--- title: "AGD Mastership requirements: hours, fees and steps (2026)" description: "AGD Mastership needs 1,100 approved CE hours, 400 in participation courses, three years of membership and an application. See the steps and the 2029 changes." url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/agd-mastership-requirements publisher: Copeland Consulting Services email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact --- # AGD Mastership requirements: hours, fees and steps (2026) The AGD Mastership Award requires three continuous years of AGD membership, a license in good standing, at least 1,100 approved CE hours with at least 400 in participation courses, an application, and attendance at the AGD Convocation. There is no Mastership exam. The AGD lists a $930 fee as of 2026. Continuing educationPublished October 26, 20264 min read The Mastership Award is what the Academy of General Dentistry calls its highest honor for lifelong learning. People write it as MAGD. This post lists the requirements the AGD publishes on its awards pages, as of 2026, plus the changes that start in 2029. It is a summary. The AGD Mastership Award Guidelines are the official policy, so read them before you plan. ## What does AGD Mastership require? The AGD lists seven requirements on its awards page. Requirement What the AGD says Membership Three continuous years of AGD membership by December 31 of the application year License No suspension or revocation in the past five years, and no current probation CE hours At least 1,100 approved hours as an AGD member Participation At least 400 of those hours from participation courses Subject minimums At least 600 hours must meet minimums in specific disciplines Application Apply for the Mastership Award Convocation Attend the AGD Convocation Ceremony within three years after approval The [Academy of General Dentistry](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/academy-of-general-dentistry) is also called the [AGD](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/agd). The award is named [Mastership](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/mastership-agd), and the letters are [MAGD](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/magd). ## How many CE hours count, and which ones? The total is at least 1,100 approved hours, and only hours earned as an AGD member count. The AGD says the first 500 hours that apply to Fellowship also count toward Mastership. A member does not start over after Fellowship. Course content must be scientific and directly related to the practice of dentistry. The course must also come from an approved provider. The AGD names providers accepted by the Program Approval for Continuing Education, called [PACE](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/pace), or approved by the ADA’s Continuing Education Recognition Program. Read more about the [CE credit](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/ce-credit) rules in your state in the [Missouri CE requirements post](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/missouri-dental-ce-requirements). The AGD FAQ also describes extra credit: - Up to 150 hours combined for teaching and publication. - 40 hours for a scientific article in a refereed journal. - Credit for some residency programs completed within four years of joining the AGD. A one-year program may earn up to 150 hours, and a two-year program up to 300 hours. Articles about practice management are not eligible for publication credit. ## What are the steps to apply? The steps run in a set order. This list follows the AGD pages. 1. Join the AGD and keep membership current for three continuous years. 2. Earn at least 1,100 approved CE hours as a member, with the participation and subject minimums. 3. Check your online transcript against the Mastership Award Guidelines. 4. Log in with your AGD Member ID and submit the online application and fee by December 31. 5. After approval, attend an AGD Convocation Ceremony at the AGD Scientific Session. The AGD allows three years after approval to do this. The AGD lists the application fee as $930, paid by credit card with the online application. The AGD calls this the current fee, so confirm it on the AGD page. The AGD also offers an Award Navigator that reviews a member’s transcript and maps the remaining requirements at no cost to members. ## What if AGD membership lapsed? Only hours earned as an AGD member count, so a lapse matters. The AGD awards page says a member whose membership recently lapsed can learn how to buy back missed years of membership. The FAQ adds that a member who earned Fellowship and then lapsed does not apply for Fellowship again. If a former Fellow rejoins, the AGD says that person can use the designation again and begin working toward Mastership. The AGD sets an accrual date, called the MAGD Accrual date, as the date a member begins accruing hours toward Mastership. The AGD says it is typically the date a member has earned more than 500 approved hours. Hours before that date are not lost. ## What comes after Mastership? The AGD offers a further recognition called Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition, or LLSR. The AGD says Masters can keep showing their commitment to learning and to service to the community or organized dentistry by earning it. Effective January 1, 2026, service points toward LLSR start counting from January 1 of the year the member received Fellowship, instead of the year of Mastership. ## Is there a Mastership exam? No. The AGD FAQ says there is no exam for the Mastership Award. The Fellowship Award does have an exam. For the difference between the two, read [FAGD vs MAGD](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/fagd-vs-magd). ## What changes on January 1, 2029? The AGD announced changes three years in advance. The 2025 AGD House of Delegates approved them. New minimum hour rules take effect January 1, 2029, and members who apply for the 2030 Mastership Award must meet them. Change Detail Sleep Medicine 12 participation hours required Subject areas Minimums change in eight existing subject areas Who it affects Applicants for the 2030 award and later Who it does not affect yet Applicants for 2027, 2028 and 2029 use the current rules Members can already log Sleep Medicine CE under subject code 710. ## Next step The [AGD Fellowship and Mastership guide](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/guides/agd-fellowship-and-mastership) covers the