BAYSIDE PROJECTS
COE Accreditation Basics
Dental Assisting Accreditation Basics
The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) is a nationally recognized accrediting agency for institutions and programs focused on healthcare education. ABHES offers both institutional and programmatic accreditation.
ABHES ELIGIBILITY HIGHLIGHTS
Basic eligibility requirements for initial accreditation:
- Private sector licensed institution.
- Principal activity is education.
- Focus on healthcare education.
- Programs lead to employment.
- Located in the United States.
- Legally authorized to operate.
- Has graduate students.
- Continuous operation for two years.
- Meets financial stability requirements.
- Programs have active students for visits.
For the complete list of eligibility requirements, download our free ABHES Eligibility Self-Assessment to evaluate your institution’s current status and identify the steps needed to prepare for the initial application.
ABHES ACCREDITATION PROCESS
The initial ABHES accreditation process takes approximately 24 months and includes attending a workshop, submitting an application, a self-evaluation report, and hosting ABHES preliminary and full visits.
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Visit our ABHES Accreditation Resources page for a dive into the ABHES initial applicant world, access free reference guides, and resources.
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The Council on Occupational Education (COE) is a national institutional accrediting agency overseeing 450+ institutions serving over 170,000 students nationwide across a wide range of occupational programs.
COE ELIGIBILITY HIGHLIGHTS
Basic eligibility requirements for initial accreditation:
- Instruction on career-technical education.
- Credentials no higher than applied AS.
- 25%+ of instruction delivered on campus.
- 900+ hours of instruction during previous year.
- Legally authorized to operate.
- Licensed for a minimum of a year.
- Has graduates from the longest program.
- Continuous operation for the previous year.
- Same ownership for the previous year.
- Meets financial stability requirements.
- Programs have active students for visits.
For the complete list of eligibility requirements, download our free COE Eligibility Self-Assessment to evaluate your institution’s current status and identify the steps needed to prepare for the initial application.
COE ACCREDITATION PROCESS
The initial COE accreditation process takes between 18 and 24 months, and includes submitting a candidate application, hosting a candidate visit, attending workshops, submitting a self-study and exhibits, hosting COE preliminary and final visit.
LEARN MORE
Visit our COE Accreditation Resources page for a dive into the COE initial applicant world, access free reference guides, and resources.
ABHES Accreditation Basics
Once institutional accreditation is achieved, schools may begin the Federal Financial Aid application process. Historically, Title IV funding has been limited to programs with 600+ clock hours duration. Regulatory revisions are expected to expand eligibility to shorter programs beginning July 1, 2026.
Dental assisting schools apply for institutional accreditation, which means all programs licensed by your institution will be included in the accreditation process.
THE DENTAL ASSISTING PROGRAM
The program curriculum includes the following areas of instruction:
- Introduction to Dental Assisting
- Infection Control and Sterilization
- Dental Radiography
- Dental Assisting Techniques and Skills
- Dental Anatomy and Terminology
- Digital Dentistry
- Dental Impressions
- Dental Laboratory Procedures
- Restorative Dentistry
- Provisional Crowns
- Dental Specialties and Procedures
- Oral Health Education
- Preventive Dentistry
- Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office
- CPR
- Clinical Practicum
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
As part of the accreditation process, dental assisting schools demonstrate that students successfully complete their programs and obtain employment in the field. While the benchmark may vary slightly by accrediting agency and program length, the average minimum requirements are:
70% graduation rate
70% licensure-certification rate
70% placement rate
EMPLOYMENT PROJECTIONS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 52,900 annual openings on average during the decade.
Visit our Accreditation Terms & Concepts page for a review of the terms you will encounter as you learn about accreditation. Familiarity with these concepts will help you select the accrediting agency that best supports your school’s goals
Need assistance? We are glad to help! We serve institutions nationwide. Request a free consultation by calling 786-618-2277, completing the free session request form, or emailing [email protected]. We are available to provide your dental assisting school with the accreditation consulting services to help you achieve this important milestone.
Our Consulting Services
Let us help you with your school accreditation process - moving from licensed to accredited in 4 milestones.
