Frequently Asked Questions about the National Commission

The role of the National Commission is to recognize the dental specialty sponsoring organizations and their respective certifying boards based on compliance with the Requirements for Recognition of Dental Specialties and National Certifying Boards for Dental Specialists. 

It is not the role of the National Commission to act as a mediator, nor does the National Commission intervene on the behalf of any organizations and/or individuals, nor does the National Commission act as an arbitrator between disputing organizations. 

All of the Commissions listed below are agencies of the ADA with independent authority to manage dental and dental-related activities that are unique to each Commission. Each Commission has the authority to adopt their own Rules, policy and processes, elect their own chairs/vice-chairs, select their own consultants, appoint their own public member(s) and develop their own strategic plan. 

The four (4) ADA Commissions are the: 

• Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations
• Commission on Dental Accreditation
• Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition
• National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards

The National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards (NCRDSCB) is the agency that recognizes dental specialties and their respective national certifying boards based on the ADA Requirements for Recognition of Dental Specialties and National Certifying Boards for Dental Specialists. The National Commission is independent in its decision-making process for the recognition of dental specialties and certifying boards, ensuring that bias and conflicts of interest are avoided. The National Commission applies requirements designed to help dentists excel throughout their careers and help the public ascertain the importance of educationally qualified and board certified dental specialists.

The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) focuses on promoting quality in education through the accreditation process and evaluation of educational programs.  The Commission on Dental Accreditation conducts its evaluation program in a manner consistent with universally established accreditation practices and criteria of the U.S. Department of Education.  The Commission on Dental Accreditation is independent in its actions and protects the integrity of the accreditation process through consistent application of its high standards, plus adherence to the accreditation process and maintenance of the confidentiality of the process.

The National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards (NCRDSCB) is the agency that recognizes dental specialties and their respective national certifying boards based on the ADA Requirements for Recognition of Dental Specialties and National Certifying Boards for Dental Specialists. The National Commission is independent in its decision-making process for the recognition of dental specialties and certifying boards, ensuring that bias and conflicts of interest are avoided. The National Commission applies requirements designed to help dentists excel throughout their careers and help the public ascertain the importance of educationally qualified and board certified dental specialists.

The Council on Dental Education and Licensure (CDEL) studies and makes recommendations on American Dental Association policy related to dental, advanced dental, and allied dental education and accreditation, continuing education, recognition of dental specialties and interest areas in general dentistry, dental licensure, dental anesthesiology,  and allied dental credentialing. The CDEL approves the certifying boards for dental assisting and dental laboratory technology and their processes for credentialing individuals. The Council also acts as liaison to other agencies in the Association on matters related to dental education.  The Council’s role is to monitor accreditation and specialty recognition matters and study and consider dental education and licensure matters as they relate to the interests of the profession as a whole, member dentists, and the Association and in accord with the ADA’s Strategic Plan. 

The 25 Commission members are selected by and represent the:

• American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
• American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
• American Academy of Oral Medicine
• American Academy of Orofacial Pain
• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• American Academy of Periodontology
• American Association of Endodontists
• American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• American Association of Orthodontists
• American Association of Public Health Dentistry
• American College of Prosthodontists
• American Dental Association
• American Society of Dentist Anesthesiologists
• General Public (one of the 25 members)

All business conducted during the National Commission meeting including the review of policy, finances and discussions related to the recognition of dental specialties and certifying boards is confidential and conducted in closed session. 

All deliberations of the Appeal Board are confidential and conducted in closed session. 
All meetings of the Review Committees and Standing Committees are confidential and conducted in closed session.

Further, according to the National Commission’s Confidentiality Policy, only the meeting minutes from the Board of Commissioners annual meeting are posted on the National Commission’s website. The meeting minutes of the Review Committees, the Standing Committees and the Appeal Board are confidential and not posted.

The National Commission has two Review Committees: (1) the Review Committee on Specialty Recognition and (2) the Review Committee on Specialty Certifying Board Recognition. Both are responsible for review of recognition and policy matters related to recognition of the dental specialties, the recognized dental specialty sponsoring organizations and the recognized dental specialty certifying boards.

The Review Committees gather, review and analyze information to formulate recommendations to the Board of Commissioners to grant or deny specialty recognition. Because the Board of Commissioners is the decision making body of the National Commission, any recommendation(s) made by a Review Committee is considered confidential until the Board of Commissioners takes final action.

The National Commission's Review Committees do not act in the same capacity as CDEL’s Committee G.

No. The National Commission recognizes the dental specialty sponsoring organizations and their respective certifying board and does not recognize or credential individuals.

No. Only areas of dentistry that can achieve and maintain compliance with the Requirements for Recognition of Dental Specialties (PDF) will become recognized by the National Commission.

Compliance consists of:

1. Representation by a sponsoring organization whose membership is reflective of the proposed specialty.
2. Must be a distinct and well-defined field which requires unique knowledge and skills beyond those commonly possessed by dental school graduates.
3. The scope of the specialty requires advanced knowledge and skills that is separate and distinct from the knowledge and skills required to practice in any of the other recognized specialties and cannotc be accommodated through minimal modification of a recognized specialty.
4. Must be able to document scientifically, valid and reliable statistical evidence/studies that (a) actively contributes to new knowledge in the field, (b) actively contributes to professional education; (c) actively contributes to research needs of the profession; and (d) provides oral health services in the field of study for the public.
5. Must directly benefit some aspect of clinical patient care.
6. Must have advanced dental education programs of at least two (2) years accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

For a certifying board to become recognized by the National Commission, a sponsoring organization that has a close working relationship with the certifying board must become recognized first.