Invisalign Proficiency Requirements

Proficiency requirements for Invisalign

Align is implementing Invisalign® product proficiency requirements in North America to help ensure good clinical outcomes and a more consistent standard of treatment for Invisalign patients. Invisalign is an evolving, skill-based technique that requires regular usage and ongoing education to achieve best possible outcomes for patients. The product proficiency initiative requires every Invisalign provider in North America start* at least 10 Invisalign patients in treatment and to complete at least 10 Invisalign-specific CE credits each calendar year to maintain active account status. In this way, Align and doctors can demonstrate their shared commitment to great treatment outcomes, and ensure that being an "Invisalign provider" conveys product experience and training to prospective patients. If you are a newly trained doctor or belong to a combined practice, click here to see your proficiency requirement.

*Case starts will be measured based on ClinCheck acceptance by the doctor. To be counted for the year, the ClinCheck for a case must be accepted by the doctor on or before December 31st of that year. For doctors who must achieve 5 case starts and 5 CE hours as part of the 2010 one-time, additional qualification period, ClinChecks must be accepted by the doctor on or before June 30, 2010.

Proficiency Program updates announced on Sept 30th

Frequently Asked Questions

Invisalign Preferred Provider Status

How do I reach Preferred Provider status?

The Invisalign Preferred Provider designation recognizes practices who meet the Invisalign Proficiency Requirements for a given year. For example, practices who met the 2009 requirements are awarded Preferred Provider status for 2010. Practices who meet the 2010 requirements will be awarded Preferred Provider status for 2011.

Is there a Preferred Provider logo that I can use in practice marketing?

Yes. Align has created a special 2010 Preferred Provider logo to help doctors promote this special status and to help potential patients recognize doctors who have made a commitment to proficiency with Invisalign.

How can I get the Preferred Provider logo?

In January, all 2010 Preferred Provider practices will receive a special Preferred Provider kit with initial resources. Starting approximately February 1st, you can download the Preferred Provider logo and other digital assets through the Preferred Provider link on your VIP home page.

What other resources/materials are available to me as a Preferred Provider?

The Preferred Provider kit you will receive in January includes:

An Invisalign Preferred Provider sticker for your office
Patient brochures and a brochure holder
An Invisalign Preferred Provider table tent for display on your front counter

I have multiple offices and need more than one Preferred Provider kit – how do I order these?

Align will automatically send up to four Preferred Provider kits, based on the number of offices on record for your account. At this time, additional kits are not available to order.

How will Align help promote Preferred Providers to prospective patients?

Align will distinguish and help promote new Preferred Provider practices through:

A new Invisalign.com homepage and Find a Doctor search results that encourage the web site’s almost 3 million annual visitors to “Find a Preferred Provider”
Invisalign TV advertising, online marketing, and social media campaigns that will direct millions of potential patients to seek out a Preferred Provider

What should I tell my patients/prospective patients about my Preferred Provider status?

We encourage you to explain to patients how Preferred Provider status helps ensure a great Invisalign treatment experience for them:

Conveys to patients you've developed the proficiency and expertise to better design an Invisalign treatment plan that meets their needs.
Demonstrates your commitment to learning the latest in technology advances through continuing education and then implementing what you've learned.
Patients can be more confident that the treatment you provide will result in the outcomes they expect.

One-time, Additional Qualification Period

I qualified for the additional six month qualification period – what do I do next? How do I maintain my provider status for the whole year?

Doctors who qualify for the additional six month qualification period can secure their customer status for the remainder of 2010 by meeting half the annual proficiency requirements in the first six months of 2010. In other words, doctors with at least 5 case starts (defined as ClinCheck acceptance by the doctor) and 5 Invisalign CE hours between January 1 and June 30, 2010 will maintain their status and can continue submitting new cases for the remainder of 2010.
Doctors who meet these requirements by June 30th will still be responsible for meeting the full-year requirements of at least 10 case starts (defined as ClinCheck acceptance by the doctor) and 10 Invisalign CE hours by the end of 2010 to maintain their customer status and qualify as Preferred Providers in 2011.

I qualified for the additional six month qualification period – if I make it to 5 case starts and 5 Invisalign CE hours by June 30th, will I receive the Preferred Provider designation?

No. Preferred Provider status is only awarded to doctors who meet the full-year requirements of 10 case starts (defined as ClinCheck acceptance by the doctor) and 10 Invisalign CE hours. However, you can reach 2010 Preferred Provider as well as 2011 Preferred Provider status and receive all of the related benefits if and from when you reach 10/10 during the first three quarters of 2010.

If I meet the 10/10 proficiency requirements at any point during the year, will I receive the Preferred Provider designation?

