Advanced Standing for Internationally Trained Dentists
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The University of Louisville School of Dentistry offers an Advanced Standing admission option into the DMD program for selected individuals who have received a dental degree from an institution outside the United States or Canada.
The CAAPID application for Spring 2027 enrollment opens March 2026. We anticipate having at least 1 spot available for classes beginning in January 2027 to join our D2 class.
ULSD does not admit advanced standing students every year as the program is depending on space available in the D2 class. We do not reserve spaces for internationally trained dentists.
Length of program: Minimum of 28 months
Degree awarded: DMD
Tuition: Same as ULSD traditional admission (available on the Cost & Aid page)
How to apply: ADEA CAAPID (Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists)
Requirements to apply for the Advanced Placement option through CAAPID
English Language Proficiency
- Must be proficient in the English language
- Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL iBT (preferred) or IELTS. We accept the TOEFL home edition. This requirement may be waived if an applicant has completed 90 college credit hours or a masters degree in the United States. Applicants should indicate their qualifications for a waiver in the "Custom Questions" portion of the CAAPID application. Please do not email materials to our office.
- Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) scores - the new scoring system for TOEFL iBT will begin January 21, 2026. You do not need to retake the test under the new scoring system if you have a valid score as we will use both old and new scores. Preference is given to applicants scoring at least 100/4.5 overall score.
- Scores must be valid (not expired) at the time of application submission.
National Board Dental Examination Requirements
- Program requires passing of INBDE (or NBDE Parts I and II)
- Submit INBDE (or NBDE Parts I and II) scores to CAAPID
- Application eligibility requires a minimum score of 75 or “pass” if no numerical score is issued
Personal Statement
Short essay describing why you desire to enter the DMD program
Letters of Evaluation
Two letters of evaluation required (one professional and one from the senior administrator or dean of applicant’s dental school), written within one year of the application- submit to only to CAAPID
Transcripts and Evaluations
Applicant must submit to CAAPID a detailed evaluation by Educational Credentials Evaluators, Inc. (ECE)
Application Fee
Pay $65 application fee to program online only AFTER requested to do so by program. Do NOT send payments to ULSD.
Application timeline
Important dates (all are mandatory)
1
Application
The application and all required materials must be received by May 15 to be considered for admission
2
Application review
Typically takes place from April through July
3
Virtual interviews
Typically take place from June through August (various dates/times to be scheduled), but could take place as late as December
4
Bench test orientation (virtual)
Typically takes place in August or September
5
Bench test (in person)
Date to be determined
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Dentists who received a dental degree from an institution outside the United States and have passed Part I and Part II of the NBDE or INBDE may apply.
The School will consider only applicants who have applied through the ADEA Centralized Application for Advanced Placement of International Dentists (CAAPID) at http://www.adea.org/CAAPIDapp/ Applicants must have submitted all documents required by the University of Louisville School of Dentistry (as listed in the CAAPID requirement section).
TOEFL scores are required of all who speak English as a second language unless they have completed at least 90 college credit hours or a masters degree in the US. The admissions committee reserves the right to request a TOEFL from any candidate. Preference is given to those who score a total at or above 100 and 26 in speaking and listening. The IELTS is also accepted and a score at or above 7.5 is preferred.
All application materials are submitted ONLY to CAAPID. ULSD does not accept additional documents from applicants. At the time of enrollment, accepted students may be required to submit official documents to us as requested.
The number of ASP students accepted each year is variable and depends on the number of available positions in the second year class of the traditional DMD program at ULSD. Typically this number ranges from 0-3.
Accepted ASP students begin studies in January of the year following the application cycle (i.e., if you apply in 2025 and are accepted, you begin classes in January 2026).
If we predict we will have space available, we will likely conduct interviews anytime between August-November but could be as late as December.
Advance your career in Louisville
Apply through the ADEA Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists