Institutional
ADEA Institutional Membership
Belong to the Community Shaping the Future of Oral Health
ADEA membership connects your institution to the people, insights and opportunities shaping the future of dental education and oral health. Regardless of your institution type or educational setting, ADEA institutional membership provides a distinct advantage. Empower your faculty, staff and students with access to unparalleled professional development, research, networking and educational resources that support learning, innovation and career advancement while strengthening your institution's impact.
As the oral health education community continues to evolve, ADEA's expanded membership categories create new opportunities for organizations to engage, contribute and lead. The internationally focused Institutional Affiliate Membership and nonprofit-centered Partner Organization Membership build on the value ADEA provides to current members while welcoming new perspectives, expertise and partnerships.
Join a community dedicated to advancing oral health and dental education through shared knowledge, collaboration and innovation. Whether you're seeking meaningful connections, fresh ideas or resources to strengthen your programs, ADEA membership is an investment in your people and your institution's future.
Find Your ADEA Institutional Membership Pathway
Accredited Institution
(CDAC or CODA)
Membership Pathway
Institutional or Institutional Associate Membership
Best fit if you are a U.S. or Canadian dental school, an accredited international dental school, an allied dental education program, an advanced dental education program, a hospital-based advanced dental education program, or a federal/government dental education program.
Unaccredited Institution
(Not CDAC or CODA)
Membership Pathway
Institutional Affiliate Membership
Best fit if you are an international oral health education institution or program that is not accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC).
Nonprofit Organization
Membership Pathway
Partner Organization Membership
Best fit if your nonprofit's mission advances dental education or oral health.
Questions? Please refer to the ADEA Institutional Member Category FAQ for more information.
Institutional and Institutional Associate Membership (Accredited)
Institutional Membership
Dental schools
Institutional Membership
For dental schools granting a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree as part of an accredited college or university in the United States, Puerto Rico or Canada that has begun instruction of its first class of dental students.
Your institution is a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-accredited U.S. dental school granting a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree.
Annual Membership Dues: $26,272
Note: Includes ADEA Deans' Conference assessment of $750.
Institutional Associate Membership
Canadian Dental schools
Institutional Associate Membership
For dental schools approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC).
Your institution is a CDAC-accredited dental school in Canada.
Annual Membership Dues: $2,250
Note: Includes ADEA Deans' Conference assessment of $750.
International Dental Schools
Institutional Associate Membership
For dental schools located outside the United States and Canada that are accredited by CODA or CDAC.
You are an international dental school that is CODA- or CDAC-accredited.
Annual Membership Dues: $3,000
Allied Dental Education Programs
Institutional Associate Membership
Allied dental education programs including dental hygiene, dental assisting, dental lab technology or dental therapy, that are conducted at the main teaching site of an Institutional or Provisional Member institution but are not under that institution’s administrative control are eligible for Associate Institutional Membership. Learn more about benefits for Allied Dental Educators and Students.
You conduct a CODA- or CDAC-accredited dental hygiene, dental assisting, dental laboratory technology, dental therapy or other allied dental education program.
Annual Membership Dues: $945
Note: Programs that are under the administrative control of an institutional or provisional member institution and conducted away from that institution’s main teaching site must be Associate Institutional Members to belong to the ADEA Council of Allied Dental Program Directors.
Advanced Dental Education Programs
Institutional Associate Membership
For academic institutions, other than hospitals, conducting advanced dental education programs.
Your program conducts advanced dental education programs through a university or academic institution.
Annual Membership Dues: $3,998
Hospitals
Institutional Associate Membership
For hospitals conducting advanced dental education programs that are not governed by an institutional or provisional member institution.
Your program operates a hospital-based advanced dental education program.
Annual Membership Dues: $984
Federal Dental Education Programs
Institutional Associate Membership
For educational programs operated by U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Public Health Service or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or a comparable Canadian government agency.
Your program represents a governmental or military oral health education program.
Annual Membership Dues: $3,922
New! Institutional Affiliate Membership
Institutional Membership Opportunities for unaccredited U.S., Canadian and International Programs
International unaccredited institutions are welcome to join ADEA as affiliate members, and mission-aligned nonprofit organizations are encouraged to join us as partner organizations.
Join a growing global network dedicated to advancing oral and overall health through education, research and leadership. International oral health institutions that are part of the broader global oral health education community, but that are not accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation and the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada, are invited to join ADEA as an Institutional Affiliate Member.
International Dental Schools
Institutional Affiliate Membership
You are an international dental school that is not CODA or CDAC-accredited.
Annual Membership Dues: $2,000
International Allied Dental Education Programs
Institutional Affiliate Membership
You conduct international dental hygiene, dental assisting, dental laboratory technology, dental therapy or other allied dental education program that is not CODA or CDAC-accredited.
Annual Membership Dues: $380
International Advanced Dental Education Programs
Institutional Affiliate Membership
For international academic institutions, other than hospitals, or international government agencies that conduct advanced dental education programs and are not governed by an institutional or provisional member institution.
Your program conducts advanced dental education programs through an academic institution or government agency that is not CODA or CDAC-accredited and unaffiliated with a member institution.
Annual Membership Dues: $1,000
Hospitals
Institutional Affiliate Membership
For international hospitals or health centers conducting advanced dental education programs.
Your program operates a hospital-based advanced dental education program that is not CODA or CDAC-accredited.
Annual Membership Dues: $500
In March of 2026, the ADEA House of Delegates passed a resolution to update ADEA membership categories to better highlight value for current members and open doors to welcome other organizations in the oral health community into ADEA's mission. It is an inclusive approach that helps ADEA grow to meet the needs of the oral health community.
- Associate Members – The longstanding “Affiliate Membership” category was renamed to “Institutional Associate Membership” to reflect this category’s CODA/CDAC-accredited standing.
- Affiliate Members – A new “Institutional Affiliate Membership” category was created for international oral health institutions that are not CODA/CDAC accredited.
- Partner Organizations – A new “Partner Organization” organization category was created for nonprofit organizations whose mission and activities advance dental education and/or oral health.
No. If you're currently an accredited member institution, nothing changes for you. These updates create new pathways for others to join ADEA—they don't alter existing memberships.
The term "Associate Institutional Member" better reflects engagement of his member category and is more indicative of access to benefits like voting and board participation. It's a name that matches the role.
Nonprofits operate differently than for-profit companies. The Partner Organization membership acknowledges that difference and offers benefits tailored to nonprofit, mission-driven organizations that want to collaborate with ADEA.
If you are still unsure which ADEA membership category is right for you, or if you have other membership questions, please contact ADEA Member Services at membership@adea.org for assistance.
Access the many benefits of ADEA Institutional and Institutional Associate Membership:
- Four ADEA Centralized Application Services (ADEA AADSAS®, ADEA PASS®, ADEA DHCAS®, ADEA CAAPID®)
- ADEA Connect, our collection of online communities where members can exchange resources and solutions
- Timely updates on federal and state activities and advocacy initiatives that impact dental education
- Exclusive access to the ADEA Data Portal
- A free subscription to the online ADEA Journal of Dental Education
- Scholarship and award opportunities for students and faculty, and
- Discounted registrations on conference, event and professional development opportunities, including the ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition.
Questions
Please email ADEA membership at membership@adea.org.