The Commission on Dental Accreditation has learned through the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall (http://www.townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewPetition.cfm?petitionId=223) that the Virginia Department of Health Professions, Board of Dentistry, is seeking comment on a request to:
Amend 18VAC60-20-60 to accept dental school programs accredited by Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC) since there is an existing reciprocal agreement between CDAC and Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (CODA) to bilaterally recognize programs that are accredited by either of these commissions.
Since its adoption in 1956, the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) has maintained and expanded its reciprocal agreement with the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC).Under the reciprocal agreement, each Commission recognizes the accreditation of educational programs in specified categories accredited by the other agency.The following educational programs are included in the scope of the reciprocal agreement:
Predoctoral dental education
Dental hygiene
Level II dental assisting
All nine (9) ADA recognized advanced specialty education programs
Under this arrangement, the Commissions agree that the educational programs accredited by the other agency are equivalent to their own and no further education is required for eligibility for licensure. Commissioners and staff of the accrediting agencies regularly attend the meetings of the other agency and its standing committees, and participate annually in at least one site visit conducted by the other agency, to ensure an ongoing understanding of the accreditation process in each country and to ensure that the accreditation processes in each country continue to be equivalent.
The Commission on Dental Accreditation acknowledges that licensure matters rest within the purview of each state board of dentistry. The Commission on Dental Accreditation submits this comment to enhance understanding of the strength and rigor of the CODA’s reciprocal agreement with the CDAC.
Letter emailed to Ms. Elaine Yeatts, Agency Regulatory Coordinator.