University of Colorado ISP for International Dentists: Advanced Standing (2026 Guide)

  • Dr. T
  • October 16, 2026
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School guide · University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine · Updated October 2026

University of Colorado ISP for International Dentists: Advanced Standing (2026 Guide)

The University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine (CU Anschutz) runs the Advanced Standing International Student Program (ISP), a two-year accelerated program that takes 40 internationally trained dentists a year to a US DDS degree. You apply through ADEA CAAPID; the window opened on September 18, 2026 and closes on January 29, 2027, for a January 2028 start.

24months, January start, DDS
40places a year
Jan 292027 deadline, window open now
94 / 5TOEFL minimum, no exceptions
DeadlineJan 29, 2027

The application window is open now.The ISP opened for the Class of 2029 on September 18, 2026 and closes on January 29, 2027. You need your INBDE (or NBDE Parts I and II) pass and your TOEFL score before you submit, and all three letters must be in by January 29. Colorado strongly recommends you submit at least two weeks before the deadline. Free ISP webinars run on October 28, November 4, 18 and 25, and December 2, 2026.27

Who this guide is for: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Nepali dentists with a BDS, and other internationally trained dentists aiming for a US DDS or DMD through the Colorado ISP.

At a glanceWhat they look forRequirementsSelection and timelineAm I ready?Cost and loansHow to prepareOther routesFAQ

How The Study Boards helps you get into Colorado

  • INBDE first: our INBDE Premium Boards course gives you 35,000+ questions, faculty-written Modules and Master Files, full test series and nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time. Students who complete the course have a 99% first-attempt pass rate. Colorado will not let you submit without the pass, so time your exam to finish well before January 29.
  • Built around you: at The Study Boards, in Dr. T’s words, our courses are extremely personalised. Red lines and assignments are given on the go, the course learns from the way you study, and faculty assist you at every step.
  • TOEFL: our TOEFL course for dentists targets the score Colorado will not bend on: 94, or 5 on the new scale, for everyone, citizens included.
  • CAAPID file: the Master the CAAPID Application program builds your essays and your school list with our faculty. For Colorado, that means a file that shows class rank, service, leadership, teaching and research, the things its holistic review lists.
  • Hands and interview: bench test preparation with Dr. Kaur and interview preparation with Dr. T. Colorado interviews virtually, then invites the best interviewees to an in-person bench exam. Our University of Colorado interview prep is built for this format.
The facts in one place

the Colorado ISP at a glance

From CU Anschutz’s own ISP pages and the ADEA CAAPID listing, checked on October 15, 2026.

Advanced Standing International Student Program (ISP), Aurora, Colorado
DegreeDDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery)1
Length24 months, two years17
Start dateJanuary 3, 2028 for this cycle (Class of 2029)27
Class size40 a year23
How to applyADEA CAAPID only, then a $150 processing fee once Colorado confirms you are eligible2
DeadlineJanuary 29, 2027 (opened September 18, 2026); not rolling24
INBDEPass required to submit; NBDE Parts I and II also accepted; scores valid 10 years23
English testTOEFL 94 (before January 21, 2026) or 5 on the new scale; MyBest and Home Edition accepted; no exceptions23
Credential evaluationECE course-by-course with a comprehensive GPA; WES not accepted2
Bench testYes, in person in May or June, after the interview2
InterviewVirtual, by invitation, March to April: tour, faculty and student interview, student panel2
CitizenshipNot required; citizens, permanent residents and refugees are “highly considered”4
Cost (Class of 2028 figures)$152,358 year one and $142,195 year two, including living costs6
LoansNeed-based aid for US citizens and qualified non-citizens; others arrange private funding6

What the 24 months look like

The first semester and part of the second are fast, intensive preclinical courses, some just for the ISP cohort. You see your first patients in the third month, in the Periodontics Clinic and Transition Clinic, then move to comprehensive patient care with rotations in oral surgery and emergency care. A communication and behavior change course prepares you for North American patients. In year two you prepare for state or regional boards; ADEX/CDCA exams are held at the school in spring and fall.5

Months 1 to 6Intensive preclinical courses and sim labs
From month 3First patients, then Transition Clinic
Year 2Comprehensive care, hospital dentistry, public health, board preparation
What the school selects for

What Colorado focuses on

Built from CU’s published selection criteria, its class statistics and the ISP curriculum. This is the most detailed selection information of any school in this series.

