UT Health San Antonio International Dentist Education Program (IDEP): Requirements, Selection and Cost
The School of Dentistry at UT Health San Antonio, now part of The University of Texas at San Antonio, runs the International Dentist Education Program (IDEP): 29 months, starting each January and ending with a DDS degree. You apply through ADEA CAAPID with a passed INBDE, TOEFL iBT of 92 (4.5 on the new scale) and an ECE report.12
It is one of the most contested programs in the country: 1,284 applicants for 21 places in the class that started in spring 2026. Selection runs through a Kira Talent video interview, then an in-person interview and skills test in San Antonio.32
Who this guide is for: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Nepali dentists (BDS), and other internationally trained dentists aiming for a US DDS or DMD, who are weighing San Antonio’s IDEP.
How The Study Boards helps you get into UT Health San Antonio’s IDEP
- INBDE first: no pass, no review. Our INBDE course gives you 35,000+ questions, faculty-made Modules and Master Files, the test series and nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time. 99% of students who complete the course pass on their first attempt.
- Built around you: the 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.
- TOEFL 92: a 91 is not reviewed. The last class averaged 102. Our TOEFL course for dentists aims well above the line.
- Application, Kira, hands and interview: the CAAPID application program builds the reflective essays and school list IDEP’s rubric rewards, Dr. T trains you for Kira and the in-person interview, and bench test prep with Dr. Kaur readies you for the skills test.
Questions are answered by US-licensed dentists, not AI.
UT Health San Antonio IDEP at a glance
From the school’s IDEP pages, the 2026-27 IDEP cost of attendance and the ADEA CAAPID listing, checked 15 October 2026.
Sources: IDEP program, admissions and FAQ pages, the 2026-27 IDEP cost of attendance and the ADEA CAAPID listing.12345
What the 29 months look like
You start with a six-month hybrid introductory course: an online module in January, then hands-on training on campus from late February to June, taught by specialists and fitted to your skills. In July you join the regular third-year DDS students for two years of clinic, with more than 2,000 hours of patient care, specialty and community outreach rotations and selective courses. You graduate in May.35
What UT Health San Antonio focuses on
IDEP is unusually open about how it scores applicants. Here is what its own pages say.
A blinded rubric: Academics and ExperienceFiles are reviewed holistically with a blinded rubric in two domains, Academics and Experience. Well-rounded applicants who score well in both are favoured. At interview a third domain, Personality and Communication, is added.23
US or Canadian dental experienceIn the spring 2026 class, 100% had US or Canadian dental experience. Private practice is not required, and applicants with other strong dental experience have been accepted.3
Grades and English well above the minimumThe minimums are a 2.50 ECE GPA and TOEFL 92. The 2026 class averaged an ECE GPA of 3.6 and a TOEFL of 102.3
Further training and hand skillsSpecialty training, preceptorships, CE, observerships and bench prep can raise your Academics or Experience score. The committee also weighs bench ability, hand skills, answers to clinical questions, research and publications, leadership and work history.3
Reflection and fitIDEP asks you to describe your values, learning style and career goals, show you have researched the program, and reflect on your weaknesses and the steps you took to fix them. List awards and publications with DOIs.2
Requirements in detail
IDEP considers a file complete only when every item below has reached CAAPID and the fee is paid by the deadline, even if CAAPID shows “complete”.1
INBDE passINBDE, or NBDE Parts I and II, with a status of PASS, sent to CAAPID by the ADA. Results never expire for IDEP. For international candidates the INBDE costs $890 plus a $435 processing fee, $1,325 in total.128
TOEFL iBT 92 or 4.5The Home Edition is accepted; MyBest scores are not. The test must be no older than two years at the deadline. Scores of 91 (or 4) or lower are not reviewed, and US citizens must take it too.13
ECE course-by-course, GPA 2.50+Only ECE is accepted, and only the comprehensive grade average counts, not “best result”. Include any postgraduate programs. ECE charges $199 for this report.17
Three electronic evaluationsOne from your dean or a faculty member of your dental school or postgraduate program. Each referee needs a phone number and must be willing to be contacted.12
Diplomas, licences and CVUpload your foreign diplomas and licences, any US hygiene or assisting licence, and a CV. Official transcripts are not needed until the interview stage, by email from your university or in a sealed envelope.2
Am I ready to apply to IDEP?
Tick what you have done. The rest is your list before CAAPID opens in March.
See our CAAPID application walkthrough.
How IDEP selects its class
Two interview stages, then rolling offers.23
The application cycle on a timeline
Plan the months with our INBDE and CAAPID timeline.
