Oklahoma Dental School for International Dentists: The ASPID Program (2026 Guide)

  • Dr. T
  • October 16, 2026
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School guide | University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry | Updated October 2026

Oklahoma Dental School for International Dentists: The ASPID Program (2026 Guide)

The University of Oklahoma (OU) College of Dentistry runs the Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists (ASPID), a 29-month track in Oklahoma City that starts each January and ends with a DDS, for US permanent residents and naturalized citizens. You apply through ADEA CAAPID plus an OU supplemental application; the last deadline was June 5, 2026, for a January 11, 2027 start, and you need a pass on the INBDE or NBDE Part I.

29months, January start, DDS degree
22students on OU’s program page
94minimum TOEFL iBT; 100 suggested
2days of interviews and typodont skills testing

Who this guide is for: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Nepali dentists (BDS), and other internationally trained dentists, who hold a US green card or citizenship and are aiming for a US DDS or DMD through the INBDE and ADEA CAAPID.

At a glanceWhat OU looks forRequirementsSelection and timelineAm I ready?Cost and loansHow to prepareOther routesFAQ

How The Study Boards helps you get into OU

  • INBDE first: our INBDE Premium Boards course gives you 35,000+ questions, faculty-written Modules and Master Files, full test series, nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time, and a 99% first-attempt pass rate for students who complete the course. The same case work helps with OU’s diagnosis and treatment-planning exercise.
  • Personalised to you: the course is extremely personalised. It learns from the way you study, red lines and assignments are given to you on the go, and faculty are there to assist you.
  • Typodont skills with Dr. Kaur: OU tests restorative procedures on a mannequin-mounted typodont. Our bench test preparation with Dr. Kaur prepares you for it.
  • Faculty interviews with Dr. T: interview preparation with Dr. T for OU’s personal interviews.
  • File and English: our CAAPID application program (essays, school list) and our TOEFL course for OU’s competitive score of 100.
The facts in one place

OU ASPID at a glance

From OU’s own pages, its catalog and the ADEA CAAPID listing, checked in October 2026.

Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists, Oklahoma City
DegreeDDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery)23
Length29 months per ADEA; OU describes it as about 2.5 years12
Start dateJanuary 11, 2027 for the current class2
Class size22 on OU’s program page; ADEA lists 1812
How to applyADEA CAAPID plus the OU supplemental application1
Last deadlineJune 5, 2026; the window opened March 5, 20262
INBDEINBDE or NBDE Part I pass, preferably within five years; Part II optional12
English testTOEFL iBT 94 (5.0 new scale); 100 (6) suggested to be competitive12
Credential evaluationECE only12
Bench testYes: restorative procedures on a mannequin-mounted typodont23
InterviewPersonal interviews with faculty, early fall, with a diagnosis and treatment-planning exercise13
CitizenshipUS permanent residents and naturalized citizens1
Tuition and fees (2026-27)About $185,000 a year for an ASPID year, resident or non-resident45
Cost of attendance (2026-27)$227,880 + $226,839 for the two ASPID budget years5

What the 29 months look like

You start in January with a semester-long Multidisciplinary Review and Skills Development Course, so that you reach the knowledge and technical level expected in every dental discipline. Once the course instructors sign you off, you join the junior class for the third and fourth years of the DDS curriculum, including a senior externship.13

January to springMultidisciplinary Review and Skills Development Course
Summer onwardsJunior and senior DDS years with the regular class, to graduation

Read the school before you write

What OU focuses on, and what that means for you

These points come from OU’s program page, catalog, CAAPID profile and college history. The advice under them is ours.

Rural

Built to serve rural OklahomaOU’s Board of Regents authorized the college in 1954 to respond to the needs of underserved areas of rural Oklahoma, and the school stresses a tradition of high-quality clinical care.6

Hands

Restorative skill on a typodontThe skills test uses restorative procedures on a mannequin-mounted typodont.3 The CAAPID listing confirms a bench test.2

Plan

Diagnosis and treatment planningThe selection days include a diagnosis and treatment-planning exercise as well as faculty interviews.3

Rank

Strongest credentials firstOU invites the applicants with the strongest credentials and the highest potential for success.3 It prefers letters from deans and faculty of your dental school.1

English

English above the minimumThe minimum is 94, but OU suggests 100 or more to be competitive, and the TOEFL applies to anyone born outside the US, including citizens and green-card holders, unless you hold a US high school or bachelor’s diploma.12

Limit

Residency statusThe program page restricts ASPID to permanent residents and naturalized citizens. The catalog adds that some people already in the US on a visa may be eligible, depending on their visa conditions.13

Our advice for your CAAPID essays and interview

  • Ask your dean or a senior administrator for one letter, and a faculty member who knows your clinical work for the second. OU names this preference.
  • In your essays, show restorative depth: the cases you did, the materials you used, what you learned from a failure.
  • Practise talking through a full treatment plan out loud, from diagnosis to sequence, because OU tests it on the day.
  • If you have worked or volunteered in small towns or with patients who struggle to reach care, say so. It fits why the college was founded.
  • Push your TOEFL to 100 if you can. OU tells you that is the competitive level.

