What is dentistry program accreditation?

Accreditation signifies that a dentistry program provides graduates with the knowledge, skills and professional attributes necessary to safely practice their profession. For a program to be accredited an education provider and the dental practitioner program it offers must meet the Australian Dental Council and Dental Council (New Zealand) Accreditation Standards.

The purpose of accreditation is to

• protect the public by ensuring that only health practitioners who are suitably trained and qualified are eligible to register with the Dental Board of Australia (DBA) and
• facilitate the provision of high-quality education and training of health practitioners.

What are the Program Accreditation Standards?
The program accreditation standards specify the criteria against which education and training programs are assessed for accreditation. The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 (National Law) requires these standards to be approved by the Dental Board of Australia for the dental profession.
Why are Program Accreditation Standards reviewed?
The Australian Dental Council (ADC) visits education providers as part of the process to determine whether a program meets the Accreditation Standards.
There is a need for the current standards to incorporate contemporary educational practice (e.g., distant education) and encompass new regulatory changes in the education sector (e.g., Australian Qualifications Framework) and governmental directions (e.g., National Prescribing Service competencies).
There is also a requirement under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency’s Quality Framework for the Accreditation Function for regular review of program accreditation standards. Review of an Australian dentistry program does not mean there is something wrong with the program; it is simply a process to review regulatory changes and past educational implementations.

James Cook University Dental School

Accreditation:  Renewed January 1, 2016 – next review December 31, 2022
Program: Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
Location: Cairns, Queensland
Semester intake: February
Duration: 5 years
Application deadline: August 30, 2016

Griffith University Dental School

Accreditation:  Renewed January 1, 2016 – next review December 31, 2022
Program: Bachelor of Oral Health in Dental Science/Graduate Diploma of Dentistry
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Semester intake: February
Duration: 5 years
Application deadline: The 2017 intake has filled. Applications for 2018 are being accepted.

UQ Dental School

Accreditation:  Newly accredited January 1, 2015 – up for review December 31, 2016
Program: Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours)
Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Semester intake: February
Duration: 5 years
Application deadline: October 30, 2016

University of Melbourne Dental School

Accreditation:  Newly accredited January 1, 2011 – up for review December 31, 2016
Program: Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Semester intake: February
Duration: 4 years
Application deadline: Applications closed July 29, 2016

University of Sydney Dental School

Accreditation:  Newly accredited 1 January 2012 – up for review December 31, 2017
Program: Doctor of Dental Medicine
Location: Sydney, New South Wales
Semester intake:February 2017
Duration: 4 years
Application deadline: Applications closed June 21, 2016
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Find out more about accreditation and about dentistry programs in Australia. Email OzTREKK’s Australian Dental Schools Admissions Officer Adam Smith at adam@oztrekk.com for more information!