Academy of Laser Dentistry
Fellowship & Mastership Program

The Fellowship & Mastership Program Application is open July through December 31. ALD 2010 Fellows and Masters will be honored on April 17, 2010 in Miami.  We will begin applications for 2011 in July 2010.

We look forward to reviewing your application. Click here for application submission instructions.

The Academy of Laser Dentistry opens application enrollment for the Fellowship & Mastership program. This program honors members who have shown extraordinary commitment to the use of lasers in dentistry by awarding the designations of Fellow of the Academy of Laser Dentistry and Master of the Academy of Laser Dentistry.

These designations are an acknowledgement of the significant efforts a member has made to achieve a high-level of knowledge about the application of lasers in dental science and patient treatment. Members obtaining these designations can be proud of their achievement and the Academy wishes to recognize their distinction within the professional dental community.

ALD Members in good standing may apply for the highest designation for which they are qualified. Fellowship status is not a pre-requisite for Mastership designation and you may only hold one designation at any given time.

Eligibility Requirements

Fellowship of the Academy of Laser Dentistry

• The candidate must be a member in good standing.
• The candidate must have achieved Standard Proficiency Certification from an Academy recognized course provider who was approved at the time the certification was granted.
• This certification must be verifiable by the Academy. If not verifiable, the candidate has the option of taking the Academy's current online exam and performing a clinical simulation with a currently recognized course provider at a nominal fee.
• The candidate must attend a least one annual Academy of Laser Dentistry conference every three (3) years. The candidate must have attended at least two (2) ALD annual conferences prior to applying for a Fellowship in the Academy.
• The candidate, upon applying for Fellowship, must have attended at least fifty (50) hours of continuing laser education approved by the Academy. Thereafter, the candidate must complete twenty-five (25) hours of continuing education approved by the Academy during every three (3) year renewal period.
• The fee for Fellowship induction is $275.
• Renewal will occur every three (3) years and will take place two (2) months after the annual conference. At the end of each three (3) year period, the Fellowship recipient will be considered for renewal for the following three year period based on the accumulation of continuing education credit and annual conference attendance as stated above.
• As long as the Fellowship recipient pays his or her annual ALD dues each year without interruption and is in good standing, no further maintenance fee will be incurred for processing continuing education credits. Those who interrupt payment of annual dues will incur a reinstatement fee of $350 plus all yearly charges owed.
• Fellowship will be a pre-requisite for Mastership Application for applications received after Dec 31, 2010.
• Attendance at the Annual Conference is Mandatory to accept your certificate.  There is a 3-year window to accept your honor in person.  Status begins upon acceptance of your award.

Mastership of the Academy of Laser Dentistry

• The candidate must be a member in good standing.
• The candidate must have achieved Advanced Proficiency Certification from the Academy in at least one wavelength. This certification must be verifiable by the Academy. If not verifiable, the candidate has the option of taking the Academy's Advanced Proficiency examination at a nominal fee.
• The candidate must have attended a least three (3) annual Academy of Laser Dentistry conferences before applying for Mastership Status. Status begins with the acceptance of the award which must occur in person at an ALD annual meeting within 3-years of successful application.
• The candidate must have attended at least 100 hours of continuing laser education as approved by the Academy.
• Thereafter, the candidate must complete fifty (50) hours of continuing education approved by the Academy every five (5) years. During the five (5) year renewal period the candidate, should attend at least two (2) annual conferences.
• In special cases, teaching courses and conducting research which has been published in a peer review journal will be considered for continuing education credit on a case by case basis. Hours of teaching could be recognized, on a one hour to one hour basis for meeting the requirement of fifty (50) hours of continuing education every five (5) years, but only up to ten (10) hours for each renewal period.
• The fee for Mastership induction is $450.
• Renewal will be every five (5) years and will take place two (2) months after the annual conference. At the end of the five (5) year period, the Mastership recipient will be reconsidered for renewal status for the following five (5) year period based on the accumulation of continuing education credit and annual conference attendance as stated above.
• As long as the Mastership recipient pays his or her annual ALD dues each year without interruption and is in good standing, no further maintenance fee will be incurred for processing continuing education credits. Those who interrupt payment of annual dues will incur a reinstatement fee of $350 plus all yearly charges owed.
• Attendance at the Annual Conference is Mandatory to accept your certificate.  There is a 3-year window to accept your honor in person.  Status begins upon acceptance of your award.

