Path for General Dentists
Certification
Route 1:
General Dentists Seeking Certification
This eligibility route is for licensed general dentists in the United States or Canada who hold a DMD/DDS or equivalent and have developed substantial training and clinical experience in implant dentistry.
Process Overview
- Submit application, required documentation and fees (see below for steps) no later than December 1.
- Complete Part I: Written Examination.
- Upon passing Part I, sit for Part II: Oral/Case Examination.
- Achieve Diplomate status upon successful completion of both parts.
Core Requirements
The following are prerequisites for the ABOI/ID Part I — Written Examination.
1. Dental degree and licensure
- Must hold a DDS/DMD degree from a CODA (Commission on Dental Accreditation) or CDAC (Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada) accredited institution. A copy of your degree is required with your application.
- Must be a licensed practicing dentist in the United States or Canada. A copy of your professional dental license with the current expiration date is required with your application.
2. Continuing education (CE)
Applicants are required to complete a total of 670 hours of continuing education related to implant dentistry. These hours must be recognized by AGD/PACE and/or ADA/CERP and verified by:
- Certifying organization letterhead, or
- Copies of CE certificates, or
- An AGD CE transcript (if the applicant is an AGD member)
Completion of the following programs will satisfy additional continuing education credits:
| Program | CE Credit |
|---|---|
| 1-year GPR or AEGD university or hospital-based program | 100 hours |
| 1-year Fellow university or hospital-based program | 100 hours |
| 2-year GPR or AEGD university or hospital-based program | 200 hours |
| 2-year Fellow university or hospital-based program | 200 hours |
| AAID Associate Fellow | 100 hours |
| AAID Fellow | 200 hours* |
*AAID Fellows are exempt from the ABOI Part I Written Examination and will receive 200 CE hours towards the required 670 CE hours.
Examination Pathway
With the exception of AAID fellowship, all candidates under Route 1 are required to complete both parts of the ABOI/ID certification exam:
Part I — Written Examination
The written examination is a 200-question, multiple-choice assessment in which candidates must apply their implant dentistry knowledge to real-world clinical scenarios.
Each test item includes a question followed by several possible answers, and candidates must choose the one that best fits.
Learn more about and prepare for the written examination.
Part II — Oral/Case Examination
The ABOI/ID Oral Examination requires candidates to submit eight qualifying implant cases and defend selected cases before examiners, demonstrating their knowledge across diagnosis, treatment planning, surgery, prosthetics, and current literature.
Using both standardized cases and candidates’ own cases, the exam evaluates clinical reasoning and depth of understanding.
Learn more about and prepare for the oral examination.
Steps for Applying
First-Time Applicants
To begin the application process, you must first create an account. Click the Login button at the top right corner of the page and follow the steps below:
- Under Need an Account?, click Apply for Account.
- Follow the prompts to complete your account registration.
Once your account has been created, you will need to complete the following tasks:
- Route Selection
- CE Submission (required for Routes 1 and 2 only)
- 2027 Eligibility Application – You will be prompted to upload required documents, including degree verification, licensure, and residency program documentation, and pay the application fee through our secure portal.
After all required tasks have been completed, your application will be reviewed.
Once your application has been approved, a new task will become available, allowing you to register for either:
- Part I: Written Examination
- Part II: Oral Examination
Important: Exam registration will not be available until your application has been reviewed and approved. Please allow 5–7 business days for application processing.
Existing Applicants & Candidates
Already have an ABOI account? Simply log in to the ABOI/ID Application Portal and complete any outstanding tasks listed on your dashboard.
Once logged in, your dashboard will display all available tasks, application updates, and examination registration opportunities based on your status.
Note: If you do not see an expected task, your application may still be under review. Please allow 5–7 business days for processing after submitting required materials.
Applicants may return to and continue their in-progress application at any time by logging back in.
December 1 is the deadline for all applications, fees, and case submissions.