Look No Further. Get Started Today.
20 Minutes Free Consultation
International dentists who seek admission into advanced standing programs in the United States must demonstrate strong academic backgrounds and readiness to pursue dental education in this country. Schools evaluate applicants to advanced standing programs in a number of ways including based on their standardized test scores.
Most if not all advanced standing programs require applicants to pass the National Board of Dental Examiners part 1 before applying to their programs. Many also require part 2 of this exam and some recommend it. As a result, to be able to cast a wide net and have many options when applying, it is always a good idea for applicants to consider taking and passing both of these examinations. But in addition to these exams, the TOEFL is also an important aspect of a successful application to advanced standing dental programs. The TOEFL tells programs whether an applicant has the English language proficiency to excel in dental school. Since the board exams are not scored and are only pass/fail, some schools place great emphasis on the TOEFL examination and look for applicants with high scores.
In addition, the Advanced Dental Admissions Test is becoming more popular as a way of assessing applicants. While virtually none of the advanced standing programs require this exam, some do recommend it. Doing well on this exam is a good way for applicants to distinguish themselves from the crowd, especially at those programs that recommend this examination.
Applying to advanced standing requires careful strategic planning and part of that planning should focus on which exams one needs to prepare for. Below is a list of advanced standing dental programs in the United States, their standardized exam/board requirements, and information about minimum and average scores at some of these programs. For more detailed information and to confirm the information retrieved here, we encourage all applicants to visit the school site directly and contact them with specific questions.
Name of Dental School: University of Alabama School of Dentistry, Birmingham, AL
Link: http://www.uab.edu/dentistry/home/students/future-students/international-dentist-program-idp
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Preferred but not required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: TOEFL iBT scores required for applicants whose native language is not English
Minimum TOEFL Score: Not listed
TOEFL Score Valid for: Not listed
Name of Dental School: University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry
Link: https://www.dentistry.ucla.edu/learning/professional-program-international-dentists
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for all applicants except for those who have graduated from a high school in the U.S.
• Minimum Score: For paper-based TOEFL: 560, for internet-based TOEFL: Reading: 21, Listening: 17, Speaking: 24 and Writing: 25
• Valid for: 2 years
Name of Dental School: University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry, San Francisco, CA
Link: https://dentistry.ucsf.edu/programs/idp
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for applicants whose native language is not English
• Minimum Score: 95 or higher for the internet-based, 587 or higher for the paper-based, 240 or higher for the computer-based
• Valid for: 2 years
Name of Dental School: Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, Loma Linda, CA
Link: https://dentistry.llu.edu/admissions/international-dentist-program-dds
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for applicants whose native language is not English
• Minimum Score: 100 or higher on the Internet Based Exam. Individual scores must be a minimum of 20.
• Valid for: Not listed
Name of Dental School: University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco, CA
Link: http://dental.pacific.edu/academic-programs/international-dental-studies
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for applicants whose native language is not English
• Minimum Score: 92 or higher (internet-based test), 580 or higher (paper-based test)
• Valid for: Not listed
Name of Dental School: Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, Los Angeles, CA
Link: https://dentistry.usc.edu/programs/aspid/
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for non-U.S. citizens and those without permanent resident status
• Minimum Score: While scores below 100 are considered, scores 100 and above are preferred
• Valid for: Not listed
Name of Dental School: Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine, Pomona, CA
Link: https://prospective.westernu.edu/dentistry/dmd-idp/
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Will be considered but not required
TOEFL: Required for applicants whose native language is not English
• Minimum Score: 79 or higher (Internet-based)
• Valid for: Two years
Name of Dental School: University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, Aurora, CO
Link:http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/dentalmedicine/ProgramsAdmissions/InternationalStudentProgram/Pages/Advanced%20Standing%20International%20Student%20Program.aspx
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Encouraged, but not required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for all applicants regardless of native language or courses taken
• Minimum Score: 94 or better (internet-based test)
• Valid for: Not listed
Name of Dental School: Howard University College of Dentistry, Washington, DC
Link:http://healthsciences.howard.edu/education/colleges/dentistry/programs/predoctoral-programs/international-dentist-program
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for applicants whose Dental Degree is International
• Minimum Score: 100 or better
• Valid for: Not listed
Name of Dental School: Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Link: https://dental.nova.edu/international/index.html
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Not required but forward your scores (if taken)
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required
• Minimum Score: 80 or better (computer generated)
• Valid for: Not listed
Name of Dental School: University of Florida College of Dentistry Gainesville, FL
Link: https://admissions.dental.ufl.edu/iedp/programs-application-process/4-year-d-m-d-program/
NBDE Part 1: Recommended
NBDE Part 2: Recommended
ADAT: Recommended
DAT: Required
• Minimum Score: 15 in each section
TOEFL: Required.
