) and submit comments by Thursday, July 16, 2026.

Please submit comments by the following ways:

  1. Online Consultation
    Submit general comments using this CDAC Public Consultation – Invitation to Comment – Survey
  2. Email Submissions
    Send written clause specific comments using the CDAC Comment Template (.DOCX file, opens in a new tab) to Ester Williams, Manager of Standards Development at: [email protected].

What Is CDAC Looking For?

Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments in consideration of the following:

  • Clarity on outcomes and requirements: Are the requirements and expectations understandable and practical for programs?
  • Completeness: Are there important areas or topics missing from any domain? Do you have suggested improvements or additions?
  • Feasibility of implementation: Are the indicators, timelines, clinical expectations and program structures realistic for institutions’ readiness?
  • Alignment: Does the draft align with existing contemporary practice, competencies and current regulatory requirements?
  • Any unintended consequences

What Happens Next

Interested parties are encouraged to provide comments in consideration of the following:

  • All feedback will be reviewed by the Working Groups and the Standards Committee.
  • Substantive comments will be evaluated for inclusion, revision or clarification in the final draft.
  • The final draft will be reviewed and approved by CDAC Standards Committee and Board of Directors respectively in the Fall of 2026.
  • The final approved Accreditation Standards for Oral Healthcare Education Programs is anticipated for publication in December 2026.

Note: CDAC will publish supporting documents and provide further details regarding implementation timelines and expectations following the conclusion of the public consultation and final approval of the standards.

Contact Us

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

We thank you in advance for your time and valuable contributions.