Requirements for DMD Advanced Standing Program
Integrated National Dental Board Exam or National Board Dental Exam
ECE, International Transcripts and Diplomas
Eligibility
The international equivalent of the DMD dental degree is a prerequisite for consideration for admission to the DMD Advanced Standing Program for applicants whose dental degrees were conferred from accredited institutions outside the United States. An applicant must have earned the dental degree and hold a final diploma prior to applying to the Boston University program. Provisional degrees and certificates are not sufficient. In addition, a passing result on the U.S. Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INDBE) or NBDE Parts 1 and 2 are required for consideration for admission: see details below regarding the NBDE1/ADAT application requirement transition.
Citizenship
Applicants to the DMD Advanced Standing Program at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine may be foreign nationals, United States citizens, or hold United States Lawful Permanent Resident status. Matriculation requires compliance with Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulations as determined by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Boston University International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) website has detailed information.
Admissions Factors
The Admissions Committee takes into account the applicant’s academic preparation, grades and marks, passage of the INDBE or NBDE Parts 1 and 2 and English language proficiency as demonstrated by the TOEFL iBT. Clinical experience is strongly considered, along with research and teaching experience, advanced dental education, and motivation for the study of dentistry. Letters of evaluation are important elements in the Admissions Committee assessment. The Committee invites selected applicants to interview; an interview is required for admission, but does not guarantee acceptance.
DMD Advanced Standing Application Requirements
All application materials must be submitted directly to ADEA CAAPID
CAAPID Application
The ADEA CAAPID application becomes available in early March on the ADEA website. Applications to the GSDM DMD Advanced Standing Program may be submitted from early March through November for admission in the following calendar year. Due to processing requirements, CAAPID will release your application to the dental schools a few weeks after your materials are submitted.
We recommend submission of the complete CAAPID application by August to allow Admissions ample time to review an applicant’s qualifications. Close review of DMD Advanced Standing applications begins following the seating of the prior application year’s class in late July. Interview invitations are issued throughout the admissions cycle, with most interviews held from September through February.
Supplemental Application Fee
We will email you instructions for payment of the non-refundable $75 supplemental application fee.
English Language Requirements and TOEFL
TOEFL
- All applicants must submit an official TOEFL iBT score (Test of English as a Foreign Language) directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to ADEA CAAPID, institution B451
- A score of 100 or higher on the TOEFL iBT (600 or higher PBT) is competitive. Applicants who do not meet the minimum TOEFL requirement of 90 iBT or 550 PBT will not be considered.
- TOEFL “MyBest Score” is not considered.
- TOEFL Essentials is not considered.
- IELTS and other English language assessments are not accepted.
Integrated National Dental Board Exam or National Board Dental Exam
Passage of the INDBE or NBDE Parts 1 and 2
Submit official results directly to the American Dental Association to ADEA CAAPID from the American Dental Association
Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE)
- Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INDBE) (replacing NBDE I & II)
- National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) Part I and Part II (being phased out)
The ADAT is not required.
ECE Dental School Transcript Course-by-Course Evaluation
- The ECE report should specify that your dental degree has been awarded
- If the ECE evaluation does not specifically state that your dental degree has been awarded, we will obtain that information from your uploaded dental school diploma
- World Education Services (WES) evaluations are not accepted
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
414-289-3400
Letters of Evaluation – 3 required
Three letters of evaluation are required, to be submitted directly to CAAPID:
- A letter of evaluation from your dental school dean.
- If a dean’s evaluation is not available, a letter from a dental school faculty member may be substituted.
- Two letters of evaluation from dental school faculty members.
- A clinical supervisor’s letter may substitute for one of the dental school faculty letters.
- Optional: one additional letter of evaluation.
- Evaluators should submit letters electronically through Letters by Liaison, the CAAPID Recommenders Portal.
- Letters should be on official letterhead and include the date and evaluator’s signature.
If an evaluator cannot access the Recommenders Portal, we request that the applicant upload the letter in CAAPID Program Materials. Again, the letter should be on the evaluator’s official letterhead, dated, and signed by the evaluator.
Updates
Applicants can update certain sections of the CAAPID application after submission, until the CAAPID cycle closes: Clinical, professional, volunteer, research and teaching experience;
Test results (NBDE, INBDE and TOEFL), which must be submitted directly by the testing agency to CAAPID; Visa status; and Address and contact information.
New CVs or resumes cannot be uploaded to CAAPID once your application has been submitted; e-mail your updated CV to asdent@bu.edu.
Interview
Applicants who are selected for an interview are contacted by DMD Advanced Standing Admissions. Interview invitations are issued starting in September and continue through February; interviews are scheduled from late September into March. The Admissions Committee occasionally issues interview invitations to individuals outside this timeframe. Applicants may interview only if invited. Only those applicants invited for an interview are able to meet with a member of the Admissions Committee. An interview is required for admission, but an interview does not guarantee admission. Due to the high volume of applications, applicants or prospective applicants cannot be granted informational or informal interviews.
Photograph
Applicants who are invited to interview will be asked to submit an electronic photograph of themselves to be added to their application record.
Re-applicants
Individuals who applied during a prior admissions cycle and who wish to reapply must submit a new ADEA CAAPID application for the current cycle, including an updated CV directly to CAAPID. All necessary documents, including the ECE course-by-course evaluation and test results must be resubmitted through CAAPID. Re-applicants who were interviewed the preceding year generally are not scheduled for an interview for the current admissions cycle. In some cases, however, the Admissions Committee may request that an interview be scheduled.
COVID-19
Boston University conducts a holistic application review and will be flexible in consideration of COVID-19 related limitations: see the GSDM Admissions COVID-19 Statement to Applicants.