- What This Cheat Sheet Covers
- Written Exam Format at a Glance
- The Eight Discipline Domains
- Fees and Registration Numbers to Memorize
- Eligibility Routes, Fast
- Attempt Limits and Retake Rules
- The Oral Examination, Briefly
- Recertification and Annual Registration
- One-Week Rapid Review Timeline
- Quick Reference Table
- FAQ
- The written exam is 300 MCQs split into two three-hour sessions on one day, scored against a criterion-referenced minimum with no guessing penalty.
- Content spans eight disciplines, from Operative through Implantology/Oral Radiology, weighted mostly equally per current ABGD rules.
- Qualifying application is $300, the written exam is $450, and the study guide is $45 - budget these separately from oral exam costs.
- Standard limit is three written attempts, with a fourth allowed by petition; retakes cannot happen in the same calendar year.
What This Cheat Sheet Covers
This page is a compressed, one-stop reference for the Board Certified General Dentist credential administered through the American Board of General Dentistry (ABGD). It pulls together the numbers, rules, and structural details candidates most often forget under exam-week pressure: fee amounts, session structure, discipline weighting, attempt limits, and recertification math. It is not a substitute for deep content review - for that, see the full Board Certified General Dentist Study Guide - but it is the page you print out and tape to your desk the week before test day.
If you're still deciding whether to pursue certification at all, it may help to read whether the certification is worth the investment before committing time and fees to the process.
Written Exam Format at a Glance
The ABGD written examination is the credentialing site's primary focus, and its structure is fixed and predictable:
- 300 multiple-choice questions total.
- Delivered in two three-hour sessions administered on one day.
- Items are divided mostly equally among the eight listed disciplines under current rules.
- Scoring is criterion-referenced to a Board-established minimum proficiency standard - there is no fixed curve.
- No penalty for guessing, so every question should be answered.
- Testing is proctored, using physical test booklets administered by ABGD-appointed proctors, including approved military Test Control Officers at qualifying military sites.
For a granular breakdown of how difficult candidates actually find each session, see How Hard Is the Board Certified General Dentist Exam?, and for the specific proficiency threshold, review what score you actually need to pass.
The Eight Discipline Domains
Current ABGD Rules and Procedures (reviewed September 2026) organize written exam content into eight disciplines. Since items are distributed mostly equally, no single domain can be skipped or deprioritized.
Domain 1: Operative
Restorative decision-making, material selection, and procedural sequencing for direct and indirect restorations.
- Know indications for amalgam, composite, and indirect restorations across clinical scenarios
Domain 2: Prosthodontics
Fixed and removable prosthodontic planning, including case selection and design principles.
- Be able to justify a prosthodontic treatment plan against alternative options
Domain 3: Periodontics
Diagnosis and staging of periodontal disease and its integration with restorative and surgical planning.
- Recognize periodontal findings that change a broader treatment plan
Domain 4: Endodontics
Diagnosis, case difficulty assessment, and management decisions for pulpal and periapical conditions.
- Distinguish cases appropriate for general practice versus referral
Domain 5: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Orofacial Pain
Surgical decision-making, complication management, and orofacial pain differential diagnosis.
- Know red-flag presentations requiring surgical referral
Domain 6: Oral Medicine/Oral Pathology
Recognition and management of oral mucosal disease, systemic disease interactions, and pathology findings.
- Build a mental checklist for lesions requiring biopsy versus observation
Domain 7: Ortho/Pedo/Public Health
Growth and development, pediatric management, orthodontic screening, and public health principles.
- Know age-based developmental milestones tied to treatment timing decisions
Domain 8: Implantology/Oral Radiology
Implant case planning fundamentals and radiographic interpretation for diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Practice interpreting radiographic findings in the context of implant candidacy
For a full breakdown of what each domain actually tests and how to sequence your review, see the complete guide to all 8 content areas.
Fees and Registration Numbers to Memorize
ABGD fees are modular - you pay for each stage of the process separately. Memorize these exact figures so nothing catches you off guard.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Qualifying application | $300 |
| Written examination | $450 |
| Oral examination (subsequent) | $650 |
| Official written study guide | $45 |
| Annual registration (by Dec. 31) | $150 |
| Annual registration (after Jan. 1) | $200 |
| Recertification fee (every 5 years) | $75 |
These figures form the backbone of any real budget for pursuing certification. For a full walk-through of how these fees stack across the entire process, see the complete pricing breakdown.
