Continuing Education Learner Policies

Harvard School of Dental Medicine Continuing Education is committed to providing a professional, respectful, inclusive, and academically rigorous learning environment for all participants. 

These Learner Policies are intended to establish clear expectations and provide learners with important information about participating in HSDM Continuing Education programs. 

By registering for or participating in an HSDM Continuing Education course or program, learners agree to follow these policies and expectations, as well as applicable Harvard University and HSDM policies. 

These policies apply to learners participating in in-person, live online, hybrid, and other non-degree HSDM Continuing Education offerings. Individual programs may establish additional requirements based on their format, clinical or laboratory activities, location, accreditation requirements, or other program-specific considerations. 

HSDM reserves the right to update these policies as appropriate. When program-specific terms or requirements differ from these general policies, the terms communicated for the individual program will apply. 

On this page

Learner experience & expectations

Attendance and participation

Learners are expected to participate professionally and fully in their educational experience. Depending on the program, learners may be expected to: 

  • Attend required in-person, virtual, laboratory, clinical, or workshop sessions.  
  • Arrive on time and remain for the duration of required activities.  
  • Complete required assignments, evaluations, assessments, or other program requirements by established deadlines.  
  • Participate actively and respectfully in discussions, workshops, case-based activities, and other interactive learning.  
  • Follow instructions provided by faculty and program staff, particularly in laboratory, clinical, simulation, and hands-on environments.  
  • Maintain professional and respectful behavior toward faculty, staff, fellow learners, patients, vendors, and guests.  

For virtual programs, learners should participate from an appropriate environment with reliable internet access and the technology necessary to engage in the program. 

Language proficiency

Unless otherwise stated on the individual program page, HSDM Continuing Education programs are conducted in English. 

Learners are responsible for ensuring that their English-language proficiency is sufficient to participate meaningfully and safely in the educational activities for which they register. 

Technology requirements

Learners participating in online or hybrid programs are responsible for maintaining appropriate internet access, equipment, software, and system access necessary to participate. 

Access to certain Harvard systems or learning platforms may be subject to additional terms of use. 

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Professional conduct & community standards

HSDM seeks to maintain a learning environment characterized by professionalism, respect, intellectual engagement, and consideration for others. 

Learners are expected to: 

  • Treat faculty, staff, fellow participants, and guests with courtesy and respect.  
  • Refrain from disruptive, threatening, discriminatory, harassing, or otherwise inappropriate conduct.  
  • Respect differing professional perspectives and experiences.  
  • Maintain appropriate confidentiality when fellow learners share clinical, professional, institutional, or personal information as part of educational discussions.  
  • Follow applicable Harvard University policies concerning nondiscrimination, anti-bullying, sexual harassment, and other forms of misconduct.  

Academic integrity

Learners are expected to maintain high standards of academic and professional integrity. 

Academic misconduct may include, but is not limited to: 

  • Plagiarism.  
  • Cheating or unauthorized collaboration.  
  • Falsification or misrepresentation of information.  
  • Submitting another person's work as one's own.  
  • Misrepresentation of attendance or participation.  
  • Unauthorized sharing of assessments, assignments, cases, or other protected educational materials.  
  • Misrepresentation of a certificate, continuing education credit, or other credential earned through HSDM.  

Use of artificial intelligence

Learners remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, confidentiality, and integrity of work they submit, regardless of whether artificial intelligence or other digital tools are used. 

Individual courses or faculty may establish additional requirements regarding the permissible use of generative AI. 

Learners should not enter confidential, proprietary, patient-identifiable, or other sensitive information into publicly available AI systems. 

Course materials, photography & recording

Course materials provided by HSDM or its faculty are intended for the registered learner's educational use unless otherwise stated. 

Without prior written authorization, learners may not: 

  • Record audio or video of lectures, workshops, clinical activities, or other educational sessions.  
  • Photograph presentation slides or other restricted materials when photography has been prohibited.  
  • Reproduce, post, sell, publish, or publicly distribute lecture slides, recordings, assignments, assessments, cases, faculty materials, or other course content.  
  • Livestream educational activities.  
  • Distribute course materials through social media, websites, file-sharing platforms, commercial platforms, or other channels.  

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Representing your HSDM continuing education experience

Representing your education

Participation in an HSDM Continuing Education program does not confer a Harvard University or Harvard School of Dental Medicine degree or alumni status. 

