diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 1a5c4f52..c13aa3d1 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Package: CommonDataModel
 Type: Package
 Title: OMOP CDM DDL and Documentation Generator
-Version: 1.0.1
+Version: 5.4.2.9000
 Authors@R: person(given = "Clair",
                     family = "Blacketer",
                     role = c("aut", "cre"),
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 7b693552..0785d695 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+CommonDataModel (development version)
+======================
+
+Documentation:
+
+1. Clarified OMOP CDM versioning guidelines for Major (`x.0.0`), Minor (`x.y.0`), and Patch (`x.y.z`) releases (#811).
+
+
 CommonDataModel v5.4.2
 ======================
 
diff --git a/site/faq.qmd b/site/faq.qmd
index 5d6697f5..b56b29ac 100644
--- a/site/faq.qmd
+++ b/site/faq.qmd
@@ -192,3 +192,13 @@ It is difficult to recommend what technical capabilities a site needs to set up
 - Recommend
   - Cloud-based infrastructure like multiple AWS Redshift clusters, for example:
   - ![](man/images/AWS_clusters.png)
+
+## How is OMOP CDM versioning handled?
+
+The OHDSI Common Data Model follows a modified Semantic Versioning scheme (`x.y.z`):
+
+* **Major Releases (`x.0.0`)**: Include breaking schema changes, such as dropping or renaming tables and columns, changing data types, or major architectural restructuring. These releases require ETL code modifications.
+* **Minor Releases (`x.y.0`)**: Include backwards-compatible schema additions, such as introducing new optional tables (e.g., `EPISODE`) or adding nullable columns to existing tables.
+* **Patch / Build Releases (`x.y.z`)**: Strictly **disallow structural database schema changes** (no adding, removing, or renaming tables or columns). Patch releases are reserved for SQL dialect DDL fixes, constraint/index syntax updates, Quarto documentation fixes, website updates, and R package tooling maintenance.
+
+Note: Site documentation pages align with minor versions (`x.y`), while patch updates (`x.y.z`) update repository release tags, DDL files, and `NEWS.md`.