The International Advanced Standing Program (IASP) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine is designed to permit qualified, international dentists who graduated from programs not accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) to earn a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from Pitt Dental Medicine.
The IASP is a minimum of two academic years in length. It is individualized for each admitted student and may require additional time to complete. The program begins in May of each year with intensive, one-term didactic and preclinical courses. Following successful completion of this provisional segment, IASP students enter the predoctoral program.
Requirements to Apply to Program
English Language Proficiency
- Must be proficient in the English language.
- Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) (IB only).
- Successful completion of the TOEFL with a score of 100 or above is preferred.
- TOEFL results must be dated after Dec. 31, 2023 and sent directly to ADEA CAAPID®.
National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) / Integrated National Board Dental Exam (INBDE) Requirements
- Program requires passage of NBDE Parts I and II or INBDE to be considered for admission.
- Official NBDE both parts or INBDE results must be entered on the ADEA CAAPID application under the “Academic History” > “Standardized Tests” section.
Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT)
- Completion of the ADAT is preferred, but not required for admission to the program.
Letters of Evaluation
- Three Letters of Evaluation are required*:
- Two letters of evaluation must be from either a dean, associate dean, department chair or faculty member of the dental school from which applicant graduated.
- One letter must be from a shadowing experience, preferably within the United States.
- These letters must be directly uploaded by the letter writers to ADEA CAAPID. When you fill out your CAAPID application you will provide the names of your evaluators and their contact information. CAAPID will then contact them via email with instructions on how to submit a letter. The email will include a link to an online portal where they will upload their letters.
- Up to three additional letters may be uploaded by the applicant to the “Documents Section” of their CAAPID application.
*These three letters are non-negotiable.
Transcripts and Evaluations
- All foreign dental school transcripts must be evaluated and uploaded by transcript evaluators; either the ECE or WES evaluation will be accepted.
- Licenses/certifications should be uploaded to ADEA CAAPID in the “Supporting Information” > “Licenses” section.
Application Fees
- In addition to the CAAPID application fee, a university application fee of $75 is required upon submission of your application.
- University application fee can be paid online.
Additional Requirements
- Qualified applicants will be invited for a virtual interview and an in-person bench test.
If invited for interview, applicants will be asked to submit:
- An electronic copy of a passport page of any valid visa status or proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency (you may apply with any visa status )
- A bench test fee will be required from those applicants invited to interview.
- Additionally, accepted applicants will be required to pay a non-refundable tuition deposit at time of acceptance to be applied to the provisional summer term which begins in early May.
- Again, all fees described herein are non-refundable.
Travel and Visa Requirement
Candidates invited to the bench testing portion of the interview process for the Advanced Standing Program must be physically present. All travel arrangements, including securing a valid visa for travel, are the sole responsibility of the candidate.
Once a position in the program is offered, it is the student's responsibility to ensure that they have a valid visa and are able to begin the program on time. The program will not make exceptions or adjustments to accommodate changes in a candidate's travel or visa status.
Any anticipated issues or changes that may impact a candidate's ability to be present must be communicated to the program no later than March 1 of the year the program begins. If a candidate cannot confirm their availability by this date and cannot attend the orientation/ be present on the start date of the program, their slot may be offered to a waitlisted candidate who is already in the country and available to start on time.
Summer Course Attendance Policy
Candidates who are accepted into the program are to attend the orientation and be present in the entirety of the summer program. Any anticipated issues or changes that may impact a candidate's ability to be present must be communicated to the program no later than March 1 of the year the program begins. If a candidate cannot confirm their availability by this date and cannot attend the orientation and be present on the start date of the program, their slot may be offered to a waitlisted candidate who is available to start on time
Once the student enters the 3rd year of the program, the School of Dental Medicine polices of attendance are applied until the student graduates from the program.
Bench Testing Preparatory Course in Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry
August 2-3, 2025
University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
Edward J. Forrest Center for Continuing Dental Education.
Please visit the course link to learn more and register.
This course is not a prerequisite for nor guarantees admission into any dental school program.