- What Is DABOI/ID Certification?
- The Two-Part Certification Path
- Part I Written Exam: Format and Domains
- General-Dentist Eligibility Requirements
- 2027-Cycle Fees and Deadlines
- Who Pursues DABOI/ID - and Why
- Maintaining the Diplomate Credential
- Preparing for Part I: A Domain-Driven Approach
- Frequently Asked Questions
- DABOI/ID is granted by the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry (ABOI/ID) after both Part I and Part II are completed.
- Part I is 200 single-best-answer questions in five hours at Pearson VUE, with no scheduled break.
- Implementing patient treatment is the largest domain at 44% of the written blueprint.
- The 2027 written pathway totals $1,400 ($600 application + $800 exam); Part II costs $1,500 more.
What Is DABOI/ID Certification?
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry (DABOI/ID) is the credential awarded by the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry (ABOI/ID) to dentists who demonstrate advanced, verified competence in implant dentistry. It is not earned through a single test. Candidates must pass a written examination (Part I) and later a separate oral examination (Part II) that includes both standardized case analysis and defense of the candidate's own submitted cases.
Because the two parts cannot be scheduled in the same year, DABOI/ID is inherently a multi-year process. Passing Part I alone does not make you a Diplomate - it is a prerequisite step, not the finish line. If you're still confirming what the letters mean before committing to the process, our companion pieces on What Is DABOI/ID? and DABOI/ID Meaning walk through the terminology in more depth.
The Two-Part Certification Path
The road to becoming a Diplomate runs through two distinct assessments:
- Part I - Written Examination: A 200-question, single-best-answer multiple-choice exam delivered at Pearson VUE testing centers over five hours.
- Part II - Oral Examination: Combines standardized case discussions with a defense of candidate-submitted patient cases in front of examiners.
Candidates on the general-dentist pathway submit eight distinct patient cases for Part II, each finally restored and functional for at least one year at the time of submission. The examining committee selects four of the eight for defense without advance disclosure of which cases will be chosen - meaning every submitted case must be defense-ready. Note also that oral case templates 2, 7, and 8 are changing for the 2027 cycle and become mandatory for all oral applicants starting in 2028, so candidates timing their Part II submission around that transition should confirm which template version applies to their cohort.
AAID Fellows receive a Part I exemption along with 200 CE hours of credit toward the overall CE requirement, and separate approved specialist pathways also provide written-exam exemptions. For everyone else on the general-dentist route, Part I is a mandatory gateway exam.
Key Takeaway
Because Part I and Part II cannot occur in the same year, candidates should map out a two-cycle plan early - one year to pass the written exam, a later year to defend cases in the oral exam.
Part I Written Exam: Format and Domains
The written exam is administered at Pearson VUE centers: 200 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions, five hours total, with no scheduled break built into the clock. Any break you take is voluntary and consumes examination time, so pacing decisions matter as much as content knowledge. The passing standard is criterion-referenced - you are measured against a fixed competency bar, not curved against other candidates in your session.
The July 1, 2026 handbook lays out a five-domain blueprint. Understanding the weighting is essential to allocating study time correctly - a candidate who studies all five domains equally is mis-calibrated against the actual exam.
Domain 1: Obtaining and Assessing Diagnostic Data (15%)
Covers patient history, imaging interpretation, and diagnostic workup used to determine implant candidacy.
- Radiographic and CBCT interpretation for implant sites
- Medical and dental history factors affecting treatment eligibility
Domain 2: Developing and Presenting a Patient Treatment Plan (18%)
Tests the ability to synthesize diagnostic findings into a coherent, sequenced treatment plan and communicate it appropriately.
- Case sequencing and staging decisions
- Informed consent and treatment alternatives
Domain 3: Implementing Patient Treatment (44%)
The largest domain by far, covering the actual surgical and prosthetic execution of implant therapy.
- Surgical protocols and implant placement technique
- Prosthetic design and restoration of implants
Domain 4: Maintaining the Effectiveness of Dental Implant Treatment (8%)
Focuses on long-term monitoring and upkeep of completed implant cases.
- Recall protocols and peri-implant tissue evaluation
- Long-term functional and esthetic maintenance
Domain 5: Prevention and Management of Complications (15%)
Assesses recognition and resolution of surgical, prosthetic, and biological complications.
- Early detection of peri-implantitis and mechanical failure
- Corrective and salvage treatment options
Because Domain 3 alone accounts for 44% of the exam, it deserves a disproportionate share of study hours relative to Domains 4 and 5 combined. For a full breakdown of subtopics inside each domain, see DABOI/ID Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 5 Content Areas.
General-Dentist Eligibility Requirements
To sit for Part I on the general-dentist pathway, candidates must meet three baseline requirements:
- A qualifying dental education - a DDS or DMD from a CODA- or CDAC-accredited program.
- Current, unrestricted dental licensure.
- 670 documented implant-related continuing education hours from AGD/PACE and/or ADA/CERP recognized programs.
That 670-hour CE requirement is substantial and typically accumulates over years of practice-based implant education, not a single course. AAID Fellows are credited 200 CE hours toward this total and are exempted from Part I entirely; other approved specialist pathways carry their own exemptions. If you're unsure which pathway applies to your training background, DABOI/ID Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify breaks down each route in detail.
