Two awards on one CE ladder
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) offers two recognitions for general dentists: Fellowship (FAGD) and Mastership (MAGD). They sit at different rungs of the same ladder. Fellowship comes first, and Mastership builds on it.
Both require active AGD membership, continuing education from AGD-approved providers, and a formal application the AGD reviews against its published guidelines. Neither is granted just for logging hours.
Fellowship (FAGD)
Fellowship is the entry-level distinction. The published requirements include:
- 500 hours of AGD-approved CE, accumulated as a member
- A subject cap: under AGD’s published guidelines, no more than 150 of those 500 hours may count from any single AGD subject area
- A portion of the hours from live course attendance
- Passing the AGD Fellowship Exam
- Meeting the membership tenure and application requirements
The 500 hours are one piece. The exam and the membership history matter just as much, so an hours total on its own does not complete Fellowship.
Mastership (MAGD)
Mastership is the higher distinction and starts from Fellowship. Its published requirements include:
- At least 1,100 total hours of approved CE as a member, which includes the 500 hours that also count toward Fellowship
- A large block of those hours from hands-on participation courses distributed across specific subject areas
- No additional exam, but a stricter subject distribution than Fellowship
- Effective 2029 (the class of 2030), a required Sleep Medicine participation component
Because the exact subject minimums are adjusted periodically, treat the 1,100 total as fixed and verify the current per-subject hour rules with the AGD before you plan.
How they compare
- Sequence: Fellowship first, then Mastership.
- Hours: 500 for Fellowship, 1,100 total for Mastership.
- Exam: required for Fellowship, not for Mastership.
- Subject rules: a cap per subject for Fellowship, distributed participation minimums for Mastership.
- New rule to watch: the Sleep Medicine participation component for Mastership, effective 2029.
Where CEChart fits
CEChart tracks your logged CE as progress toward the published FAGD or MAGD hours requirement. It counts hours against the numbers the AGD publishes and shows how far along you are. It does not confer, grant, or guarantee either award, and it does not certify that you have met a requirement. Hitting an hours count is only one part of the AGD’s process.
Use the calculator to see where your current hours land, and the subjects reference to understand how CE subject areas are grouped. You can read more about each award on the FAGD and MAGD pages. Before you apply, confirm every current requirement with the AGD directly.