Holistic reviewA long list, all of it countsGPA, school attended and class rank; INBDE; graduate degrees (dental ones most highly); personal statement; letters; TOEFL; dental experience including assisting, lab or hygiene work and North American observerships; research; teaching; service ethic; leadership; continuing education.4
SpecialistsPostgraduate training is commonIn the Class of 2026, 32.5% were specialists at home or held an MDS. The average TOEFL was 103.5, the average GPA 3.43 and the average age 31.4
PersistenceRe-applying is normal47.5% of that class were re-applicants, and 9.82% of applicants were admitted. Colorado notes these figures change with every class.4
StatusCitizenship helps, but is not requiredColorado accepts students regardless of visa status, but highly considers citizens, permanent residents and refugees because their status makes financing and finishing more certain. H4 visa holders can apply.34
LettersRecent, specific, originalLetters about your recent clinical skills count most; letters from experiences of three months or less are not reviewed; letters from organized bench prep groups are “not considered particularly valuable”; templated or plagiarized letters can sink an application.2
PatientsEarly clinic and community carePatients from month three, about 80,000 patient visits a year at the school, and clinical courses in community-based urban and rural clinics.57
Our advice (not the school’s words): what to show in your CAAPID essays and interview

  • Give Colorado the numbers it lists: class rank, GPA from your ECE, years in practice, any MDS. Do not make them hunt.
  • Show service, leadership and teaching with examples. If you taught juniors or ran a camp, say what you did and for how long.
  • Get US clinical exposure if you can: an observership or a dental assisting job gives you a recent, specific letter writer.
  • Ask letter writers who know your recent clinical work well. Do not use a bench course instructor as one of your three.
  • In the interview, talk about patient communication and teamwork; the program teaches North American patient interaction and expects you to grow there.
  • If you have applied before, say what you have done since. Nearly half of a recent class were re-applicants.
What Colorado asks for

Requirements in detail

Colorado says it does not grant exceptions to its core requirements “under any circumstances”. Read each line carefully.

A bachelor’s degree in dentistryBDS, DDS, DMD, Odontology or Stomatology from a program accredited in its country. Provisional degrees are not accepted. Upload a notarized copy, with a notarized translation if needed.23
An INBDE pass before you submitPass the INBDE, or NBDE Parts I and II, before you apply. Official reports go from the JCNDE straight to CAAPID; scores must be within 10 years.23 The INBDE costs $1,325 for internationally trained dentists ($890 plus a $435 processing fee) as of October 2026.10 Start with our INBDE Premium Boards course and the INBDE and CAAPID timeline.
TOEFL for everyoneScores from before January 21, 2026 need 94; newer scores need 5 on the 1 to 6 scale. Scores must be within two years and sent to CAAPID, code B451. US citizens and people with US degrees must take it too.23 If you are short, see our TOEFL course for dentists.
One ECE report with a comprehensive GPACourse-by-course, covering all your international schooling after your dental degree in one report, with every course attempt. A report without a comprehensive GPA is not considered. WES is not accepted.2 ECE charges $199 for the course-by-course report.9 See WES or ECE: which do you need.
Exactly three letters, by January 29One from the dental school where you earned your degree (not necessarily the dean) and two more from academic, clinical or professional experiences. Each needs a signature, date and the writer’s direct contact details.2 Our letters of recommendation guide shows how to brief them.
Supplemental items in CAAPIDYour notarized degree, any US or Canadian transcripts and the CU Board of Regents questionnaire. No resume is needed, CASPer is no longer required, and the ADAT is optional and informational only.27
From CAAPID to your first day

Selection steps and the application timeline

Dates for the Class of 2029 from Colorado’s How to Apply page and selection page.

