ECE Course-by-Course Evaluation for Dentists: Steps, Fee and Timeline (2026)

  • Dr. T
  • October 14, 2026
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Credential evaluation · Updated October 2026

ECE Course-by-Course Evaluation for Dentists: Steps, Fee and Timeline (2026)

If you studied dentistry at a school not accredited by CODA, the JCNDE needs your degree confirmed by Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) before you sit the INBDE, and ADEA CAAPID needs an ECE Course-by-Course report if ECE is the service you use. As of October 2026, the Course-by-Course report costs $199, and ECE says it takes about three weeks after all your documents arrive, or 5 business days with a $90 rush.

$199Course-by-Course base fee
~3 weeksprocessing after all documents arrive
5 daysguaranteed rush, $90 extra
5 yearsyou can order copies of your report

Why ECEWhich reportFeesStep trackerDocumentsDelaysTimelinePrep plansFAQ
How The Study Boards helps you while ECE works

ECE is paperwork; use the waiting weeks for the INBDE

Your ECE report only opens the door to the INBDE, and the exam is what decides your seat. Start The Study Boards INBDE course while your documents are on their way: faculty-created Modules for every subject, 35,000+ focused questions, daily tasks, the Master and Grand Test Series, and a live test every night at 9 PM New York time. The course is extremely personalised: red lines and assignments are given to you on the go, it learns from the way you are studying, and faculty are there to assist you. When CAAPID opens, our Master the CAAPID Application program builds the rest of your file. See the INBDE blueprint.

The short version

Why internationally trained dentists need ECE

ECE is a nonprofit credential evaluation service in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It compares your BDS (or equivalent) with a US degree and writes a report that US bodies trust.8 Three places in your journey ask for it.

INBDE

The JCNDE requires ECEThe INBDE 2026 Candidate Guide says all candidates educated by non-CODA-accredited dental programs must have their degree confirmed through ECE.9 WES does not replace this step. ECE lists the same rule for the ADA’s other exams, including the ADAT and the DLOSCE.1

CAAPID

Advanced Standing applicationsADEA CAAPID accepts evaluations from ECE and from WES. Each program lists its preference, so some want ECE, some WES, and some both.11 If you use ECE, CAAPID needs the Course-by-Course report.2

PASS

AEGD and residency applicationsECE states that ADEA PASS also requires a Course-by-Course report ($199), ordered from inside your PASS account.3

The practical answerMost international dentists need ECE anyway for the INBDE. ECE says its Course-by-Course report is accepted by the ADA/JCNDE and required by most dental schools.1 So one Course-by-Course report usually covers the exam and your applications. If a program on your list also wants WES, read our WES vs ECE comparison.

ECE prepares the report but does not decide whether you are eligible for an exam or a licence. The JCNDE makes that decision.1 For the full eligibility rules, see INBDE eligibility requirements.

General or Course-by-Course

Which ECE report do you need?

ECE offers several report types. Only two matter for dentists: the General report and the Course-by-Course report.

What the report shows General General with GPA Course-by-Course
Fee (as of October 2026) $110 $135 $199
Your school, dates and degree Yes Yes Yes
US equivalency of your degree Yes Yes Yes
Grade point average (GPA) No Yes Yes
Every course, with credits and grades No No Yes
What ECE suggests it for Exam only (INBDE, ADAT, DLOSCE) Not named on ECE’s dental pages Exam plus CAAPID or PASS

Source: ECE U.S. Services and Fees, and ECE’s ADA/JCNDE page.41 Yes, the Course-by-Course report includes a GPA. ECE describes it as a grade point average for each credential, plus a list of courses completed, credits earned and grades received.4

Do not buy the cheap report if you might apply laterECE only updates a report to the same type. Its own example: a General report cannot be updated to a Course-by-Course.4 If there is any chance you will apply through CAAPID or PASS, buy the Course-by-Course once.

