CDAC is developing new outcomes-based accreditation standards for Dentistry, Dental Hygiene, and Dental Assisting oral health care education programs. This page provides answers to common questions about the standard modernization project, public consultation processes, accreditation, implementation and transition timelines, and available support resources. The FAQ page will be updated periodically as additional information becomes available.
Standards Development Project Overview
CDAC periodically reviews and updates its accreditation standards to ensure they remain relevant, evidence-informed, and responsive to changes in the educational environment, the evolving needs of oral healthcare practice, and applicable regulatory requirements, including entry-to-practice competencies and professional practice standards.
The standards modernization initiative is intended to strengthen the clarity, consistency, and applicability of CDAC’s accreditation standards, drawing on current evidence and established principles of quality assurance and continuous improvement in health professions accreditation. The new standards are designed to:
- Focus on student and graduate outcomes and competencies.
- Support continuous quality improvement.
- Enhance consistency across oral health professions.
- Promote public safety and accountability.
- Provide programs with greater flexibility in demonstrating that graduates have achieved the competencies required for entry to professional practice.
CDAC is currently modernizing the accreditation standards for:
- Dentistry (DDS/DMD) Programs
- Dental Hygiene Programs
- Dental Assisting Programs
The new standards have been developed using a common outcomes-based framework. While each profession has specific requirements, the goal is to strengthen the accreditation process, so it is clearer, up-to-date, and consistent across the oral health education programs.
An outcome-based standard focuses on the program’s ability to produce graduates with the competencies required at the entry to practice level. In other words, the standards are framed on what students are expected to know, demonstrate, and achieve upon completion of their program. The outcomes under each standard emphasize programs’ expectations to achieve the standards.
The new accreditation standards will be published following completion of the consultation, review, and approval processes in July 2027. Following publication, programs will be required to comply with the new standards as of July 2028, providing a one-year implementation and transition period.
The new accreditation standards were developed through a collaborative process led by CDAC. Domain-specific Working Groups, comprising subject matter experts with relevant regulatory, educational and professional experience, provided input into the development and revision of the standards. The CDAC Standards Committee provided oversight throughout the development process to ensure alignment with current and future accreditation principles. The draft standards were also informed by a review of standards used in other health professions, relevant jurisdictional requirements, and engagement with educational programs to support their relevance to accreditation and the requirements of entry-level practice.
The standards are organized into the following six domains:
- DOMAIN 1: Public Safety and Risk Management
- DOMAIN 2: Governance, Leadership, 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
Within each domain, the standards are organized using a consistent hierarchy of Domain – Scope – Standard – Outcomes – Required Evidence. The new structure emphasizes outcomes and continuous improvement rather than prescriptive methods and processes. This allows flexibility in how programs demonstrate achievement of the standards; that is, student readiness and competence after completing the program.
The current standards will remain in effect until the new standards are formally approved and implemented by CDAC. Further details regarding the retirement of the existing standards will be communicated following final approval of the new standards. CDAC will provide programs with advance notice of implementation timelines and transition requirements.
Public Consultation
Yes! CDAC is committed to a transparent and inclusive standards development process. The first public consultation process was launched in April 2026, for 90 days until July 2026. Following the first consultation, CDAC reviewed the feedback received from stakeholders and incorporated revisions into the second draft of the accreditation standards. CDAC will launch a second public consultation for 60 days, from October 14, 2026, to December 15, 2026. This consultation invites feedback on the revised 2nd draft standards and provides an opportunity to share perspectives on the proposed outcomes and reframed required evidence.
The revised 2nd draft standards and instructions for submitting comments is available on CDAC’s public consultation webpage here. Interested parties are encouraged to review the draft and provide feedback before the standards are finalized.
The CDAC standards committee supported by our working groups will review all feedback gathered during the consultation and make changes and adjustments where necessary.
CDAC will prepare a summary report of the consultation findings outlining key themes that were received. We will share any major changes made because of the consultation process.
