What is the Professional Advancement Program?
Dentist and specialist members may take advantage of the Professional Advancement Program, which promotes lifelong learning and continued educational development. The Professional Advancement Program has four progressive ranks which correspond to membership status: Associate, Active, Fellow, and Diplomate. Certificates of achievement are granted to candidates for each new tier. IAO membership is required to participate in the Professional Advancement Program.
How are Membership Tiers determined?
Membership levels are determined by the number of continuing education hours on record with the Continuing Education Courscording Program (all levels), successful presentation of completed orthodontic cases (Fellow, Diplomate), and passing both the written and clinical components of the rigorous IBO Diplomate Exam (Diplomate).
What types of Continuing Dental Education (CDE) hours are accepted for Professional Advancement?
CDE hours may be submitted for Professional Advancement that educate on any orthodontic philosophy or closely related subjects. Some examples of related subjects are functional orthodontics, straight-wire mechanics, sleep medicine, and TMD.
What are the specific requirements for each Membership Tier?
Associate: Associate is the first membership level of the Professional Advancement Program. All dentist members are Associates when they enter the IAO.
Active:
Active is the second membership level of the Professional Advancement Program. To apply for Active, members must submit a minimum of 150 hours of orthodontic or related education and the Active Professional Advancement Application and an application fee of US $30.00 to Headquarters.
Fellow:
Fellow is the third membership level of the Professional Advancement Program. Clinical case presentations are required for this membership level. To apply for Fellow, applicants must submit the Fellow Professional Advancement Application, an application fee of US $45.00, and documentation for a minimum of 300 hours of CDE to Headquarters. Applicants are also required to present five (5) successfully completed orthodontic cases to IAO Education Committee Examiners.
It is highly recommended that at least one (1) case be presented for examination to an IAO Education Committee Examiner for review and guidance, prior to completing the remaining four (4) cases for Fellow status. Contact Headquarters for further information or go to the IBO Diplomate page for case structure and requirements.
Download Fellowship Application
Diplomate:
This board recognized status is given to the IAO Member who has submitted documentation for at least 500 CDE hours, has achieved all prior membership levels, has passed the written examination for Diplomate Status, and has successfully presented 10 completed cases (five of which must be two years post active treatment). More information about case preparation for the exam, and other questions about the exam, and the application can be found on the IBO Diplomate page.
Download Diplomate Application
Caseworx Case Submission Software
It is now possible to submit Fellow and Diplomate cases for review online using Caseworx case submission software. Caseworx software is available for free to members. Please login and visit the Caseworx page to learn more or to download the software.
Continuing Education Credits & Course Recording Program
To help IAO Members keep current, complete records of orthodontic continuing education (CE) achieved, the IAO has developed the CE course Recording Program. Members may submit relevant data about earned CE (Course topics, instructor, dates, etc.) at any time. It is possible to submit CE credits earned prior to joining the IAO. CE records are maintained indefinitely.
How do I submit CE records?
CE record information may be submitted in two ways:
- Online Submission. CE information may be submitted online on the CE Submission Page in the Member’s Only Section of the IAO website.
- Paper Form Submission. CE information may also be submitted using the paper Course Recording Forms, which can be requested from IAO Headquarters.
A summary report of submitted CE is sent annually to IAO Membership. Members may also request a transcript of the CE record at any time. Digital CE records are maintained by Headquarters indefinitely. Many members have used this service as a convenient.