Welcome to AGD Friday, May 09, 2008

Submitting Your CE Credits

How to submit CE credits to the AGD

  • Fax course verification to:
    • CE credits: 312.335.3432
    • Credits for teaching, published articles or textbooks, formal post-graduate, or residency programs: 312.335.3431 (Written verification of the activity must be included.)
    • Self-Instruction Program: 312.440.4261. If you are an AGD member and subscribe to this program, the CE credits you earn will be automatically added to your transcript as self-instruction.
  • Mail course verification to:
      Academy of General Dentistry
      Attn: CE Entry
      211 East Chicago Ave., Ste. 900
      Chicago, IL 60611
  • Email course verification to:
    1. CE credits:  membership@agd.org
    2. Credits for teaching, published articles or textbooks

*For fastest processing, please fax your CE submissions.

Please include the following information on all CE forms submitted to use to help assure accurate transcript recording:

  1. Name and Address: Please be sure your name is clear and legible on all CE course verification forms.
  2. AGD Membership Number: Always include your six-digit AGD membership number.
  3. CE Program Provider Name and/or AGD PACE Provider Number: This information must be included to accurately receive AGD PACE or American Dental Association CERP-approved credits toward the FAGD or MAGD awards. Print the complete name of the organization providing the course.  DO NOT USE ABBREVIATIONS.  Include the six-digit provider code number, if available.
  4. Course Date: Please include the complete month, day, and year the course was given.  If it lasted more than one day, give both the beginning and ending dates of the course.
  5. Subject Code:  AGD subject codes correspond to various topics in dentistry. Obtain a subject code list.
  6. Title of Course and Instructor Name: Include the title of the course and full name of the instructor.
  7. Hours:  The actual number of clock hours spent in the course.  Do not include time for lunch or registration.  Indicate if the course is ‘Lecture’, ‘Participation’ or ‘Self-Instruction’. 
    1. Participation courses must have a hands-on component that equals at least 30 percent of the course content.
    2. Self-Instructional courses:  If the course was self-instructional, you must provide a copy of your certificate of course completion or other proof of attendance from the program provider.  
  8. Course Location, Please include the city and/state where the course took place.
  9. Credit for teaching, published articles or textbooks, formal post-graduate/residency programs:  Submission of these types of CE must be in letter form. Verification of the activity must be included.

CE Submission Tips:

  • Avoid using highlighters and markers and to highlight course information forms.
  • Do not submit CE course invitations, registration confirmation slips, receipts, or cancelled checks as course verification. They cannot be processed as records of CE.
  • Do not use abbreviations for program provider names or course titles.
  • CE processing time takes approximately ten business days from the date of receipt.
  • AGD PACE-approved providers are required to submit CE course information directly to AGD.  Please allow up to 60 days for credits to post from AGD PACE Providers
  • Please provide your six-digit AGD membership identification number when attending courses with a PACE-approved provider.
  • Always keep a copy of your course attendance verification for your records.

Frequently Asked Questions About CE

Where can I find CE courses?
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) offers various resources to help you fulfill your membership maintenance requirement. To learn more, visit the Education section of the Web site.

Is there a time limit for reporting CE credits?
No, but the AGD requests that members report their course verification from non-PACE-approved providers via mail or fax (312.335.3432) within 60 days of completion. Keep in mind that you must have 75 CE hours on record when your membership maintenance period ends. 

How can I keep track of credits I’ve earned so that I don’t duplicate courses by mistake?
Use your transcript to monitor your CE activities. It lists the credits reported to AGD since you joined and indicates credits accrued toward the Fellowship or Mastership Awards. You can also request a copy be sent to you by contacting the Membership Services Center at 888.243.3368, ext 5300 or e-mail membership@agd.org.

How can I correct an error on my transcript? 
To keep up-to-date with your AGD records, you can view and edit your AGD transcript 24 hours a day. You also can add courses or make changes to your CE transcript via fax or U.S. mail:

Academy of General Dentistry
211 E. Chicago Avenue, Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60611-1999
CE fax line: 312.335.3432
For fastest processing, please fax your CE submissions.

