It is the position of the American Student Dental Association to encourage the administrators of all U.S. dental schools accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation to graduate only students who have achieved competency in all required areas. In cases of unsatisfactory student performance, dental schools should provide positive intervention and allow for reasonable attempts at remediation. In cases where students fail to demonstrate competence after reasonable attempts at remediation, dismissal or other opportunities within the dental profession should be pursued.

In cases where clinical or academic opportunities are disrupted, canceled, or postponed due to unforeseen circumstances, schools provide alternative modalities to assess a student’s competence prior to graduation.