How to Become a Dentist in the USA: Start With Your Country
Every internationally trained dentist follows the same US route, but your documents, your degree and your first steps depend on where you studied. Pick your country below and we will show you the pathway built for dentists like you.
Select the country you are from
Choose the country where you earned your dental degree.
From BDS in Bangladesh to a US DDS or DMD
Your BDS is four years of study plus a one-year compulsory rotatory internship, regulated by the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC). It is a real dental degree, but most US states license only graduates of programs accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). So you earn a US DDS or DMD through a two to three year Advanced Standing program, then get licensed. AEGD, residency and teaching are other routes, explained below.
Documents to gather
- Transcripts for every year of your BDS
- Degree certificate
- Internship completion certificate
- BMDC registration
Every document should show your name exactly as on your passport.
Start during your internshipCreate your DENTPIN and start INBDE preparation while you finish your internship. The credential evaluation needs your completed record, so order it once your internship is done.
From BDS in India to a US DDS or DMD
Your BDS is five years: four years of study plus a one-year compulsory rotatory internship, under the Dental Council of India. It does not convert into a US degree, but it is your ticket into one. Most US states license only graduates of CODA-accredited programs, so you earn a US DDS or DMD through a two to three year Advanced Standing program, then get licensed. AEGD, residency and teaching are other routes, explained below.
Documents to gather
- Year-wise mark sheets
- Degree certificate
- Internship completion certificate
- Dental Council registration
Every document should show your name exactly as on your passport.
Ask for transcripts earlyADEA CAAPID needs a course-by-course evaluation from ECE, and your university must send official transcripts. This step often takes longer than Indian dentists expect, so start it early.
From Cirujano Dentista to a US DDS or DMD
Your Licenciatura de Cirujano Dentista usually takes four to four and a half years, plus a mandatory year of servicio social, and your licence in Mexico is the cédula profesional. Your degree is not revalidated directly in most US states, which license only graduates of CODA-accredited programs. Mexican dentists earn a US DDS or DMD through a two to three year Advanced Standing program, then get licensed. AEGD, residency and teaching are other routes, explained below.
Documents to gather
- Transcripts for your licenciatura
- Your degree (título)
- Proof of servicio social
- Your cédula profesional
Documents in Spanish need English translations. ECE also offers a translation waiver option for some documents, so check what applies to yours.
English is part of every stepThe INBDE is a long, case-based exam in English, and your interviews and personal statement are in English too. For many Mexican dentists, English decides the timeline more than the dentistry.
¿Prefieres leer en español? La guía completa para dentistas mexicanos incluye un resumen rápido en español.
From BDS in Nepal to a US DDS or DMD
In Nepal the BDS is four to four and a half years of study, depending on the university, followed by a one-year compulsory rotating internship, and dentists register with the Nepal Medical Council. Most US states license only graduates of CODA-accredited programs, so the goal is not to convert your BDS but to earn a US DDS or DMD through an Advanced Standing program, then get licensed. AEGD, residency and teaching are other routes, explained below.
Documents to gather
- Full transcripts from your university
- Degree certificate
- Internship completion certificate
- Nepal Medical Council registration
Every document should show your name exactly as on your passport.
Know your university’s structureBDS programs in Nepal differ in length. Your credential evaluation reflects your university’s actual course record, so request complete transcripts.
From BDS in Pakistan to a US DDS or DMD
Your BDS is a four-year degree followed by a one-year house job, regulated by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PM&DC). It will not convert into a US degree, but it gets you into one. Most US states license only graduates of CODA-accredited programs, so you earn a US DDS or DMD through a two to three year Advanced Standing program, then get licensed. AEGD, residency and teaching are other routes, explained below.
Documents to gather
- Year-wise transcripts
- BDS degree certificate
- House job certificate
- PM&DC registration
Every document should show your name exactly as on your passport.
Check your batchPM&DC announced a move to a five-year BDS and later reversed it. Whichever structure applies to you, make sure your transcripts and house job certificate tell the complete story.
Your country’s pathway is on its way
At the moment our faculty is customizing the entire pathway for your country. Please email us at [email protected] and we will send you a customized plan for your country.
The route, step by step
The order that avoids wasted months, for every internationally trained dentist.
Four routes after the US boards
A foreign dental degree alone does not give you a US licence in most states. But once you clear the INBDE, Advanced Standing is not your only option.
Advanced Standing (IDP)Advanced Standing programs, usually called IDP (International Dentist Program), place you partway through a US dental school. In two to three years you earn a DDS or DMD, the degree every state accepts for a full licence. You apply through ADEA CAAPID.
AEGD residencyAdvanced Education in General Dentistry is a one to two year residency. In some states, completing an AEGD can lead to a limited licence to practise; the rules differ by state, so check with the dental board of the state you want. You apply through ADEA PASS. See AEGD programs that accept international dentists.
Specialty residencyYou can also apply directly to residency programs, such as orthodontics, periodontics or prosthodontics, through ADEA PASS. This route is more competitive, and only some programs accept dentists from schools outside the US. See every residency type.
TeachingDental schools sometimes hire internationally trained dentists as teaching faculty. You apply directly to the schools that are looking for teachers, and teaching experience helps. This depends completely on whether a school has an opening.
What it costs in 2026
Tuition is the big number: plan for roughly $250,000 to $450,000 all-in, depending on the school and the city. Read is it actually worth it before you decide.
How to prepare: our full plans
Every exam on this roadmap has a preparation plan built by The Study Boards. Start with the one you need next.
Our full INBDE preparation planSee exactly what you will study, module by module, then pick a schedule that fits your life.
TOEFL course for the 2026 formatA mentor-led course built for the TOEFL iBT format introduced in January 2026, with reading, listening, writing and speaking practice.See the TOEFL Course
Master the CAAPID applicationOne-to-one help with your profile, personal statement, CV, letters and interviews, so your application stands out.See the CAAPID Program
Prepare for the bench testWhat schools test at the hands-on bench exam and how to practise for it, step by step.How to Prepare for the Bench Test
Not sure what your next step is?
Message us on WhatsApp. Our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will look at where you are and tell you exactly what to do next.
Current as of 6 October 2026. Sources: JCNDE 2026 INBDE Candidate Guide (fees), ECE and ADEA CAAPID applicant instructions (evaluation and application fees, 2026-27 cycle opening date), Dental Council of India, PM&DC, BMDC and Nepal Medical Council published BDS structures, Mexican university Cirujano Dentista program structures, US Department of State and DHS (visa and SEVIS fees), schools’ own published cost of attendance, ADEX (licensing exam fee). Requirements vary by program and change often; confirm with each school and state dental board before you apply. Educational content, not legal or immigration advice.