Pick your situation

Choose the line that fits you to see which report to order.
General report, $110

ECE suggests the U.S. General report if you are only applying for the exam.1 It confirms your degree but shows no GPA and no course list. Order the official copy for the ADA/JCNDE inside the same ECE application.

Course-by-Course, $199

Buy one Course-by-Course report. The ADA/JCNDE accepts it, and CAAPID and PASS require it when you use ECE.123 If the CAAPID cycle is open, start the order from inside CAAPID. If it is not open yet, order at ECE now for the INBDE and send a copy to CAAPID once the cycle opens.

Order a copy

If your report was completed in the last 5 years, you do not need a new one. Order a copy from inside your CAAPID or PASS account while the cycle is open.2 The first copy costs $45, or $20 with ECE Insignia.4 ADEA lets reapplicants reuse an ECE or WES evaluation for three cycles; for a fourth cycle you need a new one.11

Two reports

For Canada, ECE suggests a U.S. General report for the exam plus a Canadian assessment report for the institution. Check which assessment the institution accepts. After your first report, ECE offers 30% off a second report (its Transnational discount).1 See our Canada pathway guide.

What you will pay

ECE fees and delivery options (October 2026)

All prices are from ECE’s U.S. Services and Fees page, checked 14 October 2026. ECE can change them, so confirm at checkout.4

Report and add-ons

Course-by-Course report$199
Course-by-Course with ECE InsigniaDigital badge, plus $20 copies for the life of the report$244
Rush serviceGuaranteed 5 business days, starts once all documents, information and payment are approved$90
Translation WaiverNo English translations needed; one fee covers all documents$85
Official copies added to your order$30 each
Report update (Course-by-Course)$130

Copies and delivery

First copy ordered laterWithin 5 years; mailed within four business days$45
Each extra copy ordered at the same time$30
USPS Priority Mail (US addresses only)$17
US courier, 3-day / overnight$30 / $50
International courier to an address outside the US1 to 3 days, signature required$75
Example: report + rush + international courier delivery$364

What you receive. Every order includes a view-only electronic copy in your ECE dashboard (you cannot download or share it) and an unsealed paper copy mailed to you.4 The official copies are the ones that count: CAAPID and PASS get an official electronic copy delivered to your application.23 Processing time does not include delivery time. ECE accepts major cards, digital wallets and checks.4

Is Insignia worth $45?Only if you expect to order copies later. Without it, a later copy is $45. With it, every copy is $20. If you will send copies at two different times (for example CAAPID this year and PASS later), the two options cost almost the same, and every copy after that is cheaper with Insignia.

Step by step

How to apply for ECE: the 8-step tracker

Tap a number to jump to that step, or use Next. Steps you have passed turn gold.

Step 1 of 8

Get your DENTPIN first

You must have a DENTPIN before ECE sends your report to the ADA/JCNDE. The name on your ECE report must match the name on your DENTPIN exactly.1 You also need a DENTPIN to start a CAAPID application.12

Use one spelling everywhere: DENTPIN, ECE, INBDE application and passport. On test day, the name on your ID must match your INBDE application exactly.10 Our DENTPIN guide walks you through it.

Step 2 of 8

Choose the report

Course-by-Course ($199) if you will apply through CAAPID or PASS. General ($110) only if you will take an exam and never apply to a US program. Use the picker above if you are unsure.

Step 3 of 8

Start the order in the right place

  • CAAPID or PASS cycle open? Start inside that application. Complete it to get your CAS ID, add your international dental school under Colleges Attended, then click ORDER ECE Evaluation. An official copy for CAAPID is added to your order automatically.2
  • Same email. Your ECE account email must exactly match your CAAPID email. Log out of ECE completely before you open CAAPID.2
  • Exam first? Create an ECE account and order directly. While completing the application, search for your exam to add an official copy for the ADA/JCNDE.1
  • List all your education, starting with secondary school.7

Step 4 of 8

Pay and save your reference number

Pay online by card. If you do not pay right away, ECE sends a reminder.7 After you submit, ECE asks you to print the Document Matching Form and follow its instructions.5 Your ECE reference number goes on every envelope and every email from your university.

