To earn Fellowship, you must complete the following requirements:

• Maintain current AGD membership for three continuous years by Dec. 31 of the year in which the application is received, to begin no earlier than the month of dental school graduation. (Did your membership recently lapse? Learn how you can buy back missed years of membership.) 
• Have a dental license that has not been suspended or revoked within the past five years and is not currently under probation, suspension or revocation.
• Pass the AGD Fellowship Exam anytime as an AGD member. You do not need to complete 500 hours of CE before taking the exam.
• Complete 500 hours of approved CE.
• Attend the AGD Convocation Ceremony, held during the AGD Scientific Session, where you will receive the award; successful candidates are allowed three years following approval to complete this requirement. Awardees can register to receive complimentary general meeting registration and a complimentary ticket to the Convocation Celebration the year they receive their award. 

For more information, download the AGD FAGD Guidelines. 

Apply for Fellowship

To receive your AGD Fellowship Award, you must submit an application and the required fee to AGD by Dec. 31 to be considered for the class immediately following the application deadline. Click on the blue APPLY FOR FELLOWSHIP box below to start the online application.

• You MUST be logged in under your AGD Member ID to access the application.
• The current application fee is $860. You must pay this fee by credit card when submitting your online application.
• You will receive an automatic confirmation email once the application and payment are received.
• Email questions to education@agd.org

Click here for step-by-step directions on applying online for the AGD Fellowship Award. 

Effective January 1, 2026, AGD student members may earn up to a maximum of 100 hours of CE as lecture and/or self-instruction credit, of which 30 hours can be self-instruction credit, only within the parameters of the Fellowship and Mastership guidelines.

• Prior to January 1, 2026, AGD student members could earn and apply up to 50 CE hours to the Fellowship Award CE requirements.
• This change will be reflected in the AGD Member Award transcripts in the third quarter of 2026. 
• AGD members who apply for the 2027 Fellowship Award and later can apply up to 100 CE hours earned as an AGD Student member to the Fellowship Award CE Requirements.
• Only hours earned as an AGD member can be applied to the award CE requirements.
• Only hours earned from AGD PACE- or ADA CERP-approved organizations can be applied to the award CE requirements. 

To earn Mastership, you must complete the following requirements:

• Be an AGD Fellow
• Maintain current AGD membership for three continuous years by Dec. 31 of the year in which the application is received. (Did your membership recently lapse? Learn how you can buy back missed years of membership.)
• Have a dental license that has not been suspended or revoked within the past five years and is not currently under probation, suspension or revocation.
• Complete at least 1,100 hours of approved CE as an AGD member. This includes the first 500 hours applied towards the Fellowship Award.
• Of the 1,100 CE hours at least 400 hours of CE must be from participation courses in specific disciplines.
• Of the 1,100 CE hours at least 600 hours must meet minimum hour requirements in specific disciplines.
• Apply for the Mastership Award.
• Upon approval to receive the award, attend the AGD Convocation Ceremony, held during the AGD Scientific Session, where you will receive the award; successful candidates are allowed three years following approval to complete this requirement. Awardees can register to receive complimentary general meeting registration and a complimentary ticket to the Convocation Celebration the year they receive their award. 

For more information, download the AGD Mastership Award Guidelines.

Apply for Mastership

To receive your AGD Mastership Award submit your application and the required fee to AGD by Dec. 31. Click on the blue APPLY FOR MASTERSHIP box below to start the online application.

• You MUST be logged in under your AGD Member ID to access the application.
• The current application fee is $930. You must pay this fee by credit card when submitting your online application. 
• You will receive an automatic confirmation email once the application and payment are received.
• Email questions to education@agd.org

Step-by-step directions on applying online for the AGD Mastership Award. 

The AGD regularly updates its exams and awards to ensure they reflect the skills and knowledge required for modern dentistry.

• After a recent study of treatments typically offered by general dentists, the 2025 AGD House of Delegates approved changes to the AGD Mastership Award CE Requirements
• In keeping with AGD House Policy 78:19-H-6, changes to the AGD Mastership Award Guidelines are being announced three years in advance to make sure members planning for this award have ample time to plan for the revised requirements.

The revised requirements will go into effect on January 1, 2029. 