September 18, 2026The ISP application opened in CAAPIDRe-applicants use their old CAAPID login. If CAAPID is new to you, follow our CAAPID login and application walkthrough.2
October to December 2026Free ISP webinarsOctober 28, November 4, 18 and 25, and December 2.2
After you submitEligibility check, then the $150 feeColorado confirms your degree, boards and TOEFL, then sends payment instructions. You get an “application complete” email; only then are you placed in the review order.2
January 29, 2027Deadline, including all lettersSubmit at least two weeks earlier.2
March to April 2027Virtual interviews, by invitationRolling invitations. Interview performance decides who goes on to the bench exam.2
May to June 2027In-person bench exam in AuroraYou pay your own visa, travel and expenses.2
By July 2027Provisional acceptancesNot rolling; alternates are offered places if admitted students decline. A $4,000 non-refundable enrollment fee follows, credited to first-semester tuition.46
January 3, 2028Program startsTwo years to your DDS.7
The interview decides who reaches the benchPractise speaking about your clinical work on camera, then practise the preparations. Our University of Colorado interview prep with Dr. T, the five toughest dental school interview questions and bench test exercises by school cover both.
Self-check

Am I ready to apply to Colorado?

Tick what is already done. Anything left unticked is your to-do list before the January 29, 2027 deadline.

Colorado’s own figures

Cost and financing

These are Colorado’s estimates for the ISP Class of 2028 (the class starting January 2027). Expect the Class of 2029 to be similar or slightly higher. Tap a year.6

Tuition and fees$98,957
Books, supplies, insurance$18,025
Living expenses$35,376
Estimated total$152,358
Tuition and fees$96,744
Books, supplies, insurance$10,075
Living expenses$35,376
Estimated total$142,195
Tuition and fees, both years$195,701
$4,000 enrollment feecredited to tuition
Estimated total cost$294,553

Living costs assume a single student living near the school. Colorado says fees are reviewed every year.

Before you are accepted, budget for the application stage too: the INBDE ($1,325), the CAAPID fee ($264 for your first program, $115 for each extra one), the ECE report ($199), the $150 Colorado fee and an interview fee, plus your TOEFL and travel for the bench exam.28910 Our breakdown of what it costs to apply to US dental schools covers the full list.

How international dentists pay for it

Advanced Standing usually costs roughly $250,000 to $450,000 all-in. Colorado sits near the middle of that range. Almost everyone finances it with loans, so do not let the number stop you.

Colorado awards need-based aid to US citizens and qualified non-citizens such as permanent residents and refugees. Financial aid does not cover the $150 fee or the $4,000 deposit.6 Across the US, the common routes are private loans, co-signer loans with a US citizen or green-card holder, and a few international lenders that need no co-signer.

Remember that Colorado highly considers applicants whose status makes financing certain, so show a clear funding plan.4 Read is becoming a US dentist worth it for the full picture.

We prepare you for each step

How to prepare: our full plan

Colorado judges INBDE, TOEFL, a detailed written file, a virtual interview and an in-person bench exam. Here is how The Study Boards prepares you for each part.

INBDE

INBDE Premium BoardsYou cannot submit without the pass:

  • Faculty-written Modules and Master Files, then full test series and Grand Tests
  • 35,000+ focused questions, answered by US-licensed dentists, not AI
  • Nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time
  • 99% first-attempt pass rate for students who complete the course, and a Pass Guarantee
  • $299 for 3 months, $499 for 6 months, $899 for 12 months, or $39 a month

See the INBDE Course Blueprint

CAAPID

Master the CAAPID ApplicationYour written file, built for Colorado’s holistic list:

  • Personal statement, letters and CV, reviewed by our faculty
  • Profile and school-list strategy with Dr. T
  • 3 mock interview sessions included

See the CAAPID Program

Interview

Interview preparation with Dr. TColorado’s interview is virtual and decides who reaches the bench:

See Interview Preparation

Hands

Bench test preparation with Dr. KaurFor the in-person bench exam in May or June (and remember, use your three letters for clinical mentors, not a bench course):

  • 7 video sessions with Dr. Kaur, one preparation at a time
  • Your own preparations critiqued by US-licensed faculty
  • A practice week and a competency exam at the end

See Bench Test Preparation

TOEFL

TOEFL iBT course for dentistsColorado asks for 94, or 5, from everyone:

  • 45 days, mentor-reviewed, built on the 2026 TOEFL format
  • Reading, listening, writing and speaking practice for the new task types

See the TOEFL Course

Call

Not sure where you stand?Share your INBDE status, TOEFL, ECE GPA and experience, and we will tell you honestly how your file looks against Colorado’s list.

Book a 10-minute call with Dr. T

Keep your options open

Other routes if Colorado is not the right fit

Even with 40 places, fewer than one in ten applicants were admitted in a recent class, so apply to several programs.

