Dental CE Cruises: CERP, PACE and Your Board
Dental CE cruises combine continuing dental education with a voyage, and they are among the most common kinds of seminars at sea. For dentists, hygienists and assistants the crucial detail is who approved the provider. Two national programs do that job: ADA CERP, run by the American Dental Association, and AGD PACE, run by the Academy of General Dentistry.
What CERP and PACE Actually Approve
| ADA CERP | AGD PACE | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | American Dental Association | Academy of General Dentistry |
| Approves | Providers of continuing dental education | CE organizations (not speakers or individual courses) |
| Board acceptance | Recognition does not imply acceptance by a state board | Approval is not a blanket guarantee of state acceptance |
| How to check | The ADA CERP provider list | AGD’s PACE provider search |
Both programs review the provider’s processes, not each course, which is why a recognized provider still has to meet your board’s topic and format rules. Hours from either program generally count toward AGD awards such as the Fellowship and Mastership.
Before You Register for a Dental CE Cruise
- Find the provider’s CERP or PACE statement and verify it.
- Ask whether the sessions are lecture or participation (hands-on); some boards treat them differently.
- Check whether your state limits credits from certain formats or topics.
- Ask how certificates are issued and when.
- Confirm whether team members can register and what credit they receive.
Planning the Trip Around the Courses
Dental CE cruises often attract practice owners traveling with a partner or family. Choose a sailing whose sessions leave time for at least part of each port day, and consider a balcony if one of you will be in sessions while the other relaxes. A short pre-cruise stay at the port city protects you from flight delays.
Keep a copy of the course brochure and certificate with your CE records. For general information on how seminar cruises are structured, see Seminars on Cruises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are dental CE cruises accepted by state boards?
Often, but not automatically. ADA CERP recognizes providers, not individual courses, and states that recognition does not imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. AGD PACE approval works the same way. Confirm your board’s rules for the topics and format you need.
How do I verify a dental CE provider?
Look for the provider’s ADA CERP or AGD PACE statement, then check the provider in the ADA CERP listing or the AGD PACE provider search.
Can hygienists and assistants earn CE on the same cruise?
Many dental CE cruises welcome the whole team, and some sessions are designed for hygienists and assistants. Confirm that the credit type matches each person’s license.
Lecture Hours vs Hands-On Hours
Seminar rooms on ships are set up for lectures, so most dental CE cruises offer lecture-format courses. Hands-on or participation courses need equipment that is rarely practical at sea. If your board caps lecture hours or requires a share of participation credit, plan to earn that part on land and use the cruise for the rest.
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