full path and the Fellowship exam, and the [dental continuing education pillar](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/guides/dental-continuing-education) puts it in context. [Contact Dr. Copeland about study club topics](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact?topic=study-club). Dr. Jon Copeland, DDS, a general dentist in Wildwood, Missouri, holds a Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry (2024). ## Frequently asked questions ### How many CE hours does AGD Mastership require? The AGD requires at least 1,100 hours of approved CE earned as an AGD member. At least 400 must come from participation courses, and at least 600 must meet minimum hours in specific disciplines. The first 500 hours also count toward Fellowship. ### Is there an AGD Mastership exam? No. The AGD FAQ says there is no exam for the Mastership Award. The Fellowship Award does have an exam. Check the AGD page for the current rules. ### Do I need 1,100 hours after I earn Fellowship? No. The AGD says you need a total of 1,100 approved CE hours as an AGD member. In most cases, the first 500 hours that count toward Fellowship also count toward Mastership. ### What changes on January 1, 2029? The AGD says new minimum hours take effect on January 1, 2029, and members who apply for the 2030 Mastership Award must meet them. Members must complete 12 participation hours in Sleep Medicine. Minimums in eight existing subject areas also change. ## Terms on this page - [Academy of General Dentistry](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/academy-of-general-dentistry) - [Continuing education](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/continuing-education) - [Organized dentistry](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/organized-dentistry) - [House of Delegates](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/house-of-delegates) - [Fellowship (AGD)](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/fellowship-agd) - [Mastership (AGD)](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/mastership-agd) - [Study club](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/study-club) - [CE credit](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/ce-credit) - [FAGD](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/fagd) - [MAGD](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/magd) ## Sources 1. [AGD: Awards and Recognition (Mastership requirements)](https://www.agd.org/education/awards-recognition/agd-awards-and-recognition/awards-and-recognition/mastership-requirements) 2. [AGD: Awards and Recognition (participation hours)](https://www.agd.org/education/awards-recognition/agd-awards-and-recognition/awards-and-recognition/mastership-requirements) 3. [AGD: Awards and Recognition (fee)](https://www.agd.org/education/awards-recognition/agd-awards-and-recognition/awards-and-recognition/mastership-requirements) 4. [AGD: Mastership FAQs](https://www.agd.org/education/awards-recognition/agd-awards-and-recognition/agd-mastership-faqs) 5. [AGD: Mastership FAQs (credit for courses)](https://www.agd.org/education/awards-recognition/agd-awards-and-recognition/agd-mastership-faqs) 6. [AGD: Awards and Recognition (2029 changes)](https://www.agd.org/education/awards-recognition/agd-awards-and-recognition) Written by Copeland Consulting Services and checked against the sources above on October 26, 2026. Rules, data and guidance change, so check the linked page before you act on it. ## Keep reading - [AGD Fellowship and Mastership: requirements, hours and the path between themAGD Fellowship (FAGD) needs three continuous years of AGD membership, 500 approved CE hours, a passed exam and a convocation visit. Mastership (MAGD) needs Fellowship plus 1,100 total approved hours, 400 of them hands-on. Both require an application by December 31. Details come from AGD pages checked in October 2026.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/guides/agd-fellowship-and-mastership) - [FAGD vs MAGD: what each AGD award means and requiresFAGD is Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry. It needs three years of membership, 500 approved CE hours and a passed exam. MAGD is Mastership. It needs 1,100 approved CE hours, 400 of them in participation courses, and has no exam. The first 500 Mastership hours also count toward Fellowship.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/fagd-vs-magd) - [Dental continuing education: Missouri rules, AGD awards, study clubs and CE formatsMissouri dentists must complete 50 hours of continuing education every two years, with at least 40 hours tied directly to patient treatment, health and safety. Hours are reported through CE Broker. Beyond the license rule, the AGD sets separate award goals: 500 approved hours for Fellowship and 1,100 for Mastership.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/guides/dental-continuing-education) - [Missouri dental CE requirements and CE broker explainedMissouri law requires a dentist to show 50 hours of continuing education from the two years before renewal. The Missouri Dental Board now uses CE Broker as its official CE system, and licensees report CE there before the license expires or during renewal. A basic account costs nothing.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/blog/missouri-dental-ce-requirements) - [Implant dentistry in general practice: training paths and what the literature saysGeneral dentists who want implant training can look at continuing education, society credentials and accredited residencies. Each path has its own published requirements, and a credential is not a license. This guide summarizes those paths from their official pages and two published studies. It gives no clinical advice.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/guides/implants-in-general-practice) - [AI in the dental practice: what it does, what studies show and what to checkAI in dentistry mostly means software that reads images or handles office tasks. Studies of radiograph tools show promising accuracy but often rest on weak designs. Some image tools are regulated by the FDA as prescription devices. Any tool that touches patient data raises HIPAA questions you should settle before use.](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/guides/ai-in-the-dental-practice) ## Talk with Dr. Copeland [Contact Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact)[Email](mailto:drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com)