Certificate  |  Fellowship  |  Diplomate

IAAO Credentialing Pathway

The International Academy of Aligner Orthodontics (IAAO) recognizes dentists who demonstrate progressive achievement in aligner orthodontics through structured education, clinical experience and formal assessment.

The credentialing pathway provides a defined progression from foundational recognition to advanced clinical achievement.

The IAAO Philosophy

IAAO credentialing is built around four pillars:

I

Education

Structured aligner orthodontic education through a recognized curriculum.

II

Experience

Clinical experience gained through treating patients with aligners.

III

Competency

Documented cases demonstrating the ability to apply aligner orthodontic knowledge across defined treatment categories.

IV

Assessment

Formal evaluation of a candidate's knowledge and clinical competency, including written examinations and, at the Diplomate level, an oral case defense and professional contribution.

Credentialing Development

IAAO credentialing standards are developed and overseen through an established governance structure. The International Advisory Council includes orthodontists and dentists from seven countries. The Council sets the standards for education, clinical experience, case competency and examinations across the three credential levels.

The Chairs of Credentialing and Standards implement those standards and oversee applications, case reviews and examinations. This structure supports consistent evaluation against the published requirements. The Council's international membership helps ensure that credentialing standards reflect aligner orthodontic practice across different patient populations and regulatory environments including many different clinical settings.

Credentialing at a Glance

Each credential has its own educational and clinical requirements. The following overview outlines the progression from Certificate to Fellowship and Diplomate.

Requirement IAAO Certificate IAAO Fellowship
(FIAAO) 		IAAO Diplomate
(DIAAO)
Recognized education Clearly Aligned Core Competency Clearly Aligned Advanced Competency Clearly Aligned Mastery Competency
Qualifying education 50 hours 150 total hours 300 total hours
Orthodontist-led education 20 hours 40 hours 80 hours
In-person education 20 hours 40 hours 80 hours
Completed aligner cases 50 100 200
Clinical experience No minimum 2 years 3 years
Case submissions 2 5 10
Written examination None Online Proctored
Minimum passing score N/A 80% 80%
Oral case defense Not required Not required Required

For the full eligibility criteria and assessment details visit the page for each credential, listed below.

I

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Certificate

Establish a base of knowledge and clinical experience for continued development in aligner orthodontics.

The foundational level of the IAAO credentialing pathway recognizes dentists who have completed core aligner orthodontic education and demonstrated their knowledge through clinical case documentation and examination.

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II

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Fellowship

The advanced level recognizes dentists with greater clinical experience and the ability to apply aligner orthodontic principles across a broader range of cases.

Candidates demonstrate their competency through a portfolio of clinical cases and a written examination.

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III

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Diplomate

The highest level recognizes dentists who have demonstrated advanced clinical competency across a wide range of aligner orthodontic challenges.

Candidates must meet extensive clinical experience requirements and complete advanced case submissions, a written examination, an oral case defense and an approved professional contribution.

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Ready to Begin?

Doctors interested in pursuing an IAAO credential should begin by identifying the credential level that best matches their current education and clinical experience. Candidates can then complete the applicable Clearly Aligned educational pathway, confirm that the clinical experience requirements have been met, and prepare the required case portfolio for submission.

Current application forms, credentialing timelines, assessment dates, documentation standards, and fees are provided through the IAAO credentialing process.

Candidates are encouraged to review the current requirements before beginning a formal application.

Register to Begin Your Journey Today

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