Programs requested clearer indicators, more specific evidence expectations, and practical examples to support consistent interpretation and implementation of the standards. In response, CDAC revised the indicators as “Required Evidence” to clearly identify the records and documentation expected to demonstrate compliance. In addition, a guidance document is being developed to explain the intended outcomes of each requirement and provide examples of relevant evidence that programs may use to demonstrate compliance.
During the first public consultation, CDAC received feedback highlighting the importance of addressing Indigenous-specific considerations and expectations within the accreditation standards. In the revised 2nd draft, Domain 6 – Cultural Safety and Community-Centred Care continues to establish expectations that apply broadly across the diverse populations and communities served by oral health care programs. CDAC recognizes, however, that cultural safety in the context of Indigenous Peoples, including the impacts of colonization and the distinct histories, experiences and health care needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, warrants careful and informed consideration.
CDAC intends to explore further work in this area, informed by appropriate expertise and engagement with Indigenous Peoples. This work may include the development of additional guidance to support programs in preparing graduates to provide culturally safe oral health care to Indigenous Peoples. Through this consultation, CDAC welcomes feedback on Domain 6, including whether the current draft provides an appropriate foundation for addressing cultural safety and what further considerations may be needed.
The new standards identify the minimum required evidence programs are expected to provide to demonstrate how each outcome is being achieved. The specific evidence required will vary depending on the outcome and may include policies, procedures, curriculum documents, assessment methods, records, reports, or quality improvement documentation. Additional examples related to select outcomes will be provided in supporting guidance documents. Suggested templates and forms to support programs are being considered for development. However, CDAC’s intention is not to prescribe a single approach to meeting accreditation requirements, recognizing that programs may demonstrate compliance in different ways based on their unique context, structure, and processes.
Accreditation and Assessment
If your onsite survey is scheduled for 2027, there will be no change. You will continue to use the current standards to prepare for your survey and will be assessed against these standards. The accreditation process will be the same.
Programs that have an onsite survey scheduled for 2027 will utilize the current standards. It is anticipated that the new standards will be available for onsite surveys from September 2028 onward – Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting and Dentistry (DMD/DDS) to start.
It is anticipated that Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting and Dentistry (DMD/DDS) will use the new standards to prepare for their survey and will be assessed against the new standards if their survey is scheduled in Fall 2028 and beyond. If your survey is scheduled from January – June 2028, you will continue to use the current standards.
Please contact CDAC at [email protected] and options will be discussed with you based on when you intend on submitting your application.
The revised standards are designed to support consistent assessment while recognizing differences across Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, and Dentistry programs. The standards establish common expectations and outcomes for all programs. Clear required evidence and supporting guidance with profession-specific requirements will be identified where appropriate, will further help programs understand what CDAC is assessing while providing flexibility in how they demonstrate that an outcome has been met. CDAC is also developing a standardized evaluation framework to support consistent assessment and decision-making across all program types. The framework will provide a common approach for evaluating outcomes, including clear assessment criteria and guidance for surveyors and CDAC decision-making committees.
Implementation and Transition
CDAC will allocate one-year implementation strategy after the publication of the standards for programs and surveyors to successfully adopt and transition to the new standards. The implementation period will provide time for:
- Programs to familiarize themselves with the new standards.
- Faculty, administrators, and clinical instructors to receive orientation.
- Surveyors and accreditation teams to be calibrated on the new framework.
- Programs to assess readiness and identify areas requiring adjustment.
Additional details regarding implementation timelines and expectations will be shared following final approval of the standards.
Resources and Support
CDAC recognizes that successful implementation requires guidance and support. To assist programs and surveyors during the transition, CDAC plans to provide a variety of resources, which include but are not limited to the following:
- Guidance documents on interpreting the standards and outcomes
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page
- Crosswalk documents comparing current and new standards
- Self-assessment tools and templates, as applicable
- Webinars and information sessions for Programs and Surveyors