• AGD members applying for the 2030 Mastership Award will be required to meet the revised requirements. 
• Members applying for the 2027, 2028 and 2029 Mastership Award will be required to meet the existing CE requirements until the 2030 application period.

Beginning with the class of 2030, AGD members pursuing Mastership will need to show that they have taken CE to learn about Sleep Medicine in Dentistry.  This is because dentists play a critical role in screening for and treating sleep-related breathing disorders.

• Members can start submitting CE using subject code 710, Sleep Medicine

• Members who have already completed courses in sleep medicine can change the subject code on their online transcript. See directions below.
• Hours coded as 710 Sleep Medicine will be included in the totals for 730 Oral Medicine/Oral Diagnosis until January 1, 2029.

The total number of specified hours has changed; overall required remains the same.

To earn the Mastership Award, members need to earn a minimum of 1,100 approved CE hours as an AGD member.  400 of these hours must be hands-on/participation hours. This has not changed. 

• The first 500 of the overall 1,100 hours are applied to the Fellowship Award Requirements. 
• To qualify for the Mastership Award, members must earn a specified minimum number of hours in each subject area.

MAGD Hours

Currently the total number of specified hours is 568.  Effective January 1, 2029, the number of specified hours will increase to 582.  These hours continue to be distributed amongst all recognized subject areas. The 600 minimum overall MAGD hour requirement required hasn’t changed.

• The 18 additional hours needed after the minimums in each subject area have been met can be earned in any subject area.
• MAGD hours include all hands-on/participation hours earned as an AGD member and all lecture, self-instruction, teaching and publication hours earned after qualifying for Fellowship.

Hands-on/Participation Hours

Currently the total number of specified participation hours is 372.  Effective January 1, 2029, the number of specified participation hours will increase to 378.  These hours continue to be distributed amongst all recognized subject areas. The minimum total number of participation hours required is 400 and has not changed.

• The 22 additional participation hours needed after the minimums in each subject area have been met can be earned in any subject area.
• All participation hours earned as an active AGD member will be applied to the Mastership requirements.

Review the chart below to see changes in the subject area requirements.

Directions to edit your AGD Transcript

• Make sure you are logged on to www.agd.org
• From the blue horizontal menu click on Education and then My CE Hub
• Click on the VIEW SUBMISSION HISTORY button
• Scroll down and find the course you want to edit.
• Click on the Edit button on the left side of the line
• Look for the Subject Code * field and use the drop-down arrow to find Sleep Medicine – 710
• Select Sleep Medicine – 710 and the click on the Submit button at the bottom of the page. 

To be eligible for LLSR, you must complete the following requirements:

• Maintain current AGD membership for three continuous year by Dec. 31 of the year in which the application is received
• Be an AGD Master
• Earn a minimum of 500 CE hours after receiving the Mastership Award, 150 of which must be participation hours. Hours must be earned in at least eight of the 17 recognized clinical subject areas.
• Accumulate 100 service points in any combination of dental-related community/volunteer service and/or service to organized dentistry; only those services performed since the date Mastership was received or since a previous LLSR was received are eligible

LLSR recipients are invited, but not required, to participate in the Convocation Ceremony the year they are approved to receive the recognition.  If attending the Convocation Ceremony, recipients can register to receive complimentary general meeting registration and a complimentary ticket to the Convocation Celebration.

For more information, download the LLSR Guidelines.

Apply for LLSR in AGD

To receive LLSR, you must submit the following to AGD:

• A LLSR Application
• Written verification of your volunteer activities; use the Volunteer Service Verification Form to document your volunteer activities
• A current AGD transcript
• The required fee of $770 Effective Jan. 1, 2026, the LLSR application fee will be $800

Applications must be submitted by Dec. 31 to be considered for the class immediately following the application deadline.

The Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition (LLSR) was launched in 2003 to recognize members who continue to embrace the mission of the Academy of General Dentistry to remain current in their field and give back by staying active in organized dentistry and dental-related community service.

To qualify for an LLSR, AGD Masters must show that they have earned 100 Service Points.

Service Points can be earned by:

• Serving in an elected or appointed office in a recognized dental organization.
• Volunteering for dental-related community activities.

Effective January 1, 2026, AGD members can accumulate service points to apply to their first LLSR requirements beginning January 1 of the year they receive the Fellowship Award.

• Previously the date was January 1 of the year they received the Mastership Award.