How to Apply

Click Here for Program Submission Instructions

The Academy office must receive all of the following components of your application by December 31. Late or incomplete application packages will not be considered.

0. Your electronic application submitted via email to memberservices@laserdentistry.org.
0. Verification of Standard Proficiency (for Fellowship) from an ALD recognized course provider or Advanced Proficiency (for Mastership) from the ALD.
0. ALD Annual Membership Dues for the year in which application is filed must be paid in full and the member must be in good standing. Click here to renew membership dues.
0. One Letter of Professional Reference must be provided by a professional dental colleague of equivalent degree stature who possesses first hand knowledge of your dental laser clinical expertise. The reference form must be sent via email to memberservices@laserdentistry.org prior to December 31.

Fellowship & Mastership Application / Documents	Format
Application for Fellowship & Mastership
Professional Reference Form

Application Deadline

September 21 - December 31: Application period for both Fellowship & Mastership. The Academy office must receive all of the enumerated components of an application package by December 31. Late or incomplete application packages will not be considered.

Marketing Guidelines and Press Release Announcements

Fellows and Masters of The Academy of Laser Dentistry will be allowed to use the terminology FALD or MALD in the marketing of their practice, including in all correspondence and publications, as long as they are current in their status with the Academy and follow their own state regulations regarding advertising and the use of honorary notations after their name.

The Academy will provide a written statement of the above guidelines at the time of awarding the Fellowship or Mastership designation.

Any violation of the policies of the Academy of Laser Dentistry as to professionalism and good standing will be just cause for the revocation of a Fellowship or Mastership designation.

Certificate of Completion

Upon acceptance Fellows will receive a certificate suitable for framing. Masters will receive a plaque from the Academy of Laser Dentistry. The final step in receiving the Fellowship/Mastership designation in the Academy of Laser Dentistry is to attend a recognition ceremony. This ceremony will be held in conjunction with the President's Award Ceremony at the ALD Annual Conference.

Renewal Period

Each candidate will be responsible for maintaining membership and attending the required number of conferences to maintain the Fellow and Master status.

Fellows will be required to renew their Fellowship every three (3) years during which they must remain members in good standing and attend a minimum of one (1) ALD annual meeting.

Masters will renew their Mastership every five (5) years during which they must remain members in good standing and attend a minimum of two (2) ALD annual meetings.

A renewal application must be completed. This application will be automatically mailed to the member by the Academy 90 days prior to the renewal deadline. As long as the Fellowship/Mastership recipient pays his or her annual ALD dues each year without interruption and is in good standing, no further maintenance fee will be incurred for processing continuing education credits. Those who interrupt payment of annual dues will incur a reinstatement fee of $350 plus all yearly charges owed.

Selection Process

Review of the application will occur within 60 days of receipt of application. Candidates will be notified of the decision, by e-mail, within 90 days. Your application will be reviewed by a task force which will include the Membership Committee Chair and up to 4 volunteer members selected by the Chair.

Refund Policy

Upon written notification requesting application withdrawal, which must be received within 60 days of initial application receipt, a refund will be issued less a $150 administrative fee. No refunds will be issued after 60 days of application receipt.

For questions concerning the application process please contact:

Academy of Laser Dentistry
memberservices@laserdentistry.org or call Toll Free 1-877-527-3776

Or contact Dr. Mitch Lomke, Membership Chair at thelaserdds@comcast.net, office phone 301-260-0700