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Program Approval for Continuing Education (PACE)
The PACE program is an evaluation of the educational processes used in designing, planning, and implementing continuing dental education. It was created to assist dental professionals in identifying quality continuing dental education.
The PACE Program approves continuing dental education (CDE) organizations, not speakers or course content. Eligible organizations must:
- Offer a planned program of continuing dental education activities.
- Have a permanent base in the United States, Canada or their territories, or be an officially recognized agency or unit within the national dental services of the United States or Canada. CDE providers that do not fit within this criterion must meet the additional international eligibility requirements provided in the Eligibility Requirements for International Continuing Dental Education Providers section before being considered eligible to apply for recognition.
- Ensure that all courses offered for continuing education credit have a sound scientific basis in order to adequately protect the public.
- Demonstrate oversight by a planning committee who ensures that the educational methods are appropriate to the stated objectives for the activity and, when participation is involved, enrollment must be related to available resources to ensure effective participation by enrollees.
- Ensure that the facilities selected for each activity are appropriate to accomplish the educational method(s) being used and the stated educational objectives.
- Assumes the financial and administrative responsibility of planning, publicizing and offering the CDE programs.
- Ensure
sthat, upon completion of a course intended toward attainment of certification or other recognition through the CDE provider, participating dentists will not be obligated, as a condition for attaining or maintaining that certification or recognition, to utilize a volume of any products and/or services. - Organizations can apply for local approval if they draw participants primarily from only one state or province and only offer in-person courses. Locally approved organizations are not authorized to host electronically mediated events, including webinars, or self-instruction programs.
The PACE Program approves continuing dental education (CDE) organizations, not speakers or individual course content. Eligible organizations must:
- Offer a planned program of continuing dental education activities.
- Ensure that all courses offered for continuing education credit have a sound scientific basis in order to adequately protect the public.
- Demonstrate oversight by a planning committee who ensures that the educational methods are appropriate to the stated objectives for the activity and, when participation is involved, enrollment must be related to available resources to ensure effective participation by enrollees.
- Ensure that the facilities selected for each activity are appropriate to accomplish the educational method(s) being used and the stated educational objectives.
- Assumes the financial and administrative responsibility of planning, publicizing and offering the CDE programs.
- Ensure that, upon completion of a course intended toward attainment of certification or other recognition through the CDE provider, participating dentists will not be obligated, as a condition for attaining or maintaining that certification or recognition, to utilize a volume of any products and/or services.
Additionally, organizations located outside the US or Canada must:
- Demonstrate that it is a dental school, continuing education program within a dental school, a national governmental health authority or a national membership association or society for dental professionals.
- Be recognized and/or accredited by the appropriate governmental or private regulatory authority that regulates organizations to ensure that they meet the applicable standards for quality advanced dental education, as determined in the sole discretion of the AGD.
All application materials and documentation submitted by International CDE Providers must be translated and presented to the AGD in English.
The PACE Program approves continuing dental education (CDE) organizations, not speakers or course content. Eligible organizations must:
- Offer a planned program of continuing dental education activities.
- Have a permanent base in the United States, Canada or their territories, or be an officially recognized agency or unit within the national dental services of the United States or Canada. CDE providers that do not fit within this criterion must meet the additional international eligibility requirements provided in the Eligibility Requirements for International Continuing Dental Education Providers section before being considered eligible to apply for recognition.
- Ensure that all courses offered for continuing education credit have a sound scientific basis in order to adequately protect the public.
- Demonstrate oversight by a planning committee who ensures that the educational methods are appropriate to the stated objectives for the activity and, when participation is involved, enrollment must be related to available resources to ensure effective participation by enrollees.
- Ensure that the facilities selected for each activity are appropriate to accomplish the educational method(s) being used and the stated educational objectives.
- Assumes the financial and administrative responsibility of planning, publicizing and offering the CDE programs.
- Ensure that, upon completion of a course intended toward attainment of certification or other recognition through the CDE provider, participating dentists will not be obligated, as a condition for attaining or maintaining that certification or recognition, to utilize a volume of any products and/or services.
Getting Started
The AGD recommends that all applicants review the information below before starting the application. The Application for National PACE Approval verifies that approved organizations meet the AGD’s 13 Quality Standards published in the PACE Guidelines.
Apply for PACE Approval
New and returning applicants must complete same online application for National PACE Approval.
All organizations must be logged onto the AGD Website, using their organizational credentials, to complete the application.
First time applicants
Renewing Applicants
Important Information
Upon completion, payment of the application fee is required to submit your application. Please see below for application fee information. If you are unable to pay by credit card or through a PayPal account, please contact PACE@agd.org, or call 888.243.3368, ext. 4114.
New and returning applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee each time an application is submitted. Withdrawn applications are subject to a $200 processing fee. Application fees include the maintenance fee for the first year of approval.
Future application fee scheduleEffective Date and National Application Fee
Jan. 1, 2026: $1,075
Jan. 1, 2027: $1,130
Jan. 1, 2028: $1,185
Jan. 1, 2029: $1,245
Approved providers are required to pay an annual nonrefundable fee to maintain their nationally approved status throughout their term of approval. The application fee includes the first year’s maintenance fee. The annual approval maintenance fee for nationally approved PACE providers will subsequently be due at 12-month intervals, based on the start of each approval period.
Future annual approval maintenance fee schedule
Effective Date and National Approval Maintenance Fee
Jan. 1, 2026 thru Dec. 31, 2028: $365
Jan. 1, 2029 thru Dec. 31, 2031: $400
Nonpayment 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 website. Any provider wishing to reinstate its recognition following discontinuation for nonpayment of fees will be required to submit a new AGD PACE Application for National Approval and follow the established procedures for recognition.
Contact AGD at pace@agd.org or 888.243.3368, ext. 4114 or 4335 for more information.
The AGD PACE Council has four review cycles every year. Here is when you can expect a decision based on when you submit an application.
| Review Cycle | Application Submission Date | Decisions Emailed By: |
| 1 | Sept. 1 - Nov. 30 | Mar. 31 |
| 2 | Dec. 1 - Feb. 28 | June 30 |
| 3 | Mar. 1 - May 31 | Sept. 30 |
| 4 | June 1 - Aug. 31 | Dec. 31 |
If you have current national PACE approval, here is a guide as to when you should submit a new application so that you do not have a lapse in approval.
| Expiration Month | When to Apply By: | Decision Emailed By: |
| January | August 31 of the year prior to expiration | December 31 of the year prior to expiration |
| February | August 31 of the year prior to expiration | December 31 of the year prior to expiration |
| March | November 30 of the year prior to expiration | March 31 |
| April | November 30 of the year prior to expiration | March 31 |
| May | November 30 of the year prior to expiration | March 31 |
| June | February 28 | June 30 |
| July | February 28 | June 30 |
| August | February 28 | June 30 |
| September | May 31 | September 30 |
| October | May 31 | September 30 |
| November | May 31 | September 30 |
| December | August 31 | December 31 |
