Three routes into U.S. dentistry: four-year dental program, international dentist pathway and residency pathway

Three paths

Three paths. One profession.

One account → one profile → everything connected

Create your Dental Passport.

So what is a Dental Passport?

Your whole dental application in one private record — filled once, reused by every tool, deadline and program.

Answer onceTailored to your pathPrivate to you

Click on your pathway

Pick one of the three below to unlock Create my Dental Passport

Create my Dental Passport

Select your pathway, then create its distinct Dental Passport.

Program database

Twelve of the most sought-after programs. Then open all 47.

Every profile carries the numbers the program itself publishes to ADEA CAAPID — exact program length, class size, application open date, deadline, start date, bench test, required exams, transcript evaluators and letter instructions — with the date that data was last updated and a direct link so you can verify every line yourself.

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC campus

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC

24 months
D.D.S.
Los Angeles, CA
34 seats
Bench test
INBDE
English test
July 31, 2026verified July 13, 2026Open profile
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine campus

University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine

29 months
D.M.D.
Philadelphia, PA
20 (estimate) seats
INBDE
English test
Supplemental app
U.S. status required
June 1, 2026verified March 14, 2026Open profile
New York University College of Dentistry campus

New York University College of Dentistry

28 months
D.D.S.
New York, NY
30-40 (estimate) seats
INBDE
English test
June 1, 2026verified February 6, 2026Open profile
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine campus

Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine

24 months
D.M.D.
Boston, MA
100 seats
INBDE
English test
October 15, 2026verified January 12, 2026Open profile
University of Michigan School of Dentistry campus

University of Michigan School of Dentistry

28 months
D.D.S.
N. University Ann Arbor, MI
20 seats
Bench test
INBDE
English test
May 30, 2026verified February 9, 2026Open profile
Tufts University School of Dental Medicine campus

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine

29 months
D.M.D.
Boston, MA
30-35 (estimate) seats
INBDE
English test
May 29, 2026verified August 3, 2026Open profile
Columbia University College of Dental Medicine campus

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine

30 months
D.D.S.
New York, NY
25 (estimate) seats
INBDE
English test
Supplemental app
August 1, 2026verified March 2, 2026Open profile
University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry campus

University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry

25 months
D.D.S.
Los Angeles, CA
30 seats
Bench test
INBDE
English test
Supplemental app
June 30, 2026verified February 17, 2026Open profile
University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry campus

University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry

36 months
D.D.S.
San Francisco, CA
20 seats
English test
June 15, 2026verified February 23, 2026Open profile
University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry campus

University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry

24 months
D.D.S.
San Francisco, CA
57 seats
INBDE
English test
June 12, 2026verified February 20, 2026Open profile
Harvard School of Dental Medicine campus

Harvard School of Dental Medicine

29 months
D.M.D.
Boston, MA
8 (estimate) seats
Bench test
INBDE
English test
Supplemental app
May 5, 2026verified March 5, 2026Open profile
The Ohio State University College of Dentistry campus

The Ohio State University College of Dentistry

28 Months
D.D.S.
Columbus, OH
4 seats
Bench test
INBDE
English test
Supplemental app
U.S. status required
July 31, 2026verified April 1, 2026Open profile

Start here — a 2-minute tour

What GoDenta is, how the test-center simulations and program profiles work, and why applicants use it instead of guessing.

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The U.S. dental license process is fragmented, expensive, and opaque.

Applicants juggle credential evaluations, exam requirements, English proficiency thresholds, bench tests, letters of evaluation, visa restrictions, and deadlines that vary by program.

Most rely on expensive consultants or contradictory forum posts. GoDenta consolidates every requirement, every tool and every resource in one place, at a fraction of the cost.

Your licensure journey
Every stage of the route, in order, with the time each one usually takes.
32–57 months typical
Sign in to track progress
Full pathway guide
  1. 1

    Credential evaluation

    1–3 months

    Course-by-course evaluation, translated diploma and transcripts.

  2. 2

    INBDE and English tests

    4–9 months

    Register, prepare and release scores before the programs' deadlines.

  3. 3

    Writing and letters

    1–3 months

    Personal statement, CV and three letters of recommendation.

  4. 4

    CAAPID and supplementals

    1–2 months

    Submit CAAPID, then each program's own supplemental application and fee.