• Members can earn multiple LLSRs.  Once a member’s first LLSR is received, service points earned after the most recent LLSR was received can be applied to the next LLSR. 

Profile for Nomination

Anyone who has exhibited the following characteristics is eligible to be nominated for this award:

1. Has been a dedicated nationally recognized educator of general dentists.
2. Has served as a role model ethically and professionally to general dentists.
3. Has exemplified the principles and goals of the Academy of General Dentistry and has made exceptional efforts in promoting these ideals.
4. The nominee may not be a sitting member of the Dental Education Council
5. Individuals who hold a position on the Board of Trustees are not eligible for nomination
6. Self-nominations will not be accepted.

Mechanism for Nomination of Candidate

1. Prior to a selected date, all AGD members will be invited to submit a nomination for the individual whom they wish to sponsor as the most deserving recipient of “The Thaddeus V. Weclew Award.”
2. Nominations must be received in the AGD national office by January 31, 2026 (approximately 18 months prior to the Convocation for which the nomination is made.).
3. In order to consider the qualifications fairly please include a copy of the nominee’s CV.

Guidelines for Screening Nominees

1. It shall be the duty of the entire Dental Education Council to act as the Screening Committee for all nominees.
2. The headquarters office will forward copies of each nomination form and sponsor’s reinforcing testimony to every member of the Screening Committee as soon as possible after the deadline.
3. Each committee member will independently evaluate and select the individual nominee felt to be most deserving.
4. The Council will finalize the selection by the end of the winter meeting of the Dental Education Council.
5. Individuals who hold a position on the Board of Trustees are not eligible for nomination
6. Only one Thaddeus V. Weclew Award may be granted annually, but in those circumstances where nominees possess outstanding qualities and are of special caliber, two Dr. Thaddeus V. Weclew Awards may be awarded.
7. In the event that the nominees do not meet the above criteria, the Dental Education Council has the option to forgo recommending a Weclew recipient to the Board of Trustees.
8. The final selection(s) of the Dental Education Council will be presented to the AGD Board of Trustees for approval.

Recipient’s Obligations

1. The recipient must be present at the Convocation Ceremony to receive the award in person.
2. Should a recipient be unable to attend the Convocation, the recipient will be invited to the next year’s meeting. If unable to attend the second year, the nomination must be reconsidered by the Dental Education Council.
3. The recipient will be expected to give a brief verbal acknowledgment of the award at the Convocation Ceremony

 Application for Nomination

In 1972, AGD established an award to honor the remarkable accomplishments of a member and educator who exhibited courage in the face of insurmountable odds. His blindness, caused by a condition aggravated by diabetes, meant a whole new way of life. At the time of his death in 1971, Dr. Borish was director of the division of Continuing Dental Education at Temple University School of Dentistry, his alma mater. He served as president and editor of the Philadelphia County Dental Society and as a trustee of the Pennsylvania Dental Association. Dr. Borish also served as chair of the AGD’s Council on Continuing Education (now Dental Education Council). His work will remain a living memorial attesting to his advanced thinking and greatness.

Award Profile

• A member or non-member, dentist or non-dentist is eligible for nomination.
• Exhibits courage in the face of insurmountable odds or challenges and further exemplifies a commitment to education. (Potential challenges could include overcoming addictions, medical conditions, mental health illnesses, economic hardships, rehabilitation after a major trauma or injury, or social adversity in the face of abuse or discrimination).
• Demonstrates dedication far beyond the average to the advancement of the profession.
• Demonstrates tenacity of purpose in carrying out goals and ideals.
• Has been innovative in the promulgation of constructive programs.
• Exhibits selflessness and possesses a deep interest in all facets of dentistry.

Guidelines and Selection Process

• Nominations may only be submitted by an active AGD member in good standing in the organization.
• Self-nominations will not be accepted.
• Individuals may be nominated by others outside his/her region.
• The nominee may not be a current member of the AGD Board or Regional Directors, nor be a candidate for office.
• The award will not be given to the same individual more than once; therefore, past recipients are ineligible.
• A nominator is limited to one Borish Award nomination per year.
• A completed nomination form, letter of recommendation, along with a copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae (CV), must be received at AGD Headquarters by April 15, 2026.
• Other supporting documentation may be submitted to substantiate the character of the nominee (testimonials, photos, newsletters, articles).
• It shall be the duty of the Awards Committee to act as the Screening Committee for all nominees.
• Staff will forward all nominations and supplemental materials to the Awards Committee for consideration.
• The committee will submit a list of nominees for vetting by the Board.
• After the list of nominees have been vetted by the Board, the committee shall select the final award recipients to be ratified by the Board.
• The Awards Committee also has the option to forego recommending a recipient to the AGD Board.
• Typically, only one award is granted annually. However, if the caliber of nominees is particularly outstanding, two awards may be granted.
• Nominations may be resubmitted for consideration the following year for qualified candidates.