Add Rush ($90) or the Translation Waiver ($85) now if you need them.4

Step 5 of 8

Get your university to send the documents

Never send documents before your online application is submitted.5 Then use one of two routes:

  • Electronic: an approved electronic document service, or your university emailing [email protected] directly from a publicly verifiable university address with your name and reference number. Do not forward documents yourself.6
  • Paper: originals, or university-attested copies in an envelope sealed by the university, mailed to ECE, 101 W. Pleasant Street, Suite 200, Milwaukee, WI 53212-3963. Use a courier with tracking.5

See the country checklist below for exactly what your university must send.

Step 6 of 8

Track your file and answer fast

Check status in your ECE account. If documents are missing or not in the right format, ECE contacts you and asks for more.7 ECE may also contact your university to verify documents. It waits up to six months for a reply and makes two attempts, which can delay the report a lot.5 Ask your dean’s office to answer quickly.

Step 7 of 8

ECE evaluates and issues the report

ECE checks that your documents are complete, confirms they are authentic, compares your degree with US standards, calculates the GPA, and has a senior evaluator review the report.7 ECE’s website says this takes about three weeks once the file is complete.4 You then see the report in your dashboard, get a paper copy by mail, and official copies go to the recipients you chose.

Step 8 of 8

Send it to CAAPID when the cycle opens

If your report was done before CAAPID opened, order a copy from inside CAAPID once the cycle is open. A copy ordered before the cycle opens will not appear in your account, and you will have to order again.2 The 2026-27 CAAPID cycle opened on 5 March 2026. The last day to request evaluations is 29 January 2027, and transcripts must be matched to your application by 5 February 2027.13 Many program deadlines are earlier, so check each one in the ADEA Program Finder.

Next, read the CAAPID guide and the credential evaluation timeline and checklist.

What your school must send

ECE document checklist for dentists

ECE sets document rules country by country. Here is what ECE’s own pages list for the four countries most of our students come from, checked 14 October 2026.6

India: BDS documents

  • Degree or provisional certificate: electronic, original, or a university-attested copy in a sealed envelope. College-attested copies are not accepted.
  • Statements of marks for every examination attempt, or an official transcript, issued by the university or an autonomous college. Documents from affiliated colleges are not accepted.
  • Internship completion certificate, if internship was required for your degree.
  • Electronic services ECE accepts for India: ECE names its approved electronic document services on its India page; ask your university which one it uses. ECE also lists special online routes for Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Gujarat University and the University of Kerala.
  • Class 12 documents are generally not needed if you have a university degree; ask your US program.

Pakistan: BDS documents

  • Degree or provisional certificate: an HEC e-Attestation Certificate sent to [email protected], or the original, or a university-attested copy in a sealed envelope.
  • Statements of marks for all examination attempts, or an official transcript, from the university or an autonomous college. Add an Attempts Certificate if relevant.
  • Not accepted: a “College Record” or “College Transcript” from an affiliated college, or a “Consolidated Statement of Marks”.
  • If your marks show abbreviated or numbered paper titles, provide the full course titles.
  • Internship completion certificate, if internship was required.

Bangladesh: BDS documents

  • Diploma or degree: an official document issued in a sealed envelope.
  • Official statements of marks (including subsidiary exams) or a transcript of academic record, issued by the university. Documents from teaching colleges are not accepted.

Nepal: BDS documents

  • Diploma or degree issued by the university: original.
  • Statement of marks for each attempt at each examination, or an academic transcript.

Your before-you-send checklist

Tick each item as you finish it. The ticks stay while this page is open.

Sources: ECE country pages and documentation FAQ; ECE ADA/JCNDE page.561 Sealed documents are kept by ECE. Originals you mail yourself are returned with your report.5

Avoid the wait

Common ECE delays and how to avoid them

ECE’s processing clock only starts when your file is complete. Almost every long delay comes from documents.