Doctors who reach 10 case starts (defined as ClinCheck acceptance by the doctor) and 10 Invisalign CE hours during the first three quarters of 2010 benefit in two ways:

First, you will receive the 2010 Preferred Provider designation and kit plus all related benefits. The kit will be sent to you at the beginning of the next quarter. For example, if you reach 10/10 in May, you’ll receive your kit and benefits at the beginning of July.
Reaching 10 case starts (defined as ClinCheck acceptance by the doctor) and 10 Invisalign CE hours at any point in 2010 secures your provider status and qualifies you as a Preferred Provider for 2011.

I qualified for the additional six month qualification period – are there any restrictions on what I can do/order?

No. Your account status will not change during the additional qualification period – you can submit new cases and order materials as usual.

I qualified for the additional six month qualification period – what happens if I do not reach 5/5 by June 30th?

Doctors who qualify for the additional six month qualification period but do not reach 5 case starts (defined as ClinCheck acceptance by the doctor) and 5 Invisalign CE hours by June 30, 2010 will lose their active account status. They will be able to continue treating in-progress cases, but will not be allowed to submit new cases or use the Invisalign brand or promotional materials.

I am in a combined practice and we met the criteria for the additional qualification period – what do we need to do by June 30th?

Combined accounts must meet the requirements of 5x the number of doctors in the practice for case starts (defined as ClinCheck acceptance by the doctor) and Invisalign CE hours. For example, if there are 3 doctors in the practice, the additional qualification period requirements are 15 case starts and 15 Invisalign CE hours. The full year requirements are 10x the number of doctors in the practice for case starts and CE hours.

Beginning in 2011, we anticipate that individual doctors in combined practices will be responsible for his/her individual goals of 10 case starts and 10 CE hours.

Deactivated or Limited Account Status

What does “deactivated” mean for my account status?: Doctors who completed Invisalign training but have zero lifetime case starts will have their Invisalign account and Clin ID deactivated. They will no longer have access to VIP, as they have no Invisalign patients to manage.
What does “limited account status” mean?: Doctors who did not meet the 2009 proficiency requirements or qualify for the additional qualification period, but still have Invisalign cases in progress, will have limited account access. They can continue to access VIP and manage their in-progress cases, but will not be able to submit new cases or order or use Invisalign promotional materials.
I am sure I met the criteria for the additional qualification period, but my account was deactivated or changed to limited status. Who should I contact for assistance?: If you believe your account status has been changed in error, please contact Align Customer Care at 888-822-5446 or CustomerSupport@aligntech.com.
My case start or CE hour count on VIP is incorrect and my account was deactivated or changed to limited status as a result. Who should I contact for assistance?: If you believe your account status has been changed in error, please contact Align Customer Care at 888-822-5446 or CustomerSupport@aligntech.com.
I did not meet the proficiency requirements of 10/10 or the criteria for the one-time, additional qualification period – can I submit new Invisalign cases?: No. If you did not meet the 2009 proficiency requirements or qualify for the additional qualification period with at least 1 case start (defined as ClinCheck acceptance by the doctor and 1 CE hour, then you will not be able to submit new cases. If you have Invisalign cases in-progress, you can continue to access your account and manage those cases.
I did not meet the proficiency requirements of 10/10 or the criteria for the one-time, additional qualification period, but have Invisalign patients still in treatment. What do I do?: If you have Invisalign cases in-progress, you can continue to access your account and fully manage those cases.
I did not meet the proficiency requirements of 10/10 or the criteria for the one-time, additional qualification period – can I order MCC, CR?: Yes – you can continue to manage your in-progress cases, contact customer support, and do everything necessary to complete your cases.
I did not meet the proficiency requirements of 10/10 – can I order Invisalign retainers or Vivera retainers?: Yes – you can order Invisalign retainers or Vivera retainers for any patient in your Invisalign patient database. However, you cannot order Invisalign retainers or Vivera retainers for patients not currently in Invisalign treatment.
I did not meet the 2009 proficiency requirements or qualify for the additional qualification period, but want to be able to offer Invisalign in my practice... What do I do?: Doctors who wish to get started with Invisalign again can reactivate their account and start submitting cases by completing a Clear Essentials I (GPs) or Clear Principles I (orthodontists) training course. After completing the training course, you will need to meet the annual proficiency requirements, although pro-rated requirements do apply to newly-trained doctors. Training course dates, locations, and details are available at www.aligntechinstitute.com/training.
How do I reactivate my Clin ID/account?: Doctors who wish to get started with Invisalign again can reactivate their account and start submitting cases by completing a Clear Essentials I (GPs) or Clear Principles I (orthodontists) training course. After completing the training course, you will need to meet the annual proficiency requirements, although pro-rated requirements do apply to newly-trained doctors. Training course dates, locations, and details are available at www.aligntechinstitute.com/training.
What is the cost for taking CE I/CP I again to re-activate my account?: Standard course fees apply, and for now, doctors are eligible for any case promotions or discounts that are available to course attendees. Please see www.aligntechinstitute.com/training for details.
Why should I have to pay to take the training course again?: There is a tremendous amount of value attached to the Invisalign training courses. Course attendees receive essential, up-to-date instruction on the latest Invisalign technology, course materials, and 8 hours of Invisalign CE, and the registration fee covers one doctor and up to four staff attendees. In addition, the value of promotions and/or discounts associated with the training courses are often equal to or greater than the cost of the course fee.
I still have unused promo cases from my first training course - do I still get to use those? Do they carry over to the new training course I have to take?: No. Promotional cases or discounts from your original training course cannot be carried over if you decide to reactivate your account status. However, for now, you will be eligible for any new promotions and discounts associated with the training course you attend.
I did not meet the proficiency requirements of 10/10 – can I still order materials from the Align store?: Doctors who have limited account access and Invisalign cases in-progress can call Customer Care at 888-822-5446 to order certain Invisalign products, such as Patient Consent Form, Impression Trays, and Case Submission Kits (for mid-course corrections or case refinement).
I did not meet the proficiency requirements of 10/10 for 2009 – can I still access CE content/hours at www.aligntechinstitute.com?: Any doctor can access the AligntechInstitute.com web site and benefit from the online resources and courses. However, doctors can only earn CE hours if they have an active Clin ID and VIP access – this includes doctors who have limited access because of in-progress cases.
When/how often are the training courses offered?: Clear Essentials I (GPs) and Clear Principles I (orthodontists) are held regularly throughout the year. More information and course dates are available at www.aligntechinstitute.com/training.
Does Align offer an online training course for customers who want to re-activate their account?: No, Align does not currently offer an online training course. Please see www.aligntechinstitute.com/training for training course dates and locations.

