Early Equine Dental Education

Are you early in your equine dental education and want to get the best education while aiming for the IAED certification that enables you to practice legally in many States? Work with an equine dental school that has a current MOU with the IAED.

If you are setting your sights on becoming an equine dental professional, you want to get the best education that you can while being supported and respected during that journey. Part of that educational journey is the major professional milestone of becoming IAED Certified. It marks a level of competence that enables you to confidently go into the equine industry to work. While you start your practice after your certification, you should aim to continue to improve and hone your skills while providing that standard of care for your clients’ horses.

The IAED aims to help and support people who are just starting out on their path toward IAED Certification. As a result, the IAED Board requires equine dental schools to maintain a current MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the IAED. These equine dental schools have committed to the IAED Educational Associates Code of Conduct when working with their students. These schools have also committed to cooperating with the IAED around certification events and to
working with fellow IAED Educational Associates to help students achieve graduation if students were to unexpectedly need to change schools during the student’s attempt to complete 240 hours and become a graduate from a dental school, in order to apply for certification. You should read the IAED Educational Associates MOU carefully before committing to start your equine dental education. Our Educational Associates have committed to conduct their schools in accordance with
the document and the IAED Board would like to see you complete your path toward IAED Certification with our Educational Associates.

IAED Educational Associates Memorandum of Understanding ©

Introduction:
The International Association of Equine Dentistry’s primary mandate is not to educate Equine Dental Providers, though it does offer some education by lecturers at its annual convention and some practical instruction at IAED approved workshops. The IAED’s focus is to advance the profession and to offer continuing education opportunities to allow certified members to stay informed and therefore current with evolving industry standards and changes. The IAED understands that the accumulation of knowledge in order to become a competent and IAED Certified practitioner takes a combination of formal classroom instruction, practical instruction and experience that is most frequently achieved by attendance at an educational facility dedicated to equine dental education and practical instruction, along with the accumulation of experience through a large volume of cases. Such educational businesses usually offer multi-tiered education which culminates in the
educational facility “graduating” the student.

The reasoning behind and purpose of the development of the IAED Educational Associates MOU:
To help ensure prospective IAED Certification Candidates are treated in a professional manner. Since the mid 1990’s, the IAED has developed a certification process through the work of dedicated volunteers that has been replicated all over the world. To achieve IAED Certification is required to be qualified to work legally in many jurisdictions and thus the IAED assumes a huge responsibility in providing certification. The IAED takes this responsibility extremely seriously. Given that practitioners are required to be IAED Certified to work legally in many jurisdictions, the logical career path for many EDPs involves becoming IAED Certified. Furthermore, the IAED requires IAED Certification applicants to have completed a minimum number of hours (currently 240 for EDPs and 80 for Veterinarians) of formal education at a school dedicated to educating equine dental practitioners. This 240 hours of formal dental education prior to application for certification requirement heightens the IAED’s responsibility to ensure that those people working towards IAED Certification as part of their chosen career path are treated in a professional manner consistent with most post-secondary education institutions and the IAED’s Code of Conduct during that educational journey. Considering the previously mentioned points, it was the decision of the IAED Board in 2025 that educational entities whose graduates are to be accepted into the IAED Certification process will need to maintain a current MOU with the IAED.

Educational entities will be required to maintain a current MOU:
The IAED Board has decided that those educational entities whose hours and graduates are acceptable to apply for IAED Certification will be required to maintain a current Memorandum of Understanding with the IAED.

The IAED will maintain a list of current “IAED Educational Associates” on the IAED Website. To be listed as an “IAED Educational Associate”, the educational entity must have a current MOU with the IAED.

Educational Entities not maintaining a current IAED MOU:
Educational Entities not maintaining a current MOU with the IAED, will not be listed on the IAED website. The IAED Website will also inform readers that those with hours and graduation from those entities with no IAED MOU will need to achieve graduation status from an educational associate with a current IAED
MOU.

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Equine Dental Schools with current MOU with IAED:

Canadian School of Dentistry – Rockyview County, AB, Canada

The Academy of Equine Dentistry – Glenns Ferry, ID

The American School of Equine Dentistry – Purcellville, VA

Equine Dental School of Texas – Canyon, TX

Equine Gnathological Training Institute Inc. – King Hill, ID

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IAED MOU Requirements and Responsibilities

NUMBER 1

Educational Associates Code of Conduct
IAED Educational Associates agree to the IAED Educational Associates Code of Conduct and commit to operate their educational programs in a manner in keeping with the letter and the spirit of the Code of Conduct.

NUMBER 2
Certification Issues covered by the MOU
Regarding IAED Educational Associates that offer IAED Certifications:
An IAED Educational Associate that offers IAED Certification have agreed to the following requirements:
Pre-approval for the certification must be sought from the IAED through the IAED Certification Committee Chair and the IAED Office. Such requests must be received 90 or more days prior to the proposed Certification.
The request must include the following information:
1 – Location
2 – Proposed minimum and maximum number of people attempting to certify.
3 – Any requested proposed Examiners – to be approved by the Certification Chair.
As per existing policy, the IAED can approve an Examiner who has a teaching relationship with the Educational Associate, but the IAED has the right to appoint the second or more Examiners.
NOTE: Examiners have requirements set forth in policy to maintain their Examiner status which requires
the Examiner to examine periodically on a set schedule and such appointments by the Certification
Committee Chair will help all Examiners maintain their status as an Examiner.
4 – The total number of people available to act as helpers for the Examiners and IAED officials at the certification.