Marks issued by the college, not the university
ECE does not accept statements of marks from affiliated colleges in India and Pakistan, or from teaching colleges in Bangladesh. Ask the university’s examination branch, not your college office.6
Missing internship certificate
ECE’s India and Pakistan pages list the internship completion certificate as a required document when internship was part of the degree.6 Request it at the same time as your marks so it does not hold up the file.
Only your final marks, not every attempt
India and Pakistan require marks for all examination attempts, and Nepal for each attempt at each examination. If you cleared a subject in a supplementary exam, that sheet must be included too.6
Documents in a local language
Every document not in English needs a complete, literal, word-for-word English translation in the same format as the original. You may translate it yourself. If the document is inside a sealed envelope and you do not know its exact content, ask your university for two sealed sets and open one to translate. Or add the $85 Translation Waiver and ECE handles translation for the evaluation.5
Copy ordered before the CAAPID cycle opened
ECE warns that a CAAPID copy ordered before the cycle opens will not appear in your account, and you must order a new one.2 Wait until CAAPID opens, then order from inside CAAPID.
Your university is slow to answer ECE
When ECE must verify documents with your school, it waits up to six months and makes two attempts. If concerns are not resolved, ECE will not issue a report.5 Tell your dean’s office to expect ECE’s email and reply quickly.
Where ECE fits

ECE in your full pathway timeline

Your university is the step you control least, so start ECE as soon as you decide to take the INBDE.

NowDENTPIN, then the ECE orderCreate your DENTPIN, order the Course-by-Course report and ask your university for documents the same week.
When ECE is under wayApply for the INBDEThe JCNDE needs your degree confirmed through ECE as part of eligibility. International candidates pay the $890 exam fee plus a $435 processing fee, $1,325 in total.9 After review you get an eligibility email, then book Prometric 60 to 90 days ahead.10 Follow our INBDE registration guide and prepare with the INBDE course blueprint.
While you studyTake the TOEFLAll CAAPID programs have TOEFL requirements, and some set section scores.11 See our TOEFL course for dentists.
MarchCAAPID opensThe 2026-27 cycle opened on 5 March 2026. Fees are $264 for the first program and $115 for each additional program.1213 Order your ECE copy from inside CAAPID. Send INBDE results through the ADA; they reach CAAPID within five business days.11
MayPASS opensFor AEGD and residency programs, the 2026-27 PASS cycle runs from 13 May 2026 to 12 February 2027.14 Order your ECE copy from inside PASS.3
Before each deadlineSubmitProgram deadlines differ and many fall well before CAAPID’s final date of 29 January 2027.13 Our INBDE and CAAPID timeline maps the months.

Where your ECE report takes you after the boards

1

Advanced Standing (IDP)2 to 3 years to a US DDS or DMD, applied through ADEA CAAPID. The main route to a full licence.

2

AEGDApplied through ADEA PASS. Some states give a limited licence after an AEGD; the rules vary by state. See AEGD programs.

3

Residency through PASSSpecialty programs accept international dentists directly through PASS, but places are more competitive. Compare in CAAPID or PASS.

4

TeachingSome dentists build a US career in dental education and research while they plan their next step.

About the costAn Advanced Standing degree costs roughly $250,000 to $450,000 all-in. Almost everyone finances it with loans: private loans, co-signer loans with a US citizen or green-card holder, and a few international lenders that need no co-signer. It is a big number, but it is financed over time, not paid up front. Read is becoming a US dentist worth it.

We teach the INBDE and CAAPID

How to prepare: our full plan

ECE is paperwork. The INBDE and your CAAPID file decide your seat. Here is how The Study Boards helps with both.

INBDE

The Study Boards INBDE courseBuilt by US-licensed dentists, who answer your questions themselves.

  • 35,000+ focused questions across 12 course sections
  • Grand Test Series: 8-hour full simulations
  • Nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time
  • 99% first-attempt pass rate for students who complete the course
  • Pass Guarantee: finish on time with no overdue days and 60%+ on every test, and if you still do not pass we refund your course fee and your INBDE registration fee (about $1,000)

See the INBDE Course Blueprint

CAAPID

Master the CAAPID ApplicationFaculty-led help with every part of your CAAPID or PASS file.