• Minimum Score: 80 (Internet-Based version) or 550 (paper-based)
• Valid for: 2 years
Note: This is a four-year program for international dentists
Name of Dental School: University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, Chicago, IL
Link: https://dentistry.uic.edu/programs/doctor-dental-medicine-advanced-standing-dmd-as
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for all applicants
• Minimum Score: Overall: 80 (internet-based: IBT); Writing: 21, Speaking: 20, Listening: 17, Reading: 19. (Average TOEFL IBT total score for the last entering class was 102).
• Valid for: 2 years
Name of Dental School: Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine, Alton, IL
Link: http://www.siue.edu/dental/iapp/index.shtml
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Strongly considered
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for ALL applicants. Only Internet Based TOEFL (IBT) scores are accepted.
• Minimum Score: 94 or better (IBT). Recommended minimum sub-scores: Reading – 22, Listening – 22, Speaking – 26 and Writing – 24.
• Valid for: 2 years
Name of Dental School: Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, IN
Link:https://www.dentistry.iu.edu/index.php/prospectivestudents/admissions/iu-idp/
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for applicants whose native language is not English
• Minimum Score: 100 or better (IBT scores)
• Valid for: 2 years
Name of Dental School: The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, Iowa City, IA
Link: https://www.dentistry.uiowa.edu/advanced-standing-program
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for applicants whose native language is not English
• Minimum Score: 100 or better (only computer based scores are accepted)
• Valid for: 2 years
Name of Dental School: Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA
Link: http://www.bu.edu/dental/admissions/as/
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Not required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for all applicants
• Minimum Score: 90 Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) total score, 550 Paper-based TOEFL. Competitive applicants typically have an iBT TOEFL total score of 100 or higher.
• Valid for: 2 years
Name of Dental School: Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA
Link: https://dental.tufts.edu/academics/dental-international-student-program
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for ALL applicants
• Minimum Score: 90 on the internet-based exam
• Valid for: 2 years
Name of Dental School: University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI
Link: http://dent.umich.edu/admissions/itdp/internationally-trained-dentist-program-itdp
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Not required but is encouraged
ADAT: Recommended, but not required
TOEFL: Required for ALL applicants
• Minimum Score: Internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of at least 94. Total scores above 100 are considered competitive. Minimum recommended sub-scores: Reading: 25, Listening: 25, Speaking: 26 and Writing: 25
• Valid for: 2 years
Name of Dental School: University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, Minneapolis, MN
Link: https://www.dentistry.umn.edu/degrees-programs/umn-pass
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: The TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) is mandatory for ALL applicants.
• Average Score: The average score must be 94 or above (iBT test) AND with score of 20 or above in each of the four evaluations.
• Valid for: 3 years
Name of Dental School: Creighton University School of Dentistry, Omaha, NE
Link: https://dentistry.creighton.edu/future-students/how-apply/advanced-standing-program
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Not required
TOEFL: Required for applicants whose native language is not English
• Minimum Score: 90 or better
• Valid for: Not listed
Note: Applicants must be able to show evidence of having completed a master’s program in a dental discipline at a U.S. university.
Name of Dental School: University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine, Las Vegas, NV
Link: https://www.unlv.edu/degree/dds
NBDE Part 1: Required (completed within the past 8 years)
NBDE Part 2: Required (completed with the past 8 years)
ADAT: Required in conjunction with NBDE part 1 & 2 passing scores if NBDE scores are more than 8 years old
TOEFL: Required for all applicants
• Minimum Score: 98 or better
• Valid for: 2 years
Name of Dental School: Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Newark, NJ
Link: http://sdm.rutgers.edu/admissions/application-international-dentist-procedure.htm
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required
• Minimum Score: No minimum score required.