Once approved by the IAED Board, the Certification can be advertised/publicized by the local hosts.

NUMBER 3
Certification Applications, Fees and Records:
All certification applicants must apply directly to the IAED to be accepted as a certification candidate. All payments for IAED certification fees must be paid directly to the IAED. No educational associate or other party may take IAED certification payments on behalf of the IAED. Only candidates that have applied directly to the IAED and paid the IAED certification fees to the IAED will be recognized as IAED certified once they pass the certification process. All payments requirements are subject to current IAED policy. (See application for Certification)

NUMBER 4
Sharing Records and information produced during a Certification:
Educational Associates are required by the MOU to share all the records produced during the IAED Certification with the Certification Committee through the Certification Chair and the IAED Office within 14 days of the completion of the approved Certification.

These records shall include but are not limited to:
*The list of who attempted certification.
*A list of Examiners and IAED officials as well as IAED Educational Associate staff and volunteers in attendance at the facility during the certification.
*The scores achieved in each step of the IAED Certification by the candidates.
*All the paperwork/digital records produced to record the performance of the candidate, including the charts on the horses produced by the Examiners prior to the certification, the candidates’ charts and the Examiners marking and scoring of the candidates work.
*Any paperwork detailing any unusual events that occur during the IAED certification that would be deemed as significant or relevant to the well-being of all the people and horses involved in the event. This would include any injuries or accidents.

NUMBER 5
MOU Requirements per the educational hours and graduation status of certification applicants.
Current IAED Certification policy requires candidates to “Graduate” from an Equine Dental Program in addition to accumulating 240 hours of Equine Dental Education.

Educational associates commit to accept students with equine dental education hours completed at other educational facilities into their programs in order to help the student to complete 240 hours education and achieve graduation. The educational associate may require the transferring student to complete additional
education in order to graduate if deemed necessary. In cases where a potential candidate is a graduate from an educational entity with no IAED MOU agreement the candidate must attain ‘graduate’ status from a school with a current MOU with the IAED prior to attempting certification. The graduating IAED educational associate may require a candidate to complete further hours of education beyond the minimum 240 hour requirement if they deem it necessary in order to achieve
graduation through their program.

NUMBER 6
Grievance Committee Cooperation
IAED Educational associates must agree to cooperate fully with IAED Grievance Committees or IAED Board inquiries/investigations within a reasonable time frame as set forth by the IAED.

The IAED code of conduct for educators outlines the ethical and professional standards expected of teachers and other school personnel. It guides their actions, responsibilities, and interactions with students, colleagues and the broader community, ensuring fair and respectful interactions while prioritizing student well-being and learning.

Key aspects of the IAED code of conduct for our endorsed educators include:
● Professionalism:
Maintaining a high standard of conduct, including personal appearance, language, and interactions, to uphold the dignity of the profession.
● Confidentiality:
Protecting the privacy of student information and only sharing it with appropriate individuals or when required by law.
● Fairness and Non-discrimination:
Providing equal treatment to all students, regardless of background, ability, or other factors.
● Respect and Integrity:
Acting with honesty, integrity, and respect for students, colleagues, and the broader community.
● Student Welfare:
Prioritizing the safety, well-being, and educational needs of students.
● Professional Boundaries:
Avoiding inappropriate relationships with students, staff or colleagues, including romantic or sexual relationships, to maintain professional objectivity.
● Academic Integrity:
Maintaining high standards of academic integrity, including not misrepresenting qualifications, falsifying records, or suppressing or distorting subject matter.
● Compliance with Laws and Regulations:
Adhering to all relevant laws, policies, and regulations related to education and student protection.
● Continuous Improvement:
Engaging in ongoing professional development and self-reflection to enhance competency as an educator.

Educational Associates Code of Conduct continued:
Professional Ethical Conduct, Practices and Performance Standards.
The educator shall refrain from the illegal use or distribution of controlled substances and/or abuse of prescription drugs and toxic inhalants.
The educator shall not consume alcoholic beverages on school property or during school activities when students are present.

Ethical Conduct toward Students.
The educator shall not reveal confidential information concerning students unless disclosure serves lawful professional purposes or is required by law.
The educator shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly treat a student in a manner that adversely affects or endangers the learning, physical health, mental health, or safety of the student.
The educator shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly misrepresent facts regarding a student.
The educator shall not exclude a student from participation in a program, deny benefits to a student, or grant an advantage to a student on the basis of sex, race, color, gender, disability, national origin, religion, family status, or sexual orientation.
The educator shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly engage in physical mistreatment, neglect, or abuse of a student.
The educator shall not furnish alcohol or illegal/unauthorized drugs to any person under 21 years of age.
The educator shall maintain appropriate professional educator-student relationships and boundaries based on a professional educator standard. The educator shall not solicit or engage in sexual conduct or a romantic relationship with a student.

The educator shall refrain from inappropriate communication with a student or minor, including, but not limited to, electronic communication such as cell phone, text messaging, email, instant messaging, or other social network communication.

Factors that may be considered in assessing whether the communication is inappropriate include, but are not limited to:
1. the nature, purpose, timing, and amount of the communication;
2. the subject matter of the communication;
3. whether the communication was made openly or the educator attempted to conceal the communication;
4. whether the communication could be reasonably interpreted as soliciting sexual contact or a romantic relationship;
5. whether the communication was sexually explicit; and

6. whether the communication involved discussion(s) of the physical or sexual attractiveness or the sexual history, activities, preferences, or fantasies of either the educator or the student.

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