Education

Apply or Renew PACE Approval

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) Program Approval for Continuing Education (PACE) was created to assist members of the AGD and the dental profession in identifying and participating in quality continuing dental education (CDE).

PACE approves program provider organizations, not speakers or specific courses. The program provider approval mechanism is an evaluation for the educational processes used in designing, planning, and implementing CE. Approval by the AGD does not imply endorsement of course content, products, or therapies presented, nor does this approval imply that a state or provincial board of dentistry will accept courses. Approved program providers are expected to comply with all relevant state and federal laws. CE offered by approved program providers will be accepted by the AGD for Fellowship/Mastership credit.

To qualify for PACE approval, all organizations should have offered a planned program of CDE activities for at least 12 months.

Note: If your organization has not offered a planned program of continuing dental activities during the 12 months immediately preceding the application date, you may apply for a maximum of one year approval.

Apply for NATIONAL PACE Approval if your organization:

  • Offers courses in more than one state or province
  • Draws a significant portion of participants from more than one state or province
  • Offers self instruction programs
  • Offers protocol (onsite/in-office) participation course

Apply for LOCAL PACE Approval if your organization:

  • Offers courses in only one state or province
  • Draws a significant portion of participants from only one state or province
  • Does not offer self instruction programs
  • Does not offer protocol (onsite/in-office) participation course

Apply for National PACE Approval
Thank you for your interest in the AGD Program Approval for Continuing Education (PACE). Program providers who assume responsibility for the quality and implementation of CDE programs (including planning, administering, publicizing, presenting, and record keeping) in more than one state/province, or that draw dentists from more than one state/province are appropriate for national program provider approval. PACE eligibility requirements can be referenced on page 2 of the guidebook.PDF

Nationally Approved PACE Providers receive:

The AGD also continues to work closely with various licensing boards to better ensure the acceptance of hours earned through AGD PACE-approved providers for license renewal.

Download the PDF applicationPDFfor program provider approval and review the guidebook, which contains the AGD's 13 standards and criteria for approval. Applications are reviewed based on these standards.

Samples included are intended to be examples of the types of samples you should be using in your program to meet PACE standards. If you are not currently using any of these elements, your can modify the examples we give you to fit your program, start using in your program, and submit as your sample. Standard XIV can be used as an example in formulating your organization's guidelines or policies related to commercial support. Please refer back to the guidebook for clarification as you complete the application.

The Committee on PACE reviews applications on a bi-monthly schedule. To ensure that your application will be reviewed in a timely manner, please remember the following:

  • Do not bind the application into book form.
  • Samples are required.
  • Applications with missing samples will not be reviewed by the committee.

Label all samples with the question to which they refer in the upper right-hand corner.
Provide four complete copies of your application and required samples.
A $575 application fee must accompany all applications. A check payable to the AGD should be submitted to:

Academy of General Dentistry-DE
211 E. Chicago Ave., Ste 900
Chicago, IL  60611-1999

Effective Jan. 1, 2009, nationally approved AGD PACE providers will be required to pay an annual (or 12-month) non-refundable renewal fee of $200 in order to maintain national approval.

Providers will continue to pay a non-refundable application fee when an application is submitted.  If the application is approved, this fee will include the first year’s approval.  An annual renewal fee for nationally approved PACE providers will subsequently be due at 12 month intervals, based on the start of each approval period.

Non-payment of all required fees within the established deadline(s) will be viewed as a decision by the approved provider to voluntarily withdraw from the PACE program. The name of the previously approved provider will be removed from the current list of AGD PACE-approved providers available on the AGD Web site. Any provider wishing to reinstate its recognition following discontinuation for non-payment of fees will be required to submit a new AGD PACE Application and follow the established procedures for recognition.

Providers whose approval starts on Jan. 1, 2009, or later will be responsible for this fee.  Renewal fees are billed approximately 90 days prior to the anniversary of the provider’s approval date.  The first renewal notices will be mailed Oct. 1, 2009, and will be due on Dec. 31, 2009. 

Thank you for your support of quality continuing dental education. Do not hesitate to contact the AGD toll-free at 888.243.3368 ext. 4335, or e-mail at PACE@agd.org if you have any questions concerning national program provider approval to offer CE for Fellowship/Mastership credit.

Apply for Local PACE Approval
Thank you for your interest in becoming an AGD-approved program provider of continuing education. Please download the application for constituent program provider approval here.

Samples included are intended to be examples of the types of samples you should be using in your program to meet PACE standards. If you are not currently using any of these elements, you can modify the examples we give you to fit your program, start using in your program, and submit as your sample. Standard XIV can be used as an example in formulating your organization's guidelines or policies related to commercial support. Please refer back to the guidebook for clarification as you complete the application.

The provider approval representative from the state/province in which you sponsor CE must review the completed application. Please consult the list of constituent approval representatives where the appropriate provider approval representatives for your state/province are noted. List of Constituent Approval RepresentativesPDF

Your completed application should be mailed to the appropriate provider approval representative.

Contact the constituent representative regarding any review fees before submitting the application. (Note: For New York Sponsors Only. Three copies of the completed application and attachments must be mailed to the New York State AGD.)

Please review the guidebookPDF which contains the AGD's 13 standards and criteria for approval. Applications are reviewed based on these standards.   Please note that approval by an AGD constituent chapter is for courses held in that particular state only. The AGD also approves program providers that offer CE in more than one state/province. Contact the AGD at PACE@agd.org or read about National PACE approval if you think this program is more appropriate for you.

Your interest in offering AGD-approved continuing dental education is appreciated. If you have any questions concerning the application, feel free to contact the AGD toll-free at 888.243.3368, ext 4114.