  5. 5

    Bench test and interview

    1–4 months

    On-site typodont work and interview for shortlisted programs.

  6. 6

    Program and licensure

    24–36 months

    Complete the Advanced Standing program, then apply to a state board.

Sign in and your My Application checklist marks these stages off automatically.

Five routes. One platform.

Choose the pathway that matches your goal.

Traditional DDS / DMD
For U.S. pre-dental students applying through AADSAS.
  • AADSAS timeline
  • DAT prep
  • Shadowing & LORs
  • Personal statement
Learn more about Traditional DDS / DMD
International IDP / CAAPID
For internationally trained dentists pursuing Advanced Standing.
  • 44 CAAPID programs
  • INBDE strategy
  • Credential evals
  • Visa filters
Learn more about International IDP / CAAPID
Residency Programs
For licensed dentists applying through ADEA PASS.
  • GPR / AEGD / Specialties
  • Match data
  • Interview prep
  • PASS workflow
Learn more about Residency Programs
Florida dental hygiene
Statutory route for graduates of non-accredited dental schools.
  • s. 466.007 eligibility
  • NBDHE / NBDE
  • ADEX hygiene exam
  • Laws & rules exam
Learn more about Florida dental hygiene
Limited & institutional
Faculty permits, intern permits and health-access routes, state by state.
  • Sponsor first
  • Scope limits
  • Board verification
  • Visa sponsorship
Learn more about Limited & institutional

44

CAAPID programs profiled

14

Admissions tools

24/7

Always available

Pricing

Priced against what this cycle costs you

A single commercial mock-exam bundle runs $150–$400 and an application consultant starts north of $1,500. Swipe through the plans — cancel any time, and the free tier stays free. Premium is where most applicants land.

Free

Decide where to apply before you spend a dollar on fees.

Free
  • All 47 verified program profiles with sources
  • Basic Dental Passport
  • Deadline calendar and cycle timeline preview
  • 5 advisor questions a day
  • 1 practice block (20 questions)
  • Community and guides
Start free
Most chosen

Premium

Everything for your dental application, in one place.

$149/ year

$12/mo equivalent · billed once

  • Full Dental Passport with readiness score
  • Unlimited advisor questions and program matching
  • Track every application, with deadline alerts
  • Full-length INBDE, DAT, TOEFL and IELTS sittings
  • Personal statement, CV and letter tools
  • Interview simulator with speaking examiners
  • Readiness analysis, finances and licensure roadmap
Choose Premium

Application Cycle Pass

One flat fee for a complete application cycle.

$249/ cycle
  • Everything in Premium for a full cycle
  • Paid once — nothing to cancel mid-cycle
  • Doctor expert review of your complete file
  • Re-verification requests on any program detail
  • Priority support from the team
Choose Cycle Pass

Swipe or drag the cards. Prices in USD. Program application fees, exam fees and evaluation fees are paid directly to those organisations and are not included.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is a "Dental Passport"?

It is our name for your application record: one form holding your degree, exams, experience, documents, budget and goals. You fill it in once and every tool on GoDenta reads from it, so nothing asks you the same question twice. It stays private to your account — it is never submitted to any school on your behalf.

Which dental pathways does GoDenta cover?

Three tracks: traditional U.S. DDS/DMD through AADSAS, Advanced Standing IDP through CAAPID, and postgraduate residency programs through ADEA PASS.

How current is the program database?

Every one of the 47 profiles carries the date its official source page was last updated, a verify link, and a verified-sources panel listing exactly which fields came from where. Administrators log each re-check, and each profile shows how many days ago it was confirmed.

Can I use the free plan indefinitely?

Yes. The Explorer plan is free forever and includes every program profile, the deadline calendar, the odds estimator, the visa and status guide and a practice exam block.

Do I need to be an international dentist to use GoDenta?

No. GoDenta works for anyone applying to dental education in the United States — pre-dental applicants heading into a four-year DDS/DMD program, internationally trained dentists pursuing Advanced Standing, and graduates applying to postgraduate residencies. You choose your pathway and the platform adapts every checklist, deadline and practice module to it.

Ready to start your pathway?

Join thousands of dental applicants using GoDenta to navigate the process with clarity and confidence.

Create free account