What OU asks for

Requirements in detail

Your CAAPID application and OU supplemental application must both reach the college to be considered.3

A dental degree from a foreign college or universityWith official transcripts from every college and dental school you attended.3
ECE evaluationTranscripts from outside the US and Canada must be evaluated by ECE.1 OU does not list WES. See WES or ECE: which do you need.
INBDE, or NBDE Part IA passing score, preferably within the last five years. NBDE Part II is optional but considered if you send it.2 The INBDE costs $1,325 for internationally trained dentists as of October 2026.9 Plan it with our INBDE Premium Boards course and the INBDE and CAAPID timeline.
TOEFL iBT 94 or higherOr 5.0 on the new scale; 100 (or 6) is suggested to be competitive. Scores older than two years are not accepted. Send them to ADEA CAAPID only, not to OU; the OU code is 6902. A waiver is possible only with a US high school or bachelor’s diploma.12 See our TOEFL course for dentists.
At least two letters of evaluationOn letterhead, in English or translated. One from the dean or a senior administrator of your dental school; more letters from your former faculty are preferred.12 See our letters guide.
US permanent residence or citizenshipThe program is restricted to permanent residents and naturalized citizens.1 If you are in the US on a visa, ask OU whether your status qualifies before you apply.3

From CAAPID to your first day

Selection steps and the application timeline

This is how the 2026 cycle ran. OU’s program page gives the pattern: applications March to June, interviews in early fall, offers in September, classes in January.1

Before MarchFinish the hard partsINBDE passed, TOEFL 94 or better, ECE ordered, letter writers agreed.
March 5, 2026OU opens in CAAPIDSubmit the OU supplemental application too. New to CAAPID? See our CAAPID walkthrough.12
June 5, 2026Deadline2
Early fallInterview and skills testingOver two days: orientation and tour, personal interviews with faculty, a diagnosis and treatment-planning exercise, and restorative procedures on a mannequin-mounted typodont. OU’s catalog lists a non-refundable participation fee of $1,100; confirm the current fee with your invitation.13
SeptemberAcceptances communicated1
January 11, 2027Review and skills course beginsComplete it to join the junior class in summer.23

Train for restorative work on a typodontOU’s skills test centres on restorative procedures. Do them until they are routine under time. Read what the dental bench test is, how schools evaluate it and the bench exercises reported by school. The Study Boards bench course with Dr. Kaur covers these preparations one by one.

Self-check

Am I ready to apply to OU?

Tick what is done. What is left is your to-do list before the next CAAPID window, and The Study Boards can help you plan it.

OU’s own figures, 2026-27

Cost and financing

OU’s financial aid office publishes a budget for the ASPID years, and the bursar lists the ASPID tuition and fees. Tap to compare.45

Tuition and fees, including required kit$185,045
Books and supplies$4,059
Living ($1,800 a month), personal, transport$35,016
Computer and loan fees$3,760
Total budget$227,880

Tuition and fees, including required kit$185,460
Books and supplies$4,103
Living, personal, transport$35,016
Loan fees$2,260
Total budget$226,839

Tuition and fees, both years$370,505
Cost of attendance, both years$454,719

Our sum of OU’s two 2026-27 ASPID budgets. OU says these are estimates and in no way a guarantee. Students with an “International” residency status pay an extra $75 maintenance fee each term.45

INBDE (international candidates)$1,325
ADEA CAAPID, first program$264
Each additional CAAPID program$115
OU interview and skills testing, per the catalog$1,100

Add your TOEFL and ECE report.389 See what it costs to apply to US dental schools.

How you pay for it

Advanced Standing usually costs roughly $250,000 to $450,000 all-in, and OU’s budgets put it at the top of that range. Almost everyone finances it with loans, so do not let the number stop you.

Because ASPID takes permanent residents and citizens, you can file the FAFSA. OU’s sheet shows up to $50,000 a year in Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, within a $200,000 lifetime limit, with the rest of the budget open to credit-based alternative loans that may need a co-signer.57 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. OU reports that its most recent graduating class borrowed an average of $358,693 while there.5

Read is becoming a US dentist worth it for the full picture.

We prepare you for each step

How to prepare: our full plan

OU judges your boards, TOEFL, letters, interview, treatment planning and hands. Here is how The Study Boards prepares you for each.

