Information related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and U-M Dentistry

The Internationally Trained Dentist Program (ITDP) requires a full-time, 28-month commitment for graduates of non-US dental schools, in order to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree.


APPLICANTS

REQUIREMENTS

Applicants to the Internationally Trained Dentist Program (ITDP) are reviewed in a holistic manner with consideration to all components of the application, including the criteria below. The following items are only accepted through the CAAPID application:

National Board Dental Examination

All applicants are required to report passing National Board results on the CAAPID application. Either the NBDE Part I or the INBDE is accepted.

  • If Part I scores are submitted, Part II is encouraged but not required. Part 1 scores from the last 5 years are preferred, but all passing scores are accepted.
  • Official scores will be requested when an offer of admission is made.
  • Please see the ADA website for more information about the NBDE.

Advanced Dental Admissions Test (ADAT)

The Advanced Dental Admissions Test (ADAT) is recommended but not required for admission to the University of Michigan Internationally Trained Dentist Program.

Applicants who have taken the ADAT and submit scores via ADEA CAAPID will receive priority review. However, all applicants who meet our general program minimum requirements will be reviewed.

When registering for the test, applicants should select ADEA CAAPID to receive their scores. Official scores will be posted to the CAAPID application within a few weeks of each test date. Applicants should also self report ADAT scores on the CAAPID application.

iBT TOEFL Examination

All applicants are required to take the internet-based TOEFL and achieve a minimum overall score of at least 94. No waivers will be granted. Total scores above 100 are considered competitive. The following minimum subscores are not required but highly recommended:

  • Reading: 25
  • Listening: 25
  • Speaking: 26
  • Writing: 25

TOEFL scores are valid for two years after the test date. Scores that are older than this will not be accepted.

Official TOEFL scores must be sent electronically from ETS directly to CAAPID before the application deadline (see instructions for sending TOEFL scores). The TOEFL Home Edition is accepted. The TOEFL MyBest scores are not considered and we only accept iBT scores through the CAAPID application. Do not mail or email scores to the Admissions Office.

Dental Experience

Applicants are expected to demonstrate experience working in the dental field. Experiences that indicate direct patient care as a licensed dentist are desirable and strongly recommended.

Letters of Recommendation

The University of Michigan requires three total letters of recommendation, which must be uploaded directly to the CAAPID application by the evaluators. Letter requirements (all letters described below must be on letterhead and signed):

  • One dean’s letter - One letter from the Dean of the applicant’s dental school or other administrator at the dental school who can attest that the applicant maintained good academic standing during the program and can confirm the applicant’s enrollment and graduation from the institution.
  • Two letters of choice - The remaining letters should be from instructors or similar individuals who are able to evaluate the applicant’s knowledge, skill, character, and potential for success in the program.

All letters must be confidential, and applicants should waive their right to access them. Letters that are recent (and not older than 2 years) are more competitive. Additional letters beyond the three submitted through CAAPID are not allowed and will not be accepted.

Application Fee

Applicants are required to pay a $75 nonrefundable supplemental application fee directly to the University of Michigan. This fee is separate from any payments made to CAAPID and can only be made online via credit or debit card. Checks, money orders, and payments over the phone are not accepted. This payment should be made at the time of the CAAPID application submission.

Download ITDP Requirements Checklist

LICENSURE DISCLOSURE

Licensure Disclosure Information

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry Internationally Trained Dentist Program (ITDP) is accredited by the American Dental Association’s Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry Internationally Trained Dentist Program (ITDP) was designed to satisfy educational prerequisites to licensure for dentistry only in the state of Michigan. It has not been determined whether educational prerequisites to licensure would be satisfied in other states.

Students should consult the dental board in their state to confirm if the degree from University of Michigan School of Dentistry meets the criteria for professional licensure in their state. Contact information for the state dental boards can be found at the American Dental Association.

HOW TO APPLY

The ADEA Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists (CAAPID) is the standardized application service for internationally educated dental graduates who wish to practice dentistry in the US or Canada.

The ADEA CAAPID application opens on March 7, 2024 and the University of Michigan's deadline is deadline is May 31, 2024.

Application Steps

1.

Create a CAAPID account and fill out the application (see the ADEA CAAPID Application Instructions page).

2.

Submit the following directly to CAAPID:

Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) report Applicants must submit an official Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) course-by-course evaluation of all dental coursework completed outside of the US and Canada. ECE reports should be sent directly to CAAPID. See instructions for sending foreign transcript evaluations on CAAPID’s Academic History page.