• Valid for: Not listed.
Name of Dental School: Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, New York, NY
Link:https://www.dental.columbia.edu/education/advanced-standing-program-foreign-trained-dentists
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for ALL applicants. Only internet based TOEFL (iBT) scores accepted.
• Minimum Score: 100 on the iBT
• Valid for: Not listed
Name of Dental School: New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY
Link: https://dental.nyu.edu/academicprograms/dds-program/advanced-standing.html
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for ALL applicants. TOEFL (iBT) and TOEFL (PBT) exams are accepted.
• Minimum Score: 100 on the iBT and 603 on the PBT
• Valid for: 2 year
Name of Dental School: University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Buffalo, NY
Link:http://dental.buffalo.edu/education/dds-program/dds-program/international-dentist-program.html
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Recommended
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for applicants whose native language is not English
• Minimum Score: 79 on the internet-based test. Competitive score: 90 or better.
• Valid for: 2 years
Name of Dental School: University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, Oklahoma City, OK
Link: https://dentistry.ouhsc.edu/Prospective-Students/Programs-Offered/ASPID
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Optional
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for applicants whose native language is not English
• Minimum Score: Paper Based TOEFL: 587, Computer Based TOEFL: 240 and Internet Based TOEFL: 94
• Valid for: Not listed
Name of Dental School: University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Link:https://www.dental.upenn.edu/academic_programs_admissions/program_for_advanced_standing_students
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Recommended
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for ALL applicants. Native English speakers may substitute the DAT Reading Comprehension score in lieu of the TOEFL exam.
• Minimum Score: 90 and above (internet-based iBT test). Average iBT TOEFL score for class entering in 2018: 101
• Valid for: 3 years
Name of Dental School: University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
Link: https://www.dental.pitt.edu/advanced-standing-program
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Accepted but not required
TOEFL: Required for applicants whose native language is not English
• Minimum Score: 100 or better
• Valid for: 2 years
Name of Dental School: Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry, Philadelphia, PA
Link: https://dentistry.temple.edu/International-Dentists-DMD-Programs
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for ALL applicants
• Minimum Score: 100 or better (iBT TOEFL)
• Valid for: 2 years
Name of Dental School: University of Puerto Rico, School of Dental Medicine, San Juan, PR
Link: http://dental.rcm.upr.edu/advanced-placement-program/
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Not required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for all applicants.
• Minimum Score: Not listed
• Valid for: Not listed
Note: This program is mainly targeted for dentists with dental degrees from Spanish speaking international dental schools.
Name of Dental School: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Dentistry, Houston, TX
Link: https://dentistry.uth.edu/students/doctor-of-dental-surgery/index.htm
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Highly Recommended
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for applicants whose native language is not English
• Minimum Score: Not listed
• Valid for: Not listed
Name of Dental School: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Dentistry, San Antonio, TX
Link: https://www.uthscsa.edu/academics/dental/programs/international-dentist-program
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Recommended
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required
• Minimum Score: 92 or better
• Valid for: 2 years
Name of Dental School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, Richmond, VA
Link: https://dentistry.vcu.edu/programs/internationaldentists/
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Optional but preferred
ADAT: Optional
TOEFL: Required but may be waived for applicants with a degree from an accredited US institution
• Minimum Score: 94 with a minimum of 20 in each section
• Valid for: Not listed
Name of Dental School: University of Washington School of Dentistry, Seattle, WA
Link: https://dental.washington.edu/students/dds-programs/international-dds-program/
NBDE Part 1: Required (earned within the past 5 years)
NBDE Part 2: Required (earned within the past 5 years)
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Required for applicants whose native language is not English (internet-based iBT)
• Minimum Score: Not listed
• Valid for: Not listed
Name of Dental School: Marquette University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, WI
Link: https://www.marquette.edu/dentistry/admissions/foreign-trained.php
NBDE Part 1: Required
NBDE Part 2: Not required
ADAT: Not required
TOEFL: Optional
• Minimum Score: 80 or better on the Internet-based TOEFL or a 213 or better on the computer-based TOEFL
• Valid for: Not listed