Awards & Convocation

To earn Fellowship, you must complete the following requirements:

• Maintain current AGD membership for three continuous years by Dec. 31, 2025, to begin no earlier than the month of dental school graduation
  
• 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
  
• Complete 500 hours of approved CE
• Apply for the Fellowship Award
• Attend the AGD Convocation Ceremony, held during the AGD Scientific Session, where you will receive the award
  

For more information, download the AGD FAGD Guidelines. 

All CE earned during AGD2026 can be applied towards this professional distinction. Additionally, AGD will be hosting the Fellowship Review Course and Fellowship Exam during Scientific Session and in the Fall of 2025. 

Fellowship Review Course

The AGD Fellowship Review Course is held each year at the Scientific Session. All members who attend will receive a complimentary electronic copy of the AGD Fellowship Exam Study Guide prior to the course. Handouts will be provided electronically and should be printed or downloaded before attending.

The Fellowship Exam 

Attendees may register to sit for the AGD Fellowship Exam on the day immediately following the review course. The Fellowship Exam consists of approximately 250 multiple-choice questions and is administered during a one-day, four-hour testing session. It includes material from all dental disciplines and emphasizes clinical applications of accepted dental knowledge, techniques and procedures.

Apply for AGD Fellowship Award

To receive your AGD Fellowship Award in 2026, you must complete all requirements, apply online electronically, and pay the required fee by Dec. 31, 2025. Access the online application here. Please email education@agd.org with any questions.

AGD’s Council on Dental Education will review your application by the end of March. You can expect to receive notification of the council’s decision by mail by mid-April, 2026.

Please email education@agd.org with any questions.

To earn Mastership, you must complete the following requirements:

• Be an AGD Fellow
  
• Maintain current AGD membership for three continuous years by Dec. 31, 2025.
  
• 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
  
• 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
  
• Attend the AGD Convocation Ceremony, held during the AGD Scientific Session
  

All of the CE offered during AGD2026 can be applied towards this professional distinction.

For more information, download the AGD Mastership Award Guidelines.

Apply for AGD Mastership

To receive your AGD Mastership Award in 2025, you must complete all requirements and submit an application and the required fee to AGD by Dec. 31, 2025. Access the online application here. Please email education@agd.org with any questions.

AGD’s Council on Dental Education will review your application by the end of March. You can expect to receive notification of the council’s decision by mail by mid-April, 2026.

Please email education@agd.org with any questions. 

LLSR Requirements

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

• Achieve Mastership in the AGD.
• Maintain current AGD membership for three continuous years by Dec. 31 of the year in which the application is received
• 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.
• Apply for the LLSR.

All of the CE offered during AGD2026 can be applied towards this professional distinction.

For more information, download the LLSR Guidelines.

Apply for LLSR in AGD

To receive your AGD LLSR in 2025, you must complete all requirements, apply online electronically, submit written verification of your volunteer activities, and pay the required fee by Dec. 31, 2025. Access the online application here. Please email education@agd.org with any questions.

AGD’s Council on Dental Education will review your application by the end of March. You can expect to receive notification of the council’s decision by mail by mid-April 2026.

Please email education@agd.org with any questions. 

Complimentary General Meeting Registration

As a reminder, AGD is pleased to provide awardees and LLSR Recipients with complimentary general registration and two complimentary tickets to the 2026 Convocation Reception. Both must be secured through the AGD annual meeting registration process. If you need assistance with the registration process, contact our meetings team at meetings@agd.org. 

Cap and Gown Reservations (Fellows and Masters Only)

All 2026 Fellow and Master Awardees must reserve a cap and gown to wear during the 2026 Convocation Ceremony. Reservation information will be emailed to all approved applicants in April 2026.  Fellows and Masters can pick up reserved caps & gowns onsite at AGD2026 on Friday, June 26, 2026, and Saturday, June 27, 2026.

Note: LLSR recipients do not wear caps and gowns. LLSR recipients should dress in business attire to accept their pin and honor stole onstage. 

Convocation Rehearsal

Rehearsal for awardees and LLSR recipients will be Saturday, June 27, 2026, at AGD2026. It is recommended that awardees/LLSRs do not make any plans after 12:30pm. 

Convocation Ceremony

The Convocation Ceremony will be on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV. The ceremony is expected to last anywhere from 2 to 2.5 hours. Doors will open for guest seating approximately 15 minutes before the ceremony begins. Ample, non-reserved seating will be available. Tickets are not needed to attend the Convocation Ceremony. All guests are welcome. 

The AGD photographer will take photos of all awardees as they cross the stage. Family members may take photos from their seats; Please remind your family members that they will not be allowed to enter the aisles or approach the stage to take pictures.

Pins, Certificates, Plaques and Crystals

All 2026 Awardees and LLSR Recipients will receive a pin during the ceremony. 2026 LLSR Recipients will also receive an honor stole. FAGD Certificates, MAGD Plaques and LLSR Crystals will be shipped to all 2026 recipients four to eight weeks after the Convocation Ceremony. 

Guests at the Convocation Ceremony

Guests attending only the Convocation Ceremony are NOT required to register for AGD2026 for the Convocation Ceremony. There will be ample seating available. Please encourage your guests to arrive no more than ten minutes before the doors are scheduled to open. 

Convocation Reception

Following the Convocation Ceremony, join AGD leaders and members, along with families and friends, for a congratulatory reception. This is a ticketed event.  Awardees and LLSRs must register to receive two complimentary Convocation Reception tickets. Additional guest tickets can be purchased through the registration system. If you have already registered for AGD2026, please use the link in your confirmation to access your registration and add guest Convocation Reception tickets to your event. Contact the Meetings Team if you require additional assistance at meetings@agd.org.

Convocation Portraits

Awardees, LLSR recipients, and their families are invited to have a formal portrait taken at the AGD2026 Photo Studio.  This is an ideal time to take a formal portrait in your cap and gown, update your professional head shot, or take family photos. Caps, gowns, ribbons, and pins will be available in the studio, you will not need to bring your caps and gowns with you. 

Regional Group Photos

Many regions will schedule times for group photos on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Please contact your regional director or constituent executive early June 2026 You should arrive for your group photo dressed in your cap and gown. Extra caps and gowns will not be available for group photos.