DDS/DMD

Advanced Standing elsewhereOther US schools run 2 to 3 year programs to a DDS or DMD, mostly through ADEA CAAPID. Compare them in our full list of US dental schools, the Advanced Standing programs guide and our CAAPID shortlisting guide.

AEGD

AEGD programsSome states give a limited licence after an AEGD; the rules vary by state. You apply through ADEA PASS. See AEGD programs for international dentists.

PASS

Residency directlySpecialty residencies through ADEA PASS. This is more competitive for internationally trained dentists. Read CAAPID or PASS to choose.

Teach

TeachingSome dentists start in teaching and research roles at dental schools while they plan their next step.

Also weighing Canada?If you are also weighing Canada, the AFK route through the NDEB is the first step there. Our NDEB AFK exam guide explains how it compares with the INBDE.
Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Can an Indian BDS graduate apply to Colorado’s Advanced Standing program?
Yes. The ISP is for dentists with a dental degree from outside the US, and a BDS qualifies if it is a full, not provisional, degree. India was one of the countries in the Class of 2026. You need an INBDE pass, TOEFL 94 or 5, an ECE report with a comprehensive GPA and three letters.
Do Pakistani dentists need the INBDE for the Colorado ISP?
Yes. You must pass the INBDE, or NBDE Parts I and II, before you can submit. Pakistan was also represented in the Class of 2026.
Does the Colorado ISP have a bench test?
Yes. After a virtual interview in March or April, selected candidates sit an in-person bench exam in May or June in Aurora, at their own cost.
Can I apply to the Colorado ISP on an H4 or F-1 visa?
Colorado accepts students regardless of citizenship and visa status, and its FAQ confirms H4 holders can apply. It does say citizens, permanent residents and refugees are highly considered because their funding is more certain.
Does Colorado accept WES or a TOEFL waiver?
No to both. Only ECE course-by-course reports with a comprehensive GPA are accepted, and everyone must take the TOEFL, including US citizens.
How much does the Colorado ISP cost?
Colorado’s estimate for the current class is $152,358 for year one and $142,195 for year two, $294,553 in total including living costs, plus a $4,000 enrollment fee credited to tuition.
Your Colorado application starts with the INBDE

INBDE Premium Boards by The Study Boards

Modules, Master Files, test series and nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time, with US-licensed dentists answering your questions. Finish the course on time, score 60% or more on every TSB test and still do not pass? The Pass Guarantee refunds the course and your exam registration fee.

35,000+ questions99% first-attempt pass rateNightly live testsPass Guarantee

See the Blueprint

University of Colorado Interview PrepOne-on-one mock interviews with Dr. T.Bench Test Exercises by SchoolWhat other schools on your list ask you to prepare.

Planning to apply to Colorado?

Message The Study Boards on WhatsApp. Our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will contact you over WhatsApp and help you plan your INBDE, TOEFL and CAAPID around the January 29 deadline.

Message the Admin Team on WhatsApp

References

  1. CU School of Dental Medicine. Advanced Standing International Student Program. dental.cuanschutz.edu
  2. CU School of Dental Medicine. ISP How to Apply: Class of 2029 dates, requirements, letters, $150 fee, interview and bench exam, webinars. dental.cuanschutz.edu
  3. CU School of Dental Medicine. ISP FAQs: 40 students, boards, TOEFL, H4 visa. dental.cuanschutz.edu
  4. CU School of Dental Medicine. ISP Selection Process and Admissions Statistics: criteria, Class of 2026 profile, citizenship note. dental.cuanschutz.edu
  5. CU School of Dental Medicine. ISP Curriculum Overview. dental.cuanschutz.edu
  6. CU School of Dental Medicine. Tuition and Financial Information: ISP Class of 2028 costs, $4,000 enrollment fee, aid eligibility. dental.cuanschutz.edu
  7. ADEA CAAPID. University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine program listing (updated August 5, 2026). programs.adea.org
  8. ADEA. ADEA CAAPID applicants: 2026-27 fees. adea.org
  9. Educational Credential Evaluators. ADEA CAAPID Application Instructions. ece.org
  10. Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. INBDE Candidate Guide: fees. jcnde.ada.org

Current as of October 15, 2026. Program details, dates and costs are from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine and ADEA CAAPID; costs are estimates and can change. Confirm everything with the ISP office ([email protected]) before you apply. The Study Boards is not affiliated with the University of Colorado.

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