What is AGD PACE accreditation?
If you have been shopping for dental CE courses, you have almost certainly seen the letters AGD PACE on provider websites and course certificates. It is one of the most important credentials a dental CE provider can hold, but many dental professionals are not entirely sure what it means or why it matters.
AGD PACE stands for Program Approval for Continuing Education. It is an accreditation program administered by the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), one of the largest dental professional organizations in the United States. When a CE provider holds AGD PACE approval, it means the AGD has reviewed and approved the provider’s educational programs, verified the qualifications of their instructors, and confirmed that their courses meet established standards for dental CE quality.
For Colorado dental professionals, AGD PACE accreditation serves two important purposes. First, it confirms that CE hours earned from that provider will count toward your Colorado Dental Board license renewal requirement. Second, it means those hours qualify toward the AGD Fellowship and Mastership credentials if you are pursuing them.
AGD PACE vs ADA CERP: what is the difference?
AGD PACE and ADA CERP are the two nationally recognized accreditation standards for dental CE. Both are accepted by the Colorado Dental Board for license renewal purposes. Here is how they differ:
- ADA CERP (Continuing Education Recognition Program) is administered by the American Dental Association. It focuses on verifying that CE providers meet standards for content quality, accuracy, and educational methodology. ADA CERP accreditation does not qualify hours toward AGD Fellowship or Mastership.
- AGD PACE is administered by the Academy of General Dentistry. It verifies similar quality standards and additionally qualifies hours toward AGD Fellowship and Mastership credentials. For dentists pursuing these credentials, AGD PACE approval is a requirement.
For the purposes of Colorado license renewal, both accreditations are equally valid. The distinction matters most if you are working toward an AGD credential, in which case AGD PACE approved providers are the ones to prioritize.
Why AGD PACE accreditation matters for Colorado dentists
Beyond the basic compliance value of ensuring your CE hours count toward renewal, AGD PACE accreditation is a meaningful signal about the quality of the CE you are receiving.
To obtain and maintain AGD PACE approval, providers must meet ongoing standards that include:
- Verification that course instructors hold appropriate clinical and educational credentials
- Documentation that course content is accurate, current, and clinically relevant
- Disclosure of any commercial relationships or conflicts of interest that could influence course content
- Processes for collecting and acting on participant feedback
- Regular review and renewal of the accreditation status
This means that when you attend an AGD PACE approved CE event, you have a reasonable assurance that the content has been vetted, the instructor is qualified, and any commercial influences on the content have been disclosed. This is not a guarantee of quality, but it is a meaningful filter that separates accredited providers from the unreviewed alternatives.
The AGD Fellowship and Mastership credentials
For Colorado dentists who want to pursue a nationally recognized clinical credential, the AGD Fellowship (FAGD) and Mastership (MAGD) are two of the most respected designations available to general dentists.
AGD Fellowship (FAGD) requires:
- 500 hours of AGD PACE approved CE
- At least 200 of those hours in hands-on or participation courses
- Passing a comprehensive Fellowship examination
- Active AGD membership
AGD Mastership (MAGD) builds on Fellowship and requires:
- 600 additional hours of AGD PACE approved CE beyond Fellowship (1,100 total)
- At least 400 of those additional hours in hands-on or participation courses
- No additional examination beyond Fellowship
Both credentials signal a deep commitment to clinical education and professional development. Many patients and referring professionals recognize the FAGD and MAGD designations as markers of a dentist who takes their clinical growth seriously.
If pursuing Fellowship or Mastership is a goal, every CE hour you complete through an AGD PACE approved provider like CPS counts toward the requirement. Starting early and being intentional about accumulating hours through accredited providers is the most efficient path to these credentials.
How to verify AGD PACE accreditation
Before registering for any CE course, it is worth confirming that the provider holds current AGD PACE approval. Here is how to verify:
- Check the provider’s website: Accredited providers are required to display the AGD PACE logo and their approval number on their website and course materials
- Search the AGD provider directory: The Academy of General Dentistry maintains a searchable directory of currently approved providers on the AGD website. You can search by provider name or location.
- Ask the provider directly: If you cannot find clear accreditation information on a provider’s website, contact them and ask for their AGD PACE approval number. A legitimate accredited provider will be able to provide this immediately.
If a provider cannot confirm AGD PACE or ADA CERP accreditation, do not assume the hours will count toward your Colorado renewal requirement. The burden is on you to verify accreditation before completing the course.
AGD PACE approved CE in Colorado
Colorado dental professionals have access to AGD PACE approved CE from several sources, ranging from national online platforms to local dental societies and professional organizations.
When evaluating AGD PACE approved options in Colorado, consider:
- Format: Do you prefer live in-person events, live webinars, or self-paced online courses?
- Clinical relevance: Does the provider’s course catalog address topics that are directly applicable to your practice?
- Speaker quality: Are courses taught by experienced clinicians with recognized expertise, or primarily by vendor-sponsored presenters?
- Cost per credit: How does the total cost of completing your 30-hour requirement compare across different providers?
- Community value: Does the provider offer networking, mentorship, or professional community beyond just CE credits?
CPS: AGD PACE approved CE in the Denver metro area
The Colorado Prosthodontic Society is an AGD PACE approved CE provider serving Colorado dental professionals. All CPS seminars and Elevate networking events carry AGD PACE approval, meaning every credit you earn at a CPS event counts toward both your Colorado Dental Board renewal requirement and any AGD Fellowship or Mastership hours you are accumulating.
CPS runs a full season of live educational events each year, featuring nationally recognized clinical speakers from leading dental institutions. Each full-day CPS seminar awards 6 AGD CE credits. Attending 5 seminars in a single year covers the full 30-hour Colorado renewal requirement.
CPS membership starts at 00 per year for early career dentists, making it one of the most cost-effective paths to AGD PACE approved CE in Colorado. For dentists working toward the AGD Fellowship, CPS membership is a particularly efficient investment since every event contributes directly to the 500-hour requirement.
Frequently asked questions about AGD PACE dental CE in Colorado
Does AGD PACE CE count toward my Colorado dental license renewal?
Yes. AGD PACE is one of the two accreditation standards accepted by the Colorado Dental Board for license renewal purposes. All CE hours earned from AGD PACE approved providers count toward your 30-hour Colorado renewal requirement.
Do I need to be an AGD member to take AGD PACE approved CE courses?
No. AGD PACE is an accreditation for CE providers, not a membership requirement for participants. Any dental professional can take courses from an AGD PACE approved provider regardless of whether they hold AGD membership. AGD membership is required only if you want to pursue the Fellowship or Mastership credentials.
How many AGD PACE hours do I need for the AGD Fellowship?
The AGD Fellowship requires 500 hours of AGD PACE approved CE, with at least 200 of those hours in hands-on or participation format courses. You also need to pass the Fellowship examination and hold active AGD membership.
Can online courses count toward AGD Fellowship hours?
Yes, but with limitations. The AGD caps the number of self-study or online hours that can count toward Fellowship. At least 200 of your 500 required hours must be in hands-on or participation format. Check the current AGD Fellowship requirements on the AGD website for the most up-to-date limitations on self-study hours.
Are all CPS events AGD PACE approved?
Yes. All CPS seminars and Elevate networking events are AGD PACE approved. Credits earned at any CPS event count toward both Colorado Dental Board renewal and AGD Fellowship or Mastership hour requirements.
What is the AGD PACE approval number for CPS?
CPS can provide its current AGD PACE approval number upon request. Contact CPS directly through the Colorado Prosthodontic Society website for accreditation documentation.