 Application for Nomination

Award Profile

• Nominee must be current or past council, committee, or task force member.
• Has made a contribution that has advanced the work of the AGD on a national level in a measurable way resulting in the long-term enhancement of the goals/core purpose of the AGD.
• Has demonstrated exemplary dedication to the AGD.
• Has shown innovation and leadership when making positive changes for the benefit of the membership, the AGD, and the dental profession.
• Contributions were made while serving AGD in an appointed (not elected) position.
• Has contributed time and effort beyond that required by his/her fulfillment of a council, committee, or task force appointment.

Guidelines and Selection Process

• Nominations may only be submitted by an active AGD member in good standing in the organization.
• Self-nominations will not be accepted.
• Individuals may be nominated by others outside his/her region.
• The nominee may not be a current member of the AGD Board or Regional Directors, nor be a candidate for office.
• The award will not be given to the same individual more than once; therefore, past recipients are ineligible.
• A nominator is limited to one Distinguished Service Award nomination per year.
• A completed nomination form, letter of recommendation, along with a copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae (CV), must be received at AGD Headquarters by April 15, 2026.
• Other supporting documentation may be submitted to substantiate the character of the nominee (testimonials, photos, newsletters,articles).
• It shall be the duty of the Awards Committee to act as the Screening Committee for all nominees.
• Staff will forward all nominations and supplemental materials to the Awards Committee for consideration.
• The committee will submit a list of nominees for vetting by the Board.
• After the list of nominees have been vetted by the Board, the committee shall select the final award recipients to be ratified by the Board.
• The Awards Committee also has the option to forego recommending a recipient to the AGD Board.
• Typically, only one award is granted annually. However, if the caliber of nominees is particularly outstanding, two awards may be granted.
• Nominations may be resubmitted for consideration the following year for qualified candidates.

Award Presentation

The recipient will be presented with the Distinguished Service Award during the 2026 Annual Meeting. 

 Application for Nomination

Award Profile

• Must be an active member of the AGD in good standing.
• Should be an exemplary member of the dental profession and of his/her community.
• Should sacrifice his/her own interests in order to better serve the public.
• Should bring honor to the dental profession through his/her accomplishments.
• Should be compassionate, concerned, thoughtful, sensitive, charitable, dedicated, unselfish, progressive, service-oriented, professional, and dedicated to excellence.
  

Guidelines and Selection Process

• Nominations may only be submitted by an active AGD member in good standing in the organization.
• Self-nominations will not be accepted.
• Individuals may be nominated by others outside his/her region.
• The nominee may not be a current member of the AGD Board or Regional Directors, nor be a candidate for office.
• The award will not be given to the same individual more than once; therefore, past recipients are ineligible.
• A nominator is limited to one Humanitarian Award nomination per year.
• A completed nomination form, letter of recommendation, along with a copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae (CV), must be received at AGD Headquarters by April 15, 2026.
• Other supporting documentation may be submitted to substantiate the character of the nominee (testimonials, photos, newsletters, articles).
• It shall be the duty of the Awards Committee to act as the Screening Committee for all nominees.
• Staff will forward all nominations and supplemental materials to the Awards Committee for consideration.
• The committee will submit a list of nominees for vetting by the Board.
• After the list of nominees have been vetted by the Board, the committee shall select the final award recipients to be ratified by the Board.
• The Awards Committee also has the option to forego recommending a recipient to the AGD Board.
• Typically, only one award is granted annually. However, if the caliber of nominees is particularly outstanding, two awards may be granted.
• Nominations may be resubmitted for consideration the following year for qualified candidates.
  

Award Presentation

The recipient will be presented with the Humanitarian Award during the 2026 Annual Meeting. 

 Application for Nomination