Eligibility Routes, Fast
Before applying, candidates need an active US or Canadian dental license and one of the following:
- A CODA-accredited two-year AEGD/GPR program, or
- A CODA-accredited one-year AEGD/GPR plus 350 clock hours of continuing dental education, or
- AGD Mastership
Applicants must also receive Board Educationally Qualified or Conditionally Educationally Qualified approval, with supporting documentation submitted. Conditional entry exists for qualifying candidates who are still completing remaining requirements. This is not the page to dig deep into documentation nuances - for that, read the full eligibility, prerequisites, and qualification guide.
Attempt Limits and Retake Rules
Key Takeaway
You get three standard attempts at the written exam, with a possible fourth by petition. Retakes cover the entire exam, not just weak sections, and cannot happen in the same calendar year or repeat the same version.
This rule changes how you should think about a failed attempt: since a full retake is required, there's no partial-credit strategy. Treat every sitting as if it's your only shot, and build review time into your plan for a mandatory gap year if a retake becomes necessary.
The Oral Examination, Briefly
Passing the written exam is only the first half of certification. Full board certification also requires passing both oral sections:
- A one-hour case preparation period followed by a 45-minute discussion.
- Eight 25-minute discipline sessions scheduled across four hours, mirroring the same eight domains tested in the written exam.
Timing matters here: oral testing cannot occur in the same calendar year as your written pass, and it must be completed within the Board-eligibility period. Plan your written attempt with this mandatory wait in mind, and don't assume you can schedule orals immediately after a pass. For scheduling specifics across the whole process, see testing windows, deadlines, and scheduling.
Recertification and Annual Registration
Certification isn't a one-time event. Diplomates must recertify every five years with 125 qualifying CE hours and a $75 recertification fee. Separately, annual registration is due every year: $150 if paid by December 31, rising to $200 after January 1. Missing the December deadline is an easy, avoidable cost - set a recurring reminder now.
One-Week Rapid Review Timeline
If you already have a long-term study plan in place and just need a final compressed pass before test day, sequence your last week by discipline weight rather than by comfort level. Since items are distributed mostly equally across all eight domains, no domain should get less than a full review session.
Restorative & Prosthetic Core
- Review Operative and Prosthodontics case logic
- Drill decision-tree questions, not just fact recall
Surgical & Diagnostic Cluster
- Cover Periodontics, Endodontics, and Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery/Orofacial Pain
- Focus on referral-vs-treat thresholds
Pathology & Development
- Review Oral Medicine/Oral Pathology and Ortho/Pedo/Public Health
- Use active recall on lesion identification and developmental timing
Implant/Radiology & Full Mock
- Finish with Implantology/Oral Radiology
- Run a full-length two-session practice exam on ../ to simulate the six-hour testing day
Running full-length timed simulations matters because the real exam is a single-day, two-session format - stamina management is part of the test. Practice sets on the main practice test platform can help you rehearse that pacing before it counts.
Quick Reference Table
| Component | Format | Key Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Written exam | 300 MCQs, two 3-hour sessions, one day | Criterion-referenced pass, no guessing penalty |
| Oral case prep | 1 hour prep + 45-minute discussion | Cannot occur same calendar year as written pass |
| Oral discipline sessions | 8 sessions × 25 minutes across 4 hours | Mirrors the 8 written domains |
| Retake policy | 3 standard attempts, 4th by petition | Full exam retake; no same-year repeats |
| Recertification | Every 5 years | 125 CE hours + $75 fee |
For deeper context on how these numbers compare against candidate outcomes, see the pass rate data breakdown, and for how certification factors into hiring and compensation conversations, check the salary and earnings analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
300 multiple-choice questions, delivered across two three-hour sessions on a single testing day.
No. The exam has no guessing penalty, so every question should be answered even if you're unsure.
Three standard attempts are allowed, with a possible fourth by petition. Retakes cover the entire exam and cannot occur in the same calendar year or repeat the same exam version.
Not in the same calendar year as your written pass. Oral testing must be completed within the Board-eligibility period.
Every five years, with 125 qualifying continuing education hours and a $75 recertification fee, separate from annual registration dues.
Keep this cheat sheet handy as a numbers-and-structure checkpoint, but pair it with full-length content review through the study guide and timed practice on the practice test platform so the facts above turn into exam-day performance.