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Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
  Introduction   Accreditation Status Definitions
  Membership Information   Guidelines, Policies, and Procedures
  Accreditation News   Outcomes Assessment
  How Accreditation Works   Staff List and Contact Information

The purpose of Accreditation News is to keep members and communities of interest abreast of actions taken during CODA meetings.. The Accreditation News page has  information on new, revised and proposed changes to various accreditation standards, information on open hearings, upcoming site visits and other CODA activities.

The CODA Communicator is an electronic newsletter that is emailed in the spring and fall. It is one of several endeavors CODA has undertaken to improve communication with members and  communities of interest. If you have not received an issue of the CODA Communicator, please contact Mr. Paul Dohearty, doheartyp@ada.org, and he will add your email address for the next issue.

The Communications Update was an earlier effort to keep CODA members up to date on CODA activities. While it is no longer published, you can still review archived issues of the Communications Update,

Accreditation News

CODA Meeting Dates 2010-2011

CODA Meeting Dates from January 2010 thru August 2011 can be download below:

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Open Hearing: 2009 ADA Annual Session

The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) held Open Hearings Thursday, October 1, 2009 and Saturday, October 3, 2009 at the ADA Annual Session in Honolulu, Hawaii. The purpose of Open Hearings is to provide CODA’s communities of interest with an opportunity to comment on proposed revisions to accreditation standards as indicated in the agenda below.

If you were unable to attend the Open Hearing, you may submit written comments to CODA until the comment due date indicated in the agenda. Comments should be submitted to: Director, Commission on Dental Accreditation, 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.
  • Open Hearing Agenda | PDF file/15k Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled.

  • Guidelines for Open Hearing (Appendix 1) | PDF file/20k Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled.

  • Proposed Revisions to Predoctoral Dental Education Programs (Appendix 2) | PDF file/384k Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled.
    Comments Due: May 1, 2010

  • Proposed New Standards for Accreditation Standards for Advanced Specialty Education Programs in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (Appendix 3) | PDF file/24k Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled.
    Comments Due: June 1, 2010

  • Proposed Ethics and Professional Standard for all disciplines under CODA purview (Appendix 4) | PDF file/13k Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled.
    Comments Due: May 15, 2010

  • Public Notice and Request for Comment upon Proposed Deletion of alternative portion of Joint Commission Standard (for hospital-based settings of advanced dental education programs) (Appendix 5) | PDF file/17k Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled.
    Comments Due: May 15, 2010

  • Proposed Revisions to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Standards (Appendix 6) | PDF file/21k Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled.
    Comments Due: December 1, 2009


  • Proposed Revisions to Language Common to all Specialties (Appendix 7) | PDF file/170k Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled.
    Comments Due: June 1, 2010

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Allied Dental Updates

At the July 31, 2009 meeting, the Commission on Dental Accreditation adopted the following Dental Laboratory Technology consultant criteria: 

Dental Laboratory Site Visit Consultant Criteria

  • Background in all five dental laboratory technology specialty areas: complete dentures, removable dentures, crown and bridge, dental ceramics and orthodontics
  • Background in educational methodology
  • Knowledge of the accreditation process and Accreditation Standards for Dental Laboratory Technology Education Programs
  • Certified Dental Technician (CDT) credential through the National Board of Certification (NBC)
  • Full or part-time appointment with a dental laboratory technology education program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or previous experience as a Commission on Dental Accreditation consultant

The Commission on Dental Accreditation adopted a revision to the Intent Statement that supports Dental Assisting Standard 2-1 at the July 31, 2009 meeting.

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Approved Accreditation Standards

At its July 31, 2009 meeting, the Commission on Dental Accreditation adopted the Accreditation Standards for Advanced General Dentistry Education Programs in Orofacial Pain, with an implementation date of Janurary 1, 2010. Application materials for programs wishing to apply for accreditation will be available later in the year. Please contact Commission staff for more information.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation recently adopted the Accreditation Standards for Clinical Fellowship Training Programs in Craniofacial and Special Care Orthodontics. All application materials for these new fellowship programs have been developed and are currently available for those wishing to apply for accreditation.  Please contact Commission staff for more information.

  • Clinical Fellowship Training Programs in Craniofacial and Special Care Orthodontics | PDF file/103k Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled.

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Revised Accreditation Standards

At its July 31, 2009 meeting, the Commission on Dental Accreditation approved revisions to the Accreditation Standards for Advanced General Dentistry Education Programs in Oral Medicine for immediate implementation.

At its July 31, 2009 meeting, the Commission on Dental Accreditation approved revisions to Accreditation Standards for Advanced General Dentistry Education Programs in Dental anesthesiology for immediate implementation.

At its July 31, 2009 meeting, the Commission on Dental Accreditation approved revisions to the Accreditation Standards for Dental Hygiene Education with an implementation date of  January 1, 2010.  For more information contact Commission staff at 800-621-8099, extension 2695 or wellingg@ada.org.

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Unofficial Report of Major Actions

Download CODA's report on actions:

  • July 2009 Unofficial Report of Major Actions | PDF file/41k Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled.
  • January 2009 Unofficial Report of Major Actions | PDF file/34k Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled.
  • July 2008 Unofficial Report of Major Actions | PDF file/24k Link opens in separate window. Pop-up Blocker may need to be disabled.

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Upcoming Site Visits

The Commission’s 2010 site visit schedules for allied, advanced and dental education programs can be downloaded in PDF format below. The United States Department of Education (USDE) procedures require accrediting agencies to provide an opportunity for third-party comment, with respect to institutions or programs scheduled for review. All comments must relate to accreditation standards for the discipline and/or accreditation policies.

Comments should be submitted to: Third Party Comments, Commission on Dental Accreditation, 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL., 60611; or faxed to 312-440-2915. View the entire policy on Third Party Comments in the Evaluation Policies & Procedures manual.

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