Key Takeaway
Start logging CE hours from AGD/PACE or ADA/CERP recognized providers early - 670 hours is a multi-year accumulation for most general dentists, not something assembled in a single prep cycle.
2027-Cycle Fees and Deadlines
ABOI/ID publishes fees separately from the handbook, and the 2027 schedule supersedes the older fee table. Candidates should always confirm they're referencing the current published fee sheet rather than an outdated handbook figure.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application fee (nonrefundable) | $600 |
| Part I Written Examination | $800 |
| Total - initial written pathway | $1,400 |
| Part II Oral Examination | $1,500 |
| Written reexamination | $800 |
| Oral reexamination | $1,500 |
Key upcoming dates: the next published application deadline is December 1, 2026, with the Part I examination administered April 14, 2027. Missing the application window pushes a candidate into the following cycle, so calendar discipline matters as much as content preparation. For a full cost breakdown including how these figures compare across the full certification arc, see DABOI/ID Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown, and for the complete testing calendar visit DABOI/ID Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Who Pursues DABOI/ID - and Why
General dentists who have built a substantial implant caseload pursue DABOI/ID to formalize and validate that experience through an external, criterion-referenced board process. Because eligibility requires 670 documented implant CE hours plus current licensure, candidates are typically established practitioners rather than new graduates - the credential rewards depth of implant-specific practice rather than broad general-dentistry tenure alone.
The credential signals to referring dentists, patients, and practice partners that a dentist has been independently evaluated on diagnostic judgment, treatment planning, surgical/prosthetic execution, and complication management - the same five domains tested on Part I. Whether that signal translates into referral volume, leadership roles, or compensation differences is practice-specific; if you're weighing the investment, Is the DABOI/ID Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and DABOI/ID Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis examine that question directly, and DABOI/ID Jobs looks at how the credential shows up in hiring and practice listings.
Maintaining the Diplomate Credential
Certification isn't a one-time event for Diplomates certified from 2008 onward - it operates on an eight-year maintenance cycle. Within that cycle, Diplomates must complete:
- 160 implant-related continuing education hours
- A take-home multiple-choice maintenance examination
- A signed attestation
- A $250 maintenance fee
Separately, active Diplomates pay annual dues of $450 under the published 2025-2026 schedule. Both obligations run independently of the initial certification fees, so budgeting for DABOI/ID should account for the ongoing maintenance cycle, not just the upfront Part I and Part II costs.
Preparing for Part I: A Domain-Driven Approach
Because Part I uses original clinical case-based questions rather than pure recall items, effective preparation should emphasize diagnosis, treatment planning, surgical and prosthetic treatment, implant maintenance, and complications - mirroring the five domains - using worked clinical cases with explained answers rather than isolated flashcard facts.
Domain 3 Foundation
- Surgical placement protocols and staging decisions
- Prosthetic design principles across implant systems
Domains 1 & 2
- Diagnostic imaging interpretation and case workup
- Treatment plan sequencing and presentation logic
Domains 4 & 5
- Maintenance recall protocols
- Complication recognition and management pathways
Timed Practice
- Full-length timed blocks simulating the five-hour, no-scheduled-break format
- Review missed items by domain, not by chronology
Given that Domain 3 carries 44% of the blueprint, weighting your first study block toward surgical and prosthetic implementation is a defensible strategy rather than an arbitrary preference. Since there's no scheduled break during the actual five-hour exam, rehearsing full-length timed sessions matters as much as content review - pacing failures under exam conditions are avoidable with practice. For a structured week-by-week plan and question-style walkthroughs, see DABOI/ID Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and for a sense of overall exam difficulty relative to your current knowledge base, How Hard Is the DABOI/ID Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 is a useful gut check. You can also run realistic timed practice sessions on our practice test platform to build stamina for the five-hour format.
For a fast, one-page review of the fee schedule, domain weights, and eligibility thresholds before test day, bookmark DABOI/ID Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts, and use this site's full practice test bank to drill each domain individually before attempting a full simulated exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Passing the Part I Written Examination is a required step, but Diplomate status is only conferred after also completing and passing Part II, the oral examination. The two parts cannot be taken in the same calendar year.
Part I consists of 200 single-best-answer multiple-choice questions administered over five hours at Pearson VUE testing centers. There is no scheduled break; any break taken is voluntary and counts against your total exam time. Scoring uses a criterion-referenced passing standard rather than a curve.
Candidates need a DDS/DMD from a CODA/CDAC-accredited program, current dental licensure, and 670 documented implant-related CE hours from AGD/PACE and/or ADA/CERP recognized programs. AAID Fellows and certain approved specialist pathways receive exemptions or CE credit.
The published 2027 fees total $1,400 for the initial written pathway ($600 nonrefundable application plus $800 written exam), with Part II costing an additional $1,500. Written and oral reexamination fees are $800 and $1,500 respectively.
Yes. Diplomates certified from 2008 onward follow an eight-year maintenance cycle requiring 160 implant-related CE hours, a take-home multiple-choice maintenance exam, attestation, and a $250 maintenance fee, plus separate annual active dues of $450 under the 2025-2026 schedule.