INBDE

INBDE Premium BoardsThe pass OU requires, and case-based treatment planning:

  • 35,000+ questions, faculty-written Modules, Master Files and Grand Tests
  • Nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time, questions answered by US-licensed dentists
  • 99% first-attempt pass rate for students who complete the course
  • $299 for 3 months, $499 for 6 months, $899 for 12 months, or $39 a month

See the INBDE Course Blueprint

Bench

Bench test preparation with Dr. KaurFor restorative work on a typodont:

  • 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

Interview

Interview preparation with Dr. TFor OU’s personal interviews with faculty:

  • One-on-one practice with Dr. T
  • Or the 3-session program with Dr. Slesnick and Dr. T

See Interview Preparation

CAAPID

Master the CAAPID ApplicationYour essays, letters, CV and school list:

  • Personal statement reviewed by our faculty
  • School-selection strategy with Dr. T that fits your residency status

See the CAAPID Program

TOEFL

TOEFL iBT course for dentistsFor OU’s competitive 100:

  • 45 days, mentor-reviewed, built on the 2026 TOEFL format

See the TOEFL Course

Call

Not sure where you stand?Share your INBDE status, TOEFL score and residency status, and we will tell you honestly whether to aim for OU next cycle.

Book a 10-minute call with Dr. T

Keep your options open

Other routes if OU is not the right fit

OU is one of the larger classes, but most dentists still 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 and the Advanced Standing programs 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.

Teach

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

If you are also weighing Canada, the AFK route through the NDEB is the first exam there, and much of your INBDE study carries over.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Can an Indian BDS graduate apply to Oklahoma’s ASPID program?
Yes, if you are a US permanent resident or naturalized citizen. You need a dental degree from a foreign school, a pass on the INBDE or NBDE Part I, TOEFL iBT 94 or more and an ECE evaluation. OU’s catalog says some people already in the US on a visa may be eligible depending on their visa conditions, so ask before applying.
Do Pakistani dentists need the INBDE for OU?
You need a pass on the INBDE or on NBDE Part I, preferably within the last five years. NBDE Part II is optional. Our INBDE course prepares you for the pass OU needs.
Is there a bench test for OU ASPID?
Yes. Over two days, invited applicants have faculty interviews, a diagnosis and treatment-planning exercise, and restorative procedures on a mannequin-mounted typodont.
How much does OU ASPID cost?
OU’s 2026-27 budgets are $227,880 for the third-year ASPID budget and $226,839 for the fourth, about $455,000 together, with tuition and fees near $185,000 each year. These are estimates and change yearly.
What TOEFL score does OU need?
A minimum of 94 on the iBT (5.0 on the new scale), with 100 (6) or above suggested to be competitive. It applies to anyone born outside the US unless you have a US high school or bachelor’s diploma.
Your OU application starts with the INBDE

INBDE Premium Boards by The Study Boards

Modules, Master Files, Grand Tests 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 ratePass Guarantee

See the Blueprint

US Dental Schools for International DentistsEvery Advanced Standing program, side by side.Top 5 Toughest Interview QuestionsPractise them before your faculty interviews.

Planning to apply to OU?

Message us on WhatsApp. Our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will contact you over WhatsApp and help you plan your INBDE, TOEFL and bench preparation around the next cycle.

Message the Admin Team on WhatsApp

References

  1. University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists (ASPID) and Apply to ASPID: eligibility, requirements, class size, key dates. dentistry.ouhsc.edu
  2. ADEA CAAPID. University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry program listing (updated April 6, 2026). programs.adea.org
  3. OU Health Sciences Catalog. Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists, D.D.S.: curriculum, interview and skills testing, visa note. catalog.ouhsc.edu
  4. OUHSC Bursar. Tuition and Fees Estimate, College of Dentistry DDS Program, Academic Year 2026-2027 (ASPID lines). financialservices.ouhsc.edu
  5. OUHSC Student Financial Aid. 2026-2027 Dentistry: DDS Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists, estimated costs. financialservices.ouhsc.edu
  6. University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. Why OU College of Dentistry: history and rural mission. dentistry.ouhsc.edu
  7. Federal Student Aid. Eligibility for Non-U.S. Citizens. studentaid.gov
  8. ADEA. ADEA CAAPID: Prepare to Apply, 2026-27 application fees. adea.org
  9. Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. INBDE 2026 Candidate Guide: fees. jcnde.ada.org

Current as of October 2026. Program details, dates and costs are from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, OUHSC Financial Services and ADEA CAAPID; 2026-27 costs are estimates and subject to change. Confirm everything with OU Recruitment and Admissions ([email protected]) before you apply. The Study Boards is not affiliated with the University of Oklahoma.

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