Certification
Curriculum Guidelines
Download Cirriculum Guidelines 
The Curriculum Guidelines and Standards for Dental Laser Education is a document which defines the standard of education for practitioners who use lasers. Initially drafted during a workshop organized at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry in July 1992, the resulting set of guidelines and standards was adopted by the Academy of Laser Dentistry in 1993 and subsequently endorsed by more than 75 dental and health organizations, universities and manufacturers worldwide. On October 3, 1998, a workshop was held at UCSF for a revision of the Curriculum Guidelines. Input was solicited from dental professionals who teach, use, or manufacture dental lasers. The current version is available as a download (above.)
The goal of the Curriculum Guidelines and Standards for Dental Laser Education is to enhance student and practitioner understanding and knowledge of the application of laser technology in dentistry. Four levels of education are outlined. Introductory courses are commensurate with continuing education level courses designed to provide general information on lasers in dentistry; they are informational and do not have an assessment of the student's proficiency in laser use. Standard Level, Advanced Proficiency and Educator courses have specific educational goals, behavioral objectives and examination of proficiency. Standard level courses provide a basic level of education with didactic, laboratory and clinical exercises. Advanced level courses are an advanced level of education which have didactic, laboratory and clinical observation, as well as a clinical case study requirement. The Educator courses define the educational requirements for instructors of laser education in dentistry.
Those interested in commenting on the document may contact:
Joel M. White, DDS, MS
University of California, San Francisco
707 Parnassus Avenue, Box 0758
San Francisco, CA 94143-0758
(415) 476-0918
(415) 476-0858 Fax
whitej@dentistry.ucsf.edu
