AGD LLSR FAQs

• Membership in the AGD for three (3) continuous years (36 months) *

• Current Master in the AGD

• Completion of 500 continuing education (CE) hours earned from approved CE organizations. At least 150 hours must be earned in hands-on/participation course attendance.

• Completion of at least 100 dental-related service points

• Apply for the recognition by Dec.31 of the year prior to the year in which you plan to receive the LLSR.

* This requirement must be completed by Dec. 31 of the year prior to the year in which you plan to receive the LLSR

The LLSR start date is the date a member can begin accruing CE and service points to earn an LLSR. The LLSR start is January 1 of the year they are approved to receive the Mastership Award. Subsequent LLSR start dates begin the day after they apply and qualify for an LLSR.

AGD members start accruing CE hours towards their first LLSR on January 1 of the year they are approved to receive the Mastership Award. Subsequent LLSR start dates begin the day after they apply and qualify for an LLSR.

No, Only CE hours for course attendance earned from AGD PACE- or ADA CERP-approved organizations can be applied to the LLSR CE requirements. The LLSR also allows CE credit for some special activities, such as teaching dental related topics or publishing dental related articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

The AGD defines a hands-on/participation course as a presentation intended to teach a particular subject, technique or skill that actively involves the audience. Participants will actively manipulate dental materials and/or devices, or practice clinical skills or techniques under the live or electronically mediated supervision of a qualified instructor. When live patient treatment is involved, live instructor direct supervision is required. The participation activities must represent a minimum of 30% of total course time and must directly address the educational objectives of the course and be an extension and amplification of the lecture portion of the course.

Yes, if you have a faculty appointment at an ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) or Canadian Dental Association (CDA)-accredited institution, or if you teach for an AGD PACE- or ADA CERP-approved organization. You can apply up to 100 hours of teaching credit toward the LLSR. Teaching activities must be completed after your LLSR start date.

• Faculty appointments: Email a letter of verification to education@agd.org. The letter should be from the director of the program, on the institution’s letterhead, verifying the dates of the teaching appointment and the subject taught. A maximum of ten (10) teaching hours per year, per institution will be awarded for each full or part-time faculty position.
• Teaching for a PACE- or CERP-approved organization: Email a letter of verification to education@agd.org. The letter should be from the program director, on the organization’s letterhead, verifying the dates, length and topic of the program taught.  One teaching hour will be awarded for each hour taught. 

Yes, you can earn ten (10) publication hours for each scientific article, case report, technical paper, clinical research report or textbook published after your LLSR start date.

• Articles, case reports, technical papers and clinical research reports must be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
• Email copies of each publication to education@agd.org to receive credit.

No. Completion of a dental-related post-graduate residency program is not identified in the LLSR guidelines as a special activity qualifying for CE credit.

There are two ways to earn service points:

1. Serving in a leadership role in a recognized dental organization
2. Completing dental related community or volunteer activities

Reference the LLSR Guidelines on the AGD website.

Service to organized dentistry:

Holding a local, state/provincial or national appointment or an elected office in a dental organization is considered service to organized dentistry. Examples of recognized dental organizations include:

• The Academy of General Dentistry and its state constituents and local components
• The American Dental Association and its state constituents and local components
• Any national, state or local constituent or component of a dental specialty organization

Examples of dental-related community or volunteer activities:

• Providing pro bono dental services through a not-for-profit organization
• Mentoring a student, emerging dentist or struggling colleague, through a recognized dental organization
• Service in a volunteer dental clinic or dental mission
• Volunteer service in a community program, such as a health fair
• Providing presentations on dental-related topics to schools, civic, house(s) of worship or other community groups or other health professionals
• Providing dental or oral cancer screenings at a local house(s) of worship, school, health fair, nursing home, retirement community, etc.
• Volunteer work at a local or national dental meeting, such as working at the organization’s booth
• Serving as an unpaid team dentist for a school, college, professional sports team or youth athletic association
• Providing dental education programs at elementary or secondary schools or youth organizations like scout troops, 4-H clubs, etc.

• Serving as a leader in a recognized dental organization: Leaders in a recognized dental organization earn one service point per organization per month for serving in leadership role. A maximum of 12 service points per organization, per year, can be earned for serving in a leadership role.  
• Completing dental related community or volunteer activities: One service point is awarded for each hour spent participating in the dental-related community or volunteer activity. If full hours are not completed, partial points can be awarded.

No, there is no exam associated with the AGD LLSR.