Can the subject code of a course be changed? Can course type be changed from a lecture to a participation course?
Written verification from the program provider is required to change the subject code of a course, or to change a lecture course to a participation course. 

What activities must be verified by providers?
Verification of courses is recommended but not usually required. However, verification of participation in the following activities is always required before credit can be granted:

  • Publication of scientific articles
  • Teaching
  • General practice residencies (GPR)
  • Completion of courses of unusual length (usually 40 hours or more)
  • Completing audio, audiovisual, online and written self-instructional programs (verification of post‑tests completion)

Who has to meet the 75-hour membership maintenance requirement?
All active general dentist and associate members must earn 75 hours of continuing education credits during their three-year membership maintenance period. Recent graduates are given five years to earn their initial 75 credit hours. Emeritus, retired, affiliate, and pre-doctoral student members are exempt and members granted a disability waiver by the AGD are exempt for the period of disability.

What activities count toward membership maintenance?
You can receive maintenance credit when you:

  • Attend any formal continuing education courses, including study-club programs
  • Publish scientific articles
  • Hold a full or part‑time faculty position in a dental training institution
  • Attend table clinics
  • Teach scientific courses related to dentistry

If I took CE or postgraduate training before I joined the AGD, can I get credit for it?
Generally, the AGD only recognizes CE credits beginning the date you joined the AGD. However, under certain circumstances, the AGD grants credit for activities completed before your join date. Recent dental graduates receive credit for all CE courses they took since graduation, if they joined the AGD during the first full calendar year after graduation. In addition, if you joined the AGD within 12 months after you completed an American Dental Association (ADA)-accredited advanced education in general dentistry (AEGD) or GPR of at least one year in length, you may receive up to 250 hours of Fellowship credit.

How can I receive CE credit for the completion of a residency program?
To receive credit for the completion of an ADA-accredited residency program in general dentistry, send in a copy of the residency certificate, or a letter from the director of the residency program on official letterhead verifying that you have completed the residency. Be sure to include the beginning and ending dates of the program along with the type of residency completed. Please note that GPR and AEGD programs are the only residencies that qualify for credit. Credit is awarded as follows:

  • 250 hours of credit toward the Fellowship Award, for approved one year programs
  • 300 hours of participation credit towards the Mastership Award for AGD Fellows completing approved one-year programs
  • 250 hours credit toward Fellowship plus half the requirements of Mastership, for members completing approved two-year programs
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Can I receive CE credit for teaching?
Yes, if you have a faculty appointment at an ADA- or Canadian Dental Association-accredited institution you can receive up to 150 hours of approved credit. After the first year of teaching for 100 hours, any years thereafter will earn 25 CE hours for teaching. A verification letter from the director of the program is required to receive teaching credit for a faculty appointment. The letter should be on official letterhead and include the dates of teaching appointments and the subject taught.

CE presentations sponsored by AGD Program Approval for Continuing Education (PACE)- or ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program (CERP)-approved providers also are eligible for credit. Original presentations receive three hours of credit for each hour of teaching. Repeat presentations receive hour-for-hour credit. For teaching CE courses, verification on letterhead or other official correspondence must be sent by either the sponsoring organization or the lecturer. A combined maximum of 150 teaching/publication hours may be applied towards the Fellowship or Mastership Award.

Can I receive credit for my writing?
You can receive up to 150 hours of publication credit toward Fellowship or Mastership Awards for authoring published scientific articles. To receive credit for an article that has been published, submit a copy of the article as it appears in the publication. Articles written about practice management are not eligible for credit. Credit is awarded as follows:

  • 65 hours for scientific articles published in a refereed journal (40 hours for non-refereed)
  • 65 hours for a textbook or chapter of a dental textbook
  • 10 hours for a published case report, technique paper or clinical research report in a refereed journal (5 hours for non-refereed)

A combined total of 150 teaching/publication CE hours may be applied towards the Fellowship or Mastership Award.

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