Please note: The University of Michigan does not accept World Education Services (WES) evaluations.

Letters of recommendation Applicants must select three evaluators to submit letters of recommendation directly through CAAPID (see detailed instructions). See our specific Letters of Recommendation requirements.
Standardized tests Applicants should follow the instructions on CAAPID’s Standardized Tests page to submit National Board Dental Examination, ADAT, and TOEFL results. Test scores sent directly to the School of Dentistry are not accepted.
3.

Submit the following directly to the University of Michigan:

Application fee Applicants must pay a $75 supplemental application fee directly to the University of Michigan. For details about the fee and to make a payment, see the Application Fee requirement.
4.

All application materials must be received by the application deadline, June 30.

Applicants will be notified via email regarding their application status, interview invitations, and admission decisions.

Questions that aren't answered here? If further clarification is needed after reviewing this information, please contact internationaldent@umich.edu.


INTERVIEWS

INTERVIEW INVITATIONS

Applicants are invited to interview by personal invitation only and will be notified via email if they are selected. The email invitation will include scheduling instructions and further details.

Please note: Candidates are required to interview for further admission consideration.

Each application cycle, approximately 70 candidates attend the ITDP interviews, which occur in the summer months, between July and September.

INTERVIEW ASSESSMENT

MMI Format

The School of Dentistry conducts interviews using the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format. During MMI, candidates rotate through a series of timed stations and have one-on-one discussions with multiple interviewers about a variety of topics. The interviewers include current students, staff, faculty, and Admissions Committee members.

Laboratory Bench Test

In addition to participating in MMI, ITDP candidates may be required to complete a practical examination on manikins in a preclinical laboratory. Details about this possible assessment will be made available at a later date.


ADMITTED STUDENTS

ACCEPTING THE OFFER OF ADMISSION

To accept the offer of admission, students must take the following first steps.

  1. $1,500 enrollment deposit - Students must pay a one-time enrollment deposit of $1,500 (applied to tuition expenses) online through Wolverine Access. Detailed instructions will be provided with the offer of admission. This deposit is non-refundable.
  2. Criminal background check - Shortly after being offered admission, students will receive an email from Certiphi Screening Inc. with instructions on how to initiate the criminal background check process. All admitted students will be required to complete this background check.
  3. UM Campus ID (uniqname) - After paying the enrollment deposit, students should create and set up their University of Michigan email username and password. Instructions will be sent via email and can also be found at Uniqname & Account Setup.

MATRICULATION DOCUMENTS

Admitted students must complete and turn in the following documents to finalize admission. Detailed instructions and links to the forms will be provided upon receipt of the enrollment deposit.

Matriculation Documents List

International Student Supplemental Application Form (ISSA) Students requesting a new visa or visa transfer will need to submit the ISSA Form to internationaldent@umich.edu to initiate this process. Detailed instructions on who should submit this form will be sent via email.
Personal Data Survey Incoming students are required to fill out a secure online survey to provide the School of Dentistry with additional information.
Personal Health Responsibilities Students must read and electronically sign an online document explaining the personal health responsibilities of a dental student (immunizations, health insurance, etc.).
Technical Standards All dental students must certify that they possess certain abilities integral to the dental profession, as outlined in the Technical Standards document. A specific link to electronically sign this document will be emailed.
Record of Required Immunizations Students are required to demonstrate immunity to certain diseases by having a health care provider complete and sign the Record of Required Immunizations.

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS

To finalize admission, students must submit National Board score reports, final dental school transcripts, and notarized copies of dental degrees/diplomas to the Office of Admissions. Instructions will be sent via email upon receipt of the enrollment deposit.

Official Documents List

NBDE scores Score reports should be sent directly from the ADA by email to internationaldent@umich.edu. Scanned copies or photos of reports are not accepted.
Transcripts Students must have their official transcripts, with final grades for all coursework, sent directly from all dental schools attended to the Office of Admissions.
Notarized degree/diploma Students must submit a notarized copy of their dental degree.

Transcripts and notarized degrees should be mailed to:

Office of Admissions - ITDP
University of Michigan School of Dentistry
1011 N. University Avenue, Room G226
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078

HEALTH INSURANCE

All dental students are required to demonstrate a minimum level of health insurance coverage. Students will attest to this coverage online through Wolverine Access after the start of the program. See Mandatory Health Insurance Guidelines for more information.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Students at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry are expected to understand and follow certain Social Media Guidelines.

SYNERGY DENTIST

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry offers the Synergy Dentist program for internationally trained dentists to help strengthen their applications and interview performance.