What IDEP costs, and how people pay for it
The school’s 2026-27 IDEP cost of attendance has three columns. Tuition is fixed at the rate of the semester you enter, so your class may pay a different rate from the classes ahead.4
| 2026-27 table | Entry (6 months) | First year (12 months) | Second year (11 months) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Texas-resident tuition | $38,175 | $74,972 | $74,972 |
| Texas-resident tuition | $26,295 | $63,092 | $63,092 |
| Fees and health insurance | $11,118 | $10,389 | $10,313 |
| Loupes, kits, technology, licensure exam | $12,856 | $3,140 | $8,059 |
| Living allowance | $17,418 | $34,837 | $31,932 |
| Non-resident cost of attendance | $79,567 | $123,338 | $125,276 |
Added up, that is $328,181 for a non-resident over 29 months, living costs included, or about $292,500 for a Texas resident. Add the placement fee of $5,000, which does not count towards tuition.24
Weigh it against income: is becoming a US dentist worth it?
How to prepare: our full plan for IDEP
With more than 60 applicants per seat, every stage counts. Here is how The Study Boards prepares you.
Pass the INBDE first timeOur INBDE Premium Boards course: 35,000+ questions, Modules and Master Files, test series and nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time. Plans are $299 for 3 months, $499 for 6 months, $899 for 12 months, or $39 a month.
- Pass Guarantee: finish on time with no overdue days, score 60%+ on every test, and if you still do not pass, we refund the course fee and the exam registration fee.
Kira and in-person interview with Dr. TIDEP’s first interview is on Kira Talent. Train with Kira interview prep with Dr. T, then the 3-session program with Dr. Slesnick and Dr. T for the in-person round.
Essays the rubric rewardsMaster the CAAPID Application shapes your values, weaknesses and fit into clear essays, checks your three letters and builds a school list beyond IDEP.
Skills test prep with Dr. KaurIDEP sends test details only after you are invited, so train the core preparations early. Start with what the bench test is and how it is evaluated.
Aim past 100Our TOEFL iBT course for dentists is a 45-day, mentor-reviewed program for the January 2026 format.
Other routes if IDEP is not the right fit
Twenty places for over a thousand applicants means everyone needs a plan B. Passing the INBDE opens four routes.
Advanced Standing at another schoolTwo to three years to a DDS or DMD through ADEA CAAPID. Compare programs in our Advanced Standing programs guide and full list of US dental schools, and shortlist with the CAAPID directory method.
AEGD through ADEA PASSSome states give a limited licence after an AEGD; rules vary by state. See AEGD programs for international dentists.
A residency through PASSMore competitive for international applicants. Read CAAPID or PASS: how to pick.
TeachingSome international dentists join a US dental school in a faculty or academic role. Rules vary by school and state.
If you are also weighing Canada, the AFK route through the NDEB is where that path begins.
Frequently asked questions
Can an Indian BDS graduate apply to UT Health San Antonio’s IDEP?
Do Pakistani dentists need the INBDE for UT Health San Antonio?
How competitive is the San Antonio IDEP?
Does IDEP have a bench test?
Do I need US dental experience for IDEP?
How does The Study Boards help with an IDEP application?
Kira Interview Prep with Dr. T
Practise timed, recorded answers in the format IDEP uses for its first interview round.
Planning to apply to San Antonio?
Our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will contact you over WhatsApp. We will plan your INBDE, TOEFL, CAAPID, Kira and skills test steps around IDEP’s March to June window.
References
- ADEA CAAPID. The University of Texas at San Antonio (School of Dentistry IDEP) program listing (updated 26 May 2026). programs.adea.org (checked 15 October 2026)
- UT San Antonio School of Dentistry. IDEP Application: requirements, Kira, skills test, fees, acceptance. uthscsa.edu (checked 15 October 2026)
- UT San Antonio School of Dentistry. IDEP Frequently Asked Questions, including the Class of 2028 profile. uthscsa.edu (checked 15 October 2026)
- UT Health San Antonio Financial Aid. International Dentist Education Program Cost of Attendance, 2026-2027 Award Year. students.uthscsa.edu (PDF) (checked 15 October 2026)
- UT San Antonio School of Dentistry. International Dentist Education Program (29-month D.D.S.). uthscsa.edu (checked 15 October 2026)
- ADEA. ADEA CAAPID applicants: 2026-27 fees. adea.org (checked 15 October 2026)
- Educational Credential Evaluators. Services and Fees. ece.org (checked 15 October 2026)
- JCNDE. INBDE Candidate Guide: $890 fee plus $435 non-CODA processing fee. jcnde.ada.org
Current as of 15 October 2026. Program details and costs come from UT San Antonio School of Dentistry and ADEA CAAPID. Totals are our sums of the school’s 2026-27 cost table; your class’s tuition is set at your entry semester. This guide is independent and is not endorsed by UT San Antonio.