Advanced Standing for International Dentists

Dentists who qualified outside the country where they want to work often face a decision: pass an assessment examination, enrol in a shortened program, or repeat training in full. Advanced standing programs, sometimes called degree-completion or qualifying programs, are one answer. This guide explains what they are and how to evaluate them. They are not a guaranteed route, and they are different from postgraduate specialty training.

What advanced standing means

An advanced standing program admits a person who already holds a dental qualification from another system and gives credit for it, so that the person completes a shortened version of the host school's dental degree. ADEA, the American Dental Education Association, describes its CAAPID service (Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists) as supporting internationally educated dentists seeking advanced dental education in the United States, and states that the advanced standing programs it includes are typically shorter than traditional D.D.S./D.M.D. programs. It also stresses that schools or programs, not the application service, make admission decisions.

Other systems use the same idea. The Canadian examining board (NDEB) describes accredited Qualifying and Degree Completion Programs offered by faculties of dentistry in Canada, designed to familiarize international graduates with dentistry and dental practice in Canada; successful completion makes a person eligible to participate in the NDEB certification process. The Dental Board of Australia describes completing an Australian qualification as one of two options for an overseas dentist whose qualification does not meet its requirements.

What advanced standing is not

• Not a postgraduate specialty program. Specialty residency or master's programs presuppose the initial dental qualification and lead to specialist training; see Postgraduate Training vs Initial Qualifications.
• Not automatic registration. Completing a program may make you eligible for examinations or for a regulator's assessment. It is not the registration decision. In the United States, the American Dental Association explains that licensure is set by state boards and typically involves a degree from a CODA-accredited program, a written examination and, in most jurisdictions, a clinical assessment.
• Not a guarantee of admission or credit. Each school decides who it admits and what prior study counts. Do not assume that years of practice abroad will shorten the program.
• Not a route for allied professionals. A dental hygienist, therapist, assistant or technician is not an "internationally educated dentist". Those careers have their own educational tracks and do not shorten a dentist program unless a school explicitly says so.

Advanced standing versus the examination route

Many regulators also offer or require an assessment route that does not involve a school:

The route available to you depends on your qualification and, often, on eligibility conditions set by the regulator. Some countries allow both an assessment and a degree-completion path; some allow only one. Compare time, cost and risk, and recognize that taking the examination route does not require enrolling at a school at all.

How to evaluate a program

1. Confirm the program awards a dental qualification and say exactly which: a full DDS/DMD, a certificate, or a master's. A certificate is not a degree.
2. Check accreditation of that exact program. In the US, look for CODA accreditation of the program, not just the university. See Dental-School Accreditation.
3. Read the eligibility requirements. These include prior degree, years of practice, English language proficiency, national examinations and practical assessments.
4. Find out what the regulator says. Does completion make you eligible for the licensing examination in the state or province where you want to work?
5. Ask about patient care. Programs for dentists typically involve supervised clinical work; ask what is required and who arranges it.
6. Count the full cost. Tuition, instruments, living costs and the examinations themselves. See Tuition and Instrument Costs.

Questions to ask

• How many places are offered to international dentists, and on what basis are they allocated?
• How much of my previous education is credited, and where is that decision written down?
• What do graduates do after completing the program, and what evidence can you give me?
• Do I need to pass any examination before I enrol?
• Is the program accredited, and by which body?
• Which regulators accept the degree, and under which conditions?

Where to look on this site

The advanced standing section groups programs designed for internationally educated dentists. It is separate from initial dental degrees, so the two are not mixed. For the wider question, see Registration in Your Intended Practice Country and recognition.

A reminder on equivalence

The FDI World Dental Federation's policy statement on equivalency of dental diplomas supports the principle that dentists should be able to move between countries provided their training is equivalent, but states that the assessment of equivalence should be carried out by appropriate organizations in each state, country or region. Advanced standing is one of several ways of showing equivalence, not a replacement for the regulator's decision.

Timing and sequencing

Advanced standing programs usually involve several steps that must be done in sequence: credential evaluation or translation of documents, language tests, any required examinations, the application itself, and, if admitted, immigration and enrolment steps. Each step has its own deadline and processing time. Build a calendar working backwards from the start date, allow for delays, and treat dates published by application services as the official reference.

Keep a record of everything you submit and of every answer you receive. If you apply to several programs, note that each school applies its own criteria and may judge your prior education differently. A shortlist of programs in more than one country, together with the examination route as a fallback, is a sensible plan.

Common questions

Can I practise while I study in an advanced standing program? That depends on the regulator and the program. Students often work under supervision within the school's clinic; whether any other work is allowed is a question for the regulator and for immigration authorities.

Is the examination route cheaper than a program? Not necessarily, and it depends on country, number of attempts and preparation. Compare the full cost of each route, including time out of work, rather than only published fees.

Does a program guarantee that I pass the licensing examination? No. Programs prepare students; they do not control examination outcomes.