Accreditation
UBSDM CODA Site Visit: Sept. 9-11, 2025
Log in to the CODA Site Visit Hub using the button below to view information related to the UBSDM's upcoming accreditation site visit! (UBIT Name and password required.)
The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) serves the public and dental professions by developing and implementing accreditation standards that promote and monitor the continuous quality and improvement of dental education programs. CODA is the organization that accredits dental, advanced dental and allied dental education programs.
The accreditation process includes a comprehensive site visit, where programs are assessed for compliance with accreditation standards. A mock site visit is conducted in advance to prepare for the comprehensive site visit.
Third-Party Comments
CODA accepts third-party comments related to accreditation standards and the required accreditation policies at least 60 days before the scheduled site visit.
The UBSDM's third-party comments submission period closed July 8, 2025.
Site Visit Important Dates
Site Visit Preparation: July 1-Sept. 5, 2025
CODA Site Visit: Sept. 9-11, 2025
The following programs are going through accreditation in September 2025:
- Predoctoral Education
- Advanced Education in General Dentistry
- Endodontics
- Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
- Orofacial Pain
- Orthodontics
- Pediatrics
- Periodontics
- Prosthodontics
Self Study Timelines
Timelines will be updated periodically as the site visit draws closer.
Milestones | Dates |
|---|---|
| Low Priority Items Completed | Jan. 9, 2025 |
| Medium-Priority Action Items Completed | Feb. 21, 2025 |
| Phase I: Standards 1, 4 and 6 begin submission preparation. | April 14, 2025 |
| High Priority Items Completed | April 30, 2025 |
| Phase II: Standards 2, 3 and 5 begin submission preparation. | April 30, 2025 |
| Self Study Submitted to CODA | June 30, 2025 |
Milestones | Dates |
|---|---|
| Self Study First Draft Due to Steering Committee | July 13, 2024 |
| Peer Review | July 15-26, 2024 |
| Self Study Final First Draft Due | Aug. 2, 2024 |
| Self Study Submitted to Mock Site Visitors | Aug. 14, 2024 |
| Mock Site Visit Preparation | Aug. 19-Sept. 20, 2024 |
| Mock Site Visit | Sept. 24-25, 2024 |
| Identify Leads to Oversee Action Items | Nov. 4, 2024 |
| Identify Teams to Complete Action Items Identify Content Experts for Review of Specific Standards | Nov. 11, 2024 |
| Development of Action Plans | Nov. 27, 2024 |
| Low-Priority Action Items Completed* | Jan. 9, 2025 |
*The dean will conduct an ongoing review of the self-study report as each standard is completed.
Milestones | Dates |
|---|---|
| Self Study Due | April 14, 2025 |
| Copyediting | April 15-30, 2025 |
| Dean's Review: Periodontics, Prosthodontics, Orthodontics | May 1-9, 2025 |
| Dean's Review: AEGD, Pediatric Dentistry | May 22-May 30, 2025 |
| Program Director's Final Review | June 2-6, 2025 |
| Final Copyediting | June 9-13, 2025 |
| Self Study Submitted to CODA | June 30, 2025 |
Milestones | Dates |
|---|---|
| Self Study Final First Draft | Sept. 7, 2024 |
| External/Internal Mock Site Visits | September/October 2024 |
Milestones | Dates |
|---|---|
| Self Study Submitted to Office of Advanced Education | Nov. 1, 2024 |
| Feedback Shared with Postgraduate Director | Dec. 11, 2024 |
| Self Study Submitted to Office of Advanced Education for Second Review | Jan. 13, 2025 |
| Send to Faculty for Review | Jan. 27, 2025 |
| Revise Draft Based on Feedback | Feb. 10, 2025 |
| Submit for Dean's Review | Feb. 11, 2025 |
Milestones | Dates |
|---|---|
| Self Study Submitted to Office of Advanced Education | Dec. 2, 2024 |
| Feedback Shared with Postgraduate Director | Dec. 19, 2024 |
| Self Study Submitted to Office of Advanced Education for Review | Jan. 13, 2025 |
| Send to Faculty for Review | Jan. 27 2025 |
| Revise Draft Based on Feedback | Feb. 10, 2025 |
| Submit for Dean's Review | Feb. 11, 2025 |
Milestones | Dates |
|---|---|
| Self Study Submitted to Office of Advanced Education | Dec. 2, 2024 |
| Feedback Shared with Postgraduate Director | Jan. 17, 2025 |
| Self Study Submitted to Office of Advanced Education for Second Review | Jan. 31, 2025 |
| Send to Faculty for Review | Feb. 14, 2025 |
| Revise Draft Based on Feedback | Feb. 28, 2025 |
| Submit for Dean's Review | March 1, 2025 |
Milestones | Dates |
|---|---|
| Self Study Submitted to Office of Advanced Education | Jan. 24, 2025 |
| Feedback Shared with Postgraduate Director | Feb. 7, 2025 |
| Self Study Submitted to Office of Advanced Education for Second Review | Feb. 21, 2025 |
| Send to Faculty for Review | March 7, 2025 |
| Revise Draft Based on Feedback | March 21, 2025 |
| Submit for Dean's Review | March 24, 2025 |
Milestones | Dates |
|---|---|
| Self Study Submitted to Office of Advanced Education | Jan 24, 2025 |
| Feedback Shared with Postgraduate Director | Feb. 7, 2025 |
| Self Study Submitted to Office of Advanced Education for Second Review | Feb. 21, 2025 |
| Send to Faculty for Review | March 7, 2025 |
| Revise Draft Based on Feedback | March 21, 2025 |
| Submit for Dean's Review | March 24, 2025 |
Milestones | Dates |
|---|---|
| Self Study Submitted to Office of Advanced Education | Jan. 31, 2025 |
| Feedback Shared with Postgraduate Director | Feb. 14, 2025 |
| Self Study Submitted to Office of Advanced Education for Second Review | Feb. 28, 2025 |
| Send to Faculty for Review | March 14, 2025 |
| Revise Draft Based on Feedback | March 28, 2025 |
| Submit for Dean's Review | April 1, 2025 |
Milestones | Dates |
|---|---|
| Self Study Submitted to Office of Advanced Education | Jan. 31, 2025 |
| Feedback Shared with Postgraduate Director | Feb. 14, 2025 |
| Self Study Submitted to Office of Advanced Education for Second Review | Feb. 28, 2025 |
| Send to Faculty for Review | March 14, 2025 |
| Revise Draft Based on Feedback | March 28, 2025 |
| Submit for Dean's Review | April 1, 2025 |
Milestones | Dates |
|---|---|
| Self Study Submitted to Office of Advanced Education | Feb. 7, 2025 |
| Feedback Shared with Postgraduate Director | Feb. 21, 2025 |
| Self Study Submitted to Office of Advanced Education for Second Review | March 7, 2025 |
| Send to Faculty for Review | March 21, 2025 |
| Revise Draft Based on Feedback | April 4, 2025 |
| Submit for Dean's Review | April 8, 2025 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) uses a collaborative peer-review process to assess the quality of more than 1,400 dental and dental-related education programs across the nation. These programs include dental, advanced dental and allied dental training.
The accreditation process begins when a sponsoring institution submits an application to CODA. The institution then performs a comprehensive self-assessment and prepares a detailed self-study report outlining its resources, curriculum, policies and operational standards.
Next, CODA organizes an on-site review. This is conducted by a team of experts selected for their knowledge in the relevant program area. During the on-site review, the CODA team interviews administrators, instructors, staff, and students to validate the information in the self-study and ensure the program meets or exceeds CODA standards.
After the on-site review, the CODA team compiles a comprehensive report based on their observations. This report is shared with the sponsoring institution and CODA officials for further evaluation. CODA convenes twice a year to discuss site visit reports and make accreditation decisions.
Accredited programs undergo follow-up site reviews every seven years. However, the advanced dental education program in oral and maxillofacial surgery is reviewed more frequently, every five years.
Accreditation is a critical component of dental education because it ensures that dental education programs meet rigorous quality standards to prepare students in becoming competent and professional dental practitioners.
Predoctoral Dental Education
- Predoctoral Dental Program
Advanced Dental Education Programs
- Advanced Education in General Dentistry
- Endodontics
- Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Orofacial Pain
- Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Periodontics
- Prosthodontics
Programs are evaluated on compliance with CODA Accreditation Standards.
Programs are accredited every seven years, with the exception of oral and maxillofacial surgery, which is accredited every five years.
The self-study is a crucial component of CODA's process for accrediting dental programs. It is designed to engage the entire institution in a thorough evaluation of how well it meets its stated objectives and accreditation standards set by CODA. The U.S. Department of Education (ED) requires an institutional or programmatic self-study as part of the accreditation process.
In its mission statement, CODA outlines its goals for dental accreditation: To serve the public and dental professions by developing and implementing accreditation standards that encourage and monitor continuous quality improvement in dental education programs. CODA expects the self-study to be a catalyst for ongoing institution and program improvement, continuing long after the periodic review has concluded.
The self-study should assess educational outcomes against the institution's goals and CODA's standards for dental education programs. It should also evaluate the effectiveness of institutional procedures, recognizing that these procedures are a means to an end and not ends in themselves.
Resources
Contact
If you have any questions about the accreditation process, please email UBSDMCODA@buffalo.edu.