Program Accreditation (CDAC)
The Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) was established in 1988 by the Canadian Dental Association as an autonomous body responsible for accrediting dental, dental hygiene and dental assisting education programs in Canada.
Accreditation is a non-governmental, peer review process that measures education programs and hospital dental services against predetermined national requirements. CDAC acts as a partner with the profession, educational institutions and health facilities to protect and further the public interest through the accreditation process.
Mission
The Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) is dedicated to developing and improving dental, dental hygiene and dental assisting education in Canada to the best level possible.
CDAC reaffirms that, in conducting evaluation surveys, its primary purpose is to assist institutions and recommend methods and procedures that enable them to meet national accreditation requirements so as to improve the effectiveness of their education programs. To this end, CDAC encourages sound educational experimentation and innovation and considers these an integral part of its accrediting responsibility.
It is not CDAC’s intention to impose a system of regimentation that would lead to the rigid standardization of programs in either of the specialties for which it provides accreditation.
CDAC and its committees meet once a year in November. Meeting deliberations about specific programs are strictly confidential and are given final approval at the CDAC level.
Programs accredited by CDAC include:
- undergraduate dental educational programs
- dental specialty educational programs
- dental hygiene educational programs
- dental assisting educational programs
- health facility dental services and
- hospital dental internship or general practice residency educational programs
If you would like to learn more about the accreditation requirements for dental, dental hygiene and or dental assisting programs across Canada or view a list of all accredited programs in Canada, contact CDAC at:
Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada
1815 Alta Vista Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1G 3Y6
Tel.: (613) 523-7114
Toll free: (866) 521-2322
Website: www.cda-adc.ca/cdacweb/en/
Email: cdac@cda-adc.ca