You are welcome, and encouraged, to share your accomplishments in your resume/CV, LinkedIn profile, on social media, and through other professional documentation.  Programs and courses confer different credits, certificates, or statuses. The credential, program name, and dates should match the wording on any issued certificates. Any images of certificates or credentials should show the certificate in its original form and not altered by AI or other technologies. 

It is not accurate to characterize CE offerings as degrees from Harvard School of Dental Medicine, nor should learners refer to themselves as graduates or alumni of Harvard or Harvard School of Dental Medicine.  

To represent your experience on LinkedIn, follow these guidelines: 

  • School: Harvard School of Dental Medicine 
  • Degree: Certificate of Participation 
  • Field of Study: Leave blank 
  • Start/End Year: Year in which you completed or anticipate completing the course(s) 
  • Grade: Leave blank 
  • Description: Course or Program Name (e.g.,) 

Use of Harvard name

Learners are expected to adhere to the University’s policies and guidelines around the use of the Harvard name and logo as established by the Office of the Provost. 

Harvard University owns the trademarks (the name and/or logo) of its schools, units, and activities, including the Harvard University and Harvard School of Dental Medicine School and logos. Current and former learners are not permitted to display Harvard or HSDM logos in any context. For more details, please refer to Harvard University’s Trademark and Endorsement policies. 

Learners, both current and past, may use the Harvard School of Dental Medicine name only in factual language that represents their participation in one or more programs and/or courses in a manner that is clear and accurate. For example, learners may use the following for LinkedIn post: 

Grade: Complete.  

Description Example: Mastering Regeneration in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry is an intensive, week-long continuing education program from Harvard School of Dental Medicine. The program provides clinicians with advanced knowledge and practical approaches to regenerative therapy in periodontology and implant dentistry. Participants strengthen their understanding of contemporary regenerative concepts, treatment planning, surgical techniques, and clinical decision-making through expert-led instruction, case-based discussions, and hands-on learning. The program is developed and taught by leading Harvard School of Dental Medicine faculty and internationally recognized experts, providing an immersive learning experience designed to translate current evidence and techniques into clinical practice. 

Questions related to accurate representations of their participation can be emailed to: hsdm_ce@hsdm.harvard.edu.  Past participants are encouraged to stay connected with members of their learning community.  

Any proposal to use the Harvard or Harvard School of Dental Medicine name in any other context needs to be sent to the following email address for review: hsdm_ce@hsdm.harvard.edu.  

Violation of these policies may result in disciplinary action. 

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Registration, payment & financial policies

To ensure the highest quality educational experience, many HSDM Continuing Education programs require advance commitments for faculty, facilities, materials, and catering. We recommend participants register only when they are reasonably certain they can attend.  

The following cancellation policy applies to all Continuing Education programs offered by Harvard School of Dental Medicine.  

In-person programs 

  • Sixty-One (61) or more days prior to the start date of the program: Participants will receive a refund of tuition paid, less a 10% administrative fee. 
  • Thirty-one (31) to sixty (60) days prior to the start date of the program: Participants will receive a 50% refund of tuition paid. 
  • Thirty (30) days or fewer prior to the start date of the program: No refunds will be issued. 

Online programs 

  • Thirty One (31) or more days prior to the start date of the program: Participants will receive a full refund of tuition paid. 
  • Fifteen (15) to thirty (30) days prior to the start date of the program: Participants will receive a 50% refund of tuition paid. 
  • Fourteen (14) or less days prior to the start date of the program: No refunds will be issued. 

All cancellation requests must be submitted via email to hsdm_ce@hsdm.harvard.edu. The effective date of cancellation will be the date the written request is received. 

No refunds or credits will be issued for no-shows or for participants who do not complete the program. 

HSDM is not responsible for foreign transaction fees, currency exchange differences, credit card fees, bank fees, or other third-party transaction costs associated with registration or refunds. 

Program cancellation, postponement, or modification by HSDM

HSDM reserves the right to cancel, postpone, reschedule, relocate, modify, or change the format of a program when necessary, including because of insufficient enrollment, faculty availability, safety considerations, emergencies, or circumstances beyond HSDM's reasonable control. 

If HSDM cancels a program, registered learners will receive a full refund of program tuition paid or, when available, may elect to transfer their registration to another offering. 

