The American Dental Association is warning that proposed U.S. Education Department changes to accreditation rules could disrupt dental education, licensure and the workforce pipeline, according to a Sept. 22 news release from the ADA.
The organization sent a comment letter to the Education Department on Sept. 21. Here are eight things to know:
- The rule: The department’s proposed “Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization” rule, published Aug. 20, would overhaul the requirements accreditors must meet for federal recognition. One provision would require programmatic accreditors to maintain “clear firewalls” with related trade or professional associations.
- The Education Department’s rationale: The department said the rule would “safeguard against undue influence from private trade associations on accreditors,” simplify recognition of new accreditors and promote a better return on investment for students.
- Why dentistry is affected: The Commission on Dental Accreditation, which is affiliated with the ADA, is the only department-recognized accreditor for dental education programs. The ADA said CODA acts independently and appoints four of its 33 commissioners, with the rest coming from 19 organizations and state dental boards.
- Licensure concerns: Nearly every state requires dentists to graduate from a CODA-accredited program to be licensed. The ADA said the proposal lacks an implementation plan for how states would handle any change to CODA’s status.
- Workforce impact: The ADA said uncertainty in the educational pipeline could delay graduation or licensure. It warned this could worsen dentist shortages, especially in rural and underserved areas.
- Standard-setting: The proposal would change the makeup of accreditors’ standard-setting bodies and limit subject-matter experts’ ability to vote on standards.
- Student funding: CODA accreditation ties dental programs to federal student aid and grants such as Ryan White HIV/AIDS funding. The ADA noted that students already face the end of Grad PLUS loans and a new $50,000 annual borrowing cap that took effect July 1. It said the combined pressures could make dental school unaffordable for some students.
- What’s next: The ADA is asking for a “comprehensive, multi-year transition framework” that would keep CODA continuously recognized while any successor entity is created. The department plans to finalize the rule around Nov. 1, and it would take effect no earlier than July 1, 2027.
Read the ADA’s full comment letter here.
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