Proficiency requirements program summary (from June 1st)

What types of cases count toward the requirements?: All Invisalign cases count, except for Vivera Retainers, Invisalign retainers, midcourse corrections, and case refinements. Cases count towards the proficiency requirements once the doctor has accepted the ClinCheck for the case.
How will doctors be notified of their case counts and CE credits on an ongoing basis?: Doctors will be able to view their case and CE count via a new VIP landing page. Upon login, doctors will see a barometer of current vs. required cases (based on ClinCheck acceptance by the doctor) and CE credits.
What are the proficiency requirements for newly-trained doctors?: Proficiency requirements for newly-trained doctors will be pro-rated during the calendar year in which they complete CE I. Starting the first full quarter after they complete CE I, new Invisalign doctors will need to start 2 cases (defined as ClinCheck acceptance by the doctor) per quarter for the remainder of that year. For example, a doctor who takes CE I in February will need to start 2 cases per quarter for Q2, Q3 and Q4. Newly trained doctors are awarded 8 CE credits upon successful completion of their Clear Essentials I which will satisfy the CE component of the proficiency requirements for the partial year in which they first obtain account status.
What about doctors who recently graduated from a dental school or an Orthodontic residency program? If they graduated Invisalign-trained from one of our partner schools, are they expected to hit 10 cases every year as they're getting started?: When University graduates activate their account they will have the same proficiency requirements as any newly trained doctor and may have pro-rated proficiency requirements for the year. See proficiency requirements for newly trained doctors.
What is the Proficiency Pathway? How is it different from Align's existing clinical education programs/content?: The Proficiency Pathway provides guidance on educational opportunities designed to help the doctor achieve confidence with case selection and treatment planning, case submission and treatment management, and other aspects of practice development. The pathway is divided into six milestones: Pre-training, Case Selection & Submission, Treatment Management, Increasing Your Patient Base, Treatment Considerations & Planning, & Expanding Case Applicability. Under each milestone we have identified courses or content specifically related to increasing a doctor's knowledge and confidence at his or her current case experience level. This Proficiency Pathway assists the doctor by recommending courses based on our experience versus having the doctor self-select courses from a robust educational curriculum of over 200 educational opportunities.
What are the proficiency requirements for a doctor who audits a CE1 training course?: Doctors who chose to audit a CE I training course within the same year of their initial CE I training course will not be awarded an additional 8 CE credits, and are encouraged to obtain additional CE's through the Proficiency Pathway.

Doctors who chose to audit a CE I training course the following year (s) will be awarded the 8 CE credits for attending the Clear Essentials I training course however, they will be required to obtain an additional 2 CE's, for a total of 10 CE's similar to existing doctors.
How will this program affect my Invisalign Advantage program requirements/Premier Provider status?: Invisalign Advantage program qualification criteria will not be affected by the proficiency requirements, except that the Proficiency Requirements for CE units are higher than that for the current Invisalign Advantage program.
Since we are basing the requirements on ClinCheck acceptance, is there a cut-off date for doctors to accept ClinChecks?: Cases whose ClinCheck® is approved by the doctor on or before December 31st will count towards the annual requirement. For doctors who must reach 5 case starts and 5 Invisalign CE hours during the one-time, additional qualification period, ClinChecks must be accepted on or before June 30, 2010.

Contact Align

If you have questions or need more information, Contact customer support at customersupport@aligntech.com