HSDM is not responsible for airfare, hotels, visa fees, ground transportation, currency exchange losses, or other expenses incurred by participants in connection with a program cancellation, postponement, relocation, or modification. 

Learners are encouraged to purchase refundable travel arrangements and/or appropriate travel insurance. 

Travel, visas & international participants

Learners are responsible for arranging and paying for their own transportation, lodging, visas, passports, permits, insurance, and other travel-related requirements unless a program specifically states otherwise. 

Where appropriate, HSDM may provide a letter confirming a learner's registration to support a visa application. Such a letter does not guarantee issuance of a visa. 

Inability to obtain a visa does not automatically supersede the applicable cancellation and refund policy. 

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Continuing education credit

HSDM offers ADA CERP continuing education credit for eligible programs. HSDM currently identifies itself as an ADA CERP Recognized Provider and notes that ADA CERP recognition does not mean the ADA approves or endorses individual courses or instructors or guarantees acceptance of credit by dental boards.  

Learners are responsible for determining whether a program and its associated credit satisfy the licensing, certification, or professional requirements applicable in their jurisdiction. 

To receive CE credit, learners may be required to: 

  • Register using accurate identifying information.  
  • Meet attendance and participation requirements.  
  • Complete required evaluations or assessments.  
  • Satisfy any other program-specific requirements.  

HSDM does not guarantee that CE credit will be accepted by every licensing authority, specialty board, employer, or jurisdiction. 

The Continuing Education Department offers both ADA CERP-accredited programs and certificate-based programs. If you are seeking Continuing Education (CE) credits, please carefully review the event details to confirm whether CE credits are offered for that specific program. 

Certificates and completion requirements

To receive a certificate of completion, certificate of attendance, or other program documentation, learners must satisfy the requirements established for the individual program. 

Requirements may include attendance, participation, assignments, assessments, evaluations, completion of required learning activities, and payment of all outstanding program fees. 

A Continuing Education certificate is not a Harvard degree and should not be represented as one. 

Accommodations and accessibility

HSDM welcomes qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. 

Learners who require reasonable accommodations should contact HSDM as early as possible before the program so appropriate arrangements can be considered.

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Removal from a program

HSDM reserves the right to remove a learner from a Continuing Education program when conduct materially violates applicable program, School, or University policies or threatens the safety, integrity, or effective operation of the learning environment. 

Reasons may include: 

  • Academic dishonesty.  
  • Harassment, discrimination, threatening behavior, or serious misconduct.  
  • Significant or repeated disruption of the educational environment.  
  • Misrepresentation of identity, qualifications, or credentials.  
  • Unauthorized recording or distribution of educational materials.  
  • Failure to satisfy required financial obligations.  
  • Unsafe conduct during clinical, laboratory, simulation, cadaveric, or hands-on activities.  

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Export control policies

In order to comply with applicable US sanctions and export control regulations, Harvard prohibits access to and use of its educational offerings, programs and resources by  (i) individuals located in or ordinarily resident in comprehensively sanctioned regions, and (ii) individuals who are otherwise subject to US government sanctions, unless the activity is authorized by a general or specific license or is otherwise exempt from sanctions regulations.  Harvard may decline, suspend, or terminate an application, enrollment, or access to course materials as necessary to comply with these requirements. 

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Privacy and learner information

HSDM respects the privacy of learner information and manages educational and registration information in accordance with applicable Harvard policies and legal requirements. 

Learner information will not be provided to commercial sponsors for marketing, sales, or lead-generation purposes solely because an organization sponsors an HSDM educational activity. 

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Photography and media

Learners may photograph or record certain educational programs or events for personal use only. Photos and videos taken on University property may only be published on personal, non-commercial social media accounts in ways that do not suggest endorsement by the University.  

Social media use of photos and/or videos for commercial purposes is generally not permitted. 

Learners may not independently create, modify, or distribute HSDM-branded graphics or other promotional materials for posting on social media and other channels. Use of the Harvard or HSDM logo on personal designs or graphics is strictly prohibited unless permitted by the Harvard School of Dental Medicine Communications Office. 

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Questions, concerns and complaints

Learners are encouraged to raise program-related concerns promptly so they can be addressed appropriately. 

As a first step, learners should contact the HSDM Continuing Education team. Depending on the nature of the concern, the matter may be referred to the appropriate course director, faculty member, HSDM administrative office, or Harvard University office. 

Email HSDM Continuing Education