  • Personal statement, letters of recommendation and CV, reviewed by a 5-faculty bench
  • Profile and school-selection strategy with Dr. T
  • 3 mock interview sessions
  • 300+ dentists placed in US dental schools
  • Limited to 40 students per cycle

See the CAAPID Program

Quick answers

ECE evaluation FAQ

How much is the ECE course-by-course evaluation fee?
As of October 2026, the ECE Course-by-Course report is $199. Optional extras include a $90 rush (5 business days), an $85 Translation Waiver, official copies at $30 each, and delivery from $17 in the US or $75 by international courier to other countries.4
How long does an ECE evaluation take?
ECE’s website says about three weeks after all required materials are received and the file is ready, with a guaranteed 5-business-day rush for $90. Delivery time is extra. The real wait depends on how fast your university sends documents.4
Does the ECE Course-by-Course report include a GPA?
Yes. It includes a grade point average for each credential, plus every course with credits and grades. The basic General report has no GPA.4
Is ECE accredited?
Credential evaluators are not accredited the way dental schools are. ECE is a nonprofit and a charter member of NACES (the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) since 1987.8 More importantly for you, the JCNDE names ECE as the service that confirms non-CODA degrees for the INBDE.9
Does CAAPID accept WES instead of ECE?
Yes. ADEA says CAAPID accepts all evaluations from ECE and WES, and each program lists its preference.11 You still need ECE for the INBDE, which is why most dentists use one ECE Course-by-Course report for both. Compare them in our WES vs ECE guide.
Can I use the same ECE report for the INBDE and CAAPID?
Yes, if it is a Course-by-Course report. ECE says the ADA/JCNDE accepts it, and you can order a copy for CAAPID from inside your CAAPID account for 5 years after the report is issued.12

Stuck on ECE documents or planning your INBDE?

Send us a message on WhatsApp. Our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will contact you over WhatsApp.

Message the Admin Team on WhatsApp

References

  1. ECE. ADA/JCNDE/INBDE: who needs ECE, suggested report types, DENTPIN and name match, Canadian Transnational discount. ece.org
  2. ECE. ADEA CAAPID Application Instructions: Course-by-Course required, ordering from CAAPID, email match, copies only in open cycles. ece.org
  3. ECE. ADEA PASS Application Instructions. ece.org
  4. ECE. U.S. Services and Fees: report fees, Insignia, rush, Translation Waiver, copies, updates, delivery, processing-time notice. ece.org
  5. ECE. Documentation Requirements and FAQs: sealed envelopes, mailing address, electronic documents, translations, verification. ece.org
  6. ECE. Country document requirements: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal.
  7. ECE. Foreign Transcript Evaluation Process: Documents, Steps and Timeline. ece.org
  8. ECE. About ECE: nonprofit status, NACES charter member since 1987. ece.org
  9. JCNDE. INBDE 2026 Candidate Guide (updated 08/04/2026): non-CODA candidates and ECE; fees. jcnde.ada.org
  10. JCNDE. Apply for the INBDE: DENTPIN, name match, eligibility email, booking 60 to 90 days ahead. jcnde.ada.org
  11. ADEA. ADEA CAAPID Application FAQs: ECE and WES accepted, reuse for three cycles, TOEFL, INBDE results. adea.org
  12. ADEA. ADEA CAAPID: Prepare to Apply: 2026-27 fees, DENTPIN. adea.org
  13. Liaison. ADEA CAAPID Application Cycle Dates, 2026-27. help.liaisonedu.com
  14. ADEA. Applying to ADEA PASS: 2026-27 cycle dates. adea.org

Current as of October 2026. Fees and processing times are ECE’s published figures on 14 October 2026; confirm on ece.org before you pay. The Insignia comparison and the $364 example are our arithmetic from ECE’s listed prices.

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