---
title: "What Is Associateship? Dental Practice Glossary"
description: "An associateship is the working arrangement in which a dentist joins a practice owned by another dentist, sometimes with a plan to buy in or buy the practice..."
url: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/associateship
publisher: Copeland Consulting Services
email: drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com
contact: https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact
---

Ownership and transitions

# Associateship

An associateship is the working arrangement in which a dentist joins a practice owned by another dentist, sometimes with a plan to buy in or buy the practice later.

The ADA lists planning associate buy-ins and owner buy-outs, and the use of restrictive covenants, among the topics a dentist should understand when joining or leaving a practice. Before hiring an associate, the ADA says an owner should make sure the practice is ready for another dentist. The terms of an associateship cover pay, schedule, duties, patient ownership and what happens when either side leaves. Because these terms bind both sides, each should have an attorney review the agreement. Pay is covered under [associate compensation](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/associate-compensation). The path may lead to [practice ownership](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-ownership).

[Next stepPractice consulting with Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact?topic=consulting)

## Related terms

-   [Associate dentist](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/associate-dentist)
-   [Associate compensation](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/associate-compensation)
-   [Practice ownership](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/practice-ownership)
-   [Solo practice](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/glossary/solo-practice)

## Sources

1.  [ADA, Preparing for the Hire](https://www.ada.org/resources/careers/career-planning/preparing-for-the-hire)
2.  [ADA, Joining and Leaving the Dental Practice](https://www.ada.org/resources/careers/joining-and-leaving-the-dental-practice)

## Talk with Dr. Copeland

[Contact Dr. Copeland](https://joncopeland.multisites.ai/contact)[Email](mailto:drcopeland@joncopelanddds.com)