Recommended Accrediting Agencies
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Applying for Federal Financial Aid
ACCSC Accreditation Basics
Accreditation Terms & Concepts
Interested in accreditation for your Dental Assisting School? Once achieved, institutional accreditation will open the door to multiple funding opportunities, including Federal Financial Aid and Veteran Benefits. We have assisted many institutions through this process and would be pleased to support you as well. Request your complimentary consultation today!
Choosing an accreditor is a critical decision that should not be taken lightly. Accreditation requires a substantial investment of both financial and human resources. We recommend selecting an accreditor that aligns with your current goals while allowing room for your school’s future growth.
ACCSC ACCREDITATION
ACCSC is an ideal accreditor for vocational schools. Dental assisting schools accredited by ACCSC have the flexibility to expand their training to any occupational sector and to offer degree programs, including associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees.
COE ACCREDITATION
COE accreditation is well-suited for vocational and trade schools offering diploma and certificate programs. COE-accredited dental assisting schools have the opportunity to incorporate later on training programs for other occupational careers and offer occupational associate degrees.
ABHES ACCREDITATION
ABHES is an ideal accreditor for institutions offering predominantly allied health education programs from certificates and diplomas to master's degrees. ABHES also offers programmatic accreditation for the medical assisting, medical laboratory technology, and surgical technology programs
PROTECTING YOUR INVESTMENT
Schools accredited by a general-scope agency—such as ACCSC or COE—are well-positioned for long-term growth. Broader accreditation gives owners the flexibility to scale beyond the healthcare sector and increases the school’s overall resale value.
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Serving Institutions Nationwide
We are readily available to assist you through the entire accreditation process and support you at every stage of your school’s journey.
- Accreditation - Initial & Renewals
- State License Applications
- Compliance & Best Practices
- SEVP Certification - International Students
International Student Visas F1 & M1
Licensed schools complete the SEVP certification process to enroll international students with M-1 or F-1 visas for on-campus or hybrid prorgams. Institutional accreditation is typically one of the eligibility requirements, except in certain scenarios where programs lead to a state-issued license.
Veteran Education Benefits
Institutional accreditation is generally one of the eligibility requirements for schools to become VA training providers. Once approved, students may use their veteran benefits to pay for their program of study at your school.
We recommend the following accrediting agencies for dental assisting schools: COE (Council on Occupational Education), ACCSC (Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges), and ABHES (Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools). The sections below provide an overview of each agency and outline key considerations.
- We are subject matter experts.
- Help clients achieve goals on time.
- Provide mentoring and training.
- Implement industry best practices.
- Our services are scalable and cost-effective.
- We are BBB A+ Accredited.
Our accreditation consulting package includes four milestones that will take your institution from Licensed to Accredited in 18 to 24 months, depending on the accreditation cycle and your school readiness:
Milestone 1 - Aligning with Accreditation Standards.
Milestone 2 - Implementing Annual Evaluations.
Milestone 3 - Issuing Your First Institutional Plan.
Milestone 4 - Preparing the Accreditation Documents.
This approach allows your institution to commit to one objective and one consulting fee at a time. You may cancel our services at any time without penalties. Each module focuses on one of the Licensed to Accredited Milestones, aligns with 2026 standards, and includes ten (10) live Zoom training sessions.
Licensed to Accredited in 4 Milestones
The Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) is a national institutional accrediting agency serving more than 150,000 students annually across a wide range of occupational programs.
ACCSC ELIGIBILITY HIGHLIGHTS
Basic eligibility requirements for initial accreditation:
- Private postsecondary school.
- Programs with occupational-technical focus.
- Continuous operation for the last two years.
- Has graduates from the longest program.
- At least one program with 300+ hours duration.
- Meets financial stability requirements.
- Active students for all programs.
- Compliance with state & federal regulations.
Download our free ACCSC Eligibility Self-Assessment to evaluate your current status and identify the steps needed to prepare for the initial application.
ACCSC ACCREDITATION PROCESS
The ACCSC accreditation process takes approximately 24 months and includes attending a workshop, submitting applications part I and II, submitting a self-evaluation report (SER), attending an orientation, and hosting an ACCSC on-site visit.
LEARN MORE
Visit our ACCSC Accreditation Resources page for a dive into the ACCSC initial applicant world, access free resources, and guides.