Touro Dental School for International Dentists: The IDP (2026 Guide)

  • Dr. T
  • October 16, 2026
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School guide · Touro College of Dental Medicine · Updated October 2026

Touro Dental School for International Dentists: The IDP (2026 Guide)

Touro College of Dental Medicine runs the Advanced Standing International Dentist Program (IDP), an intensive two-year program that starts in the third year of the DDS curriculum and ends with a US DDS degree. You apply through ADEA CAAPID between March 5 and August 1, classes begin in May, and the bench test and interview take place in the fall and winter of the application year.

2years, May start, DDS degree
~5places a year (CAAPID estimate)
90TOEFL iBT (4.5 new scale) is competitive
NY or NMchoice of campus for the clinical years

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 looking at Touro in New York.

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

How The Study Boards helps you get into Touro

  • INBDE first: Touro gives preference to applicants who have passed the INBDE. Our INBDE Premium Boards course gives you faculty-written Modules, Master Files, 35,000+ questions, subject and full-syllabus test series and nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time. Students who complete the course have a 99% first-attempt pass rate.
  • Personalised to you: the course is extremely personalised. It learns from the way you are studying, red lines and assignments are given to you on the go, and faculty are there to assist you.
  • TOEFL: Touro accepts no IELTS. Our TOEFL course for dentists is built on the 2026 format.
  • Your CAAPID file: the Master the CAAPID Application program builds your personal statement, letters and CV, and plans your school list with Dr. T.
  • Bench test and interview: bench test preparation with Dr. Kaur, and interview preparation with Dr. T before your fall or winter invitation.
The facts in one place

Touro IDP at a glance

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

International Dentist Program (IDP), Hawthorne, New York
DegreeDDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery)1
Length2 years, entering the third year of the DDS curriculum1
Start dateMay1
Class sizeAbout 5 (CAAPID estimate)2
How to applyADEA CAAPID, plus a $100 fee paid to Touro1
Application windowMarch 5 to August 11
INBDEPass required, or NBDE I and II no more than three years old1
English testTOEFL; 4.5 (new scale) or 90 is competitive; no IELTS, no MyBest1
Credential evaluationECE or WES2
Bench testYes, fall or winter of the application year1
InterviewYes, same season; details sent to selected candidates1
Who can applyInternational applicants can apply, with a student visa and two years of funds2
Tuition and fees (2026-27, DDS years 3 and 4)$104,820 + $101,915 (New York campus)3
Cost of attendance (2026-27)$159,247 + $156,342 (New York campus)3

What the two years look like

You take the same courses as domestic third- and fourth-year students, so Touro expects a strong base in the basic and preclinical sciences.1

First semesterReview of years one and two
Rest of year 3Treatment planning, orofacial pain, general care; pediatric, oral surgery and hospital rotations
Year 4Prosthodontic, endodontic and implant case review; heavy clinic time and off-site rotations

You can choose the New York or New Mexico campus for your clinical years.2 After you graduate, you can apply to take your dental licensure exams.1

Read this before you write a word

What Touro focuses on

Touro says it carries the hallmarks of Touro University: high-quality education with a focus on public health and serving the local community. It opened its Albuquerque, New Mexico clinical campus to serve a state with one of the lowest dentist-to-population ratios in the country.4 Here is what it selects for, and our advice.

A recent, strong board resultTouro gives preference to applicants who passed the INBDE or NBDE Part II, and does not accept NBDE scores older than three years. The ADAT is not considered.12Our advice: take the INBDE now, not later; it is the clearest way to stand out here.
Public health and community serviceTouro’s mission names public health and the local community, and its New Mexico campus exists to meet the needs of under-resourced communities.4Our advice: write about public clinics, camps and rural work, and say honestly whether you would train in New Mexico.
Ready for clinic on day oneTouro expects you to arrive ready for hands-on lab and clinical training, since you skip the first two years.1Our advice: show recent clinical volume, and pass the bench test cleanly.
Modern dentistryTouro highlights digital impressions, digital treatment planning, 3D imaging, guided implant surgery and endodontic microscopy in its clinics.4Our advice: mention any digital or implant training you have; it fits the school.
A medical college settingTouro sits on the New York Medical College campus, with access to faculty in medicine, biomedical sciences and public health.4Our advice: hospital, medically complex or team-based care experience is worth describing.
TOEFL onlyTouro does not accept IELTS or TOEFL MyBest scores, and judges validity by the program start date.1Our advice: book a TOEFL in time for your score to be under two years old in May.

So, in your CAAPID file and interview, show thisA passed INBDE, real clinical readiness, and a genuine commitment to community and public health care, including openness to training in New Mexico. This is our advice, built from Touro’s stated mission and requirements.

What Touro asks for

Requirements in detail

You must meet every requirement for the admissions committee to review your file.1

A dental degree from outside the USThe IDP is for dentists educated outside the United States.1

The INBDE, or NBDE I and II under three years oldSend official scores to CAAPID and also self-report them in the portal; otherwise the committee will not know you passed.1 The INBDE costs $1,325 for internationally trained dentists as of October 2026.8 Plan it with our INBDE and CAAPID timeline.

TOEFL, within two years of the program start dateRequired if English is not your native language. 4.5 on the new scale, or 90 on the old one, is considered competitive. Scores go from ETS to CAAPID. No IELTS, no MyBest.1

A credential evaluationCAAPID lists ECE and WES for Touro.2 ECE charges $199 for its course-by-course report.7 Read WES or ECE before you order.

Three letters of evaluation through CAAPIDFrom academic faculty or dental professionals who can speak to your skills, abilities and personal attributes. Do not send them to the school.1 Our letters guide shows who to ask.

The $100 fee, by August 1Paid to Touro, not to CAAPID; Touro emails instructions.1

Not a US citizen or green-card holder?You can apply. If admitted, you must obtain a student visa before you start and document a financial commitment covering two years of study.2

From CAAPID to your first day

Selection steps and the application timeline

Touro’s program page gives the window as March 5 to August 1, with classes beginning in May. The CAAPID listing shows March 5, 2027 to August 1, 2027 with a May 3, 2027 start, which cannot all be right, so confirm the year with Touro Admissions before you plan.12

Before MarchGet the hard parts doneINBDE passed, TOEFL booked, ECE or WES ordered, three letter writers agreed. Follow our CAAPID walkthrough.
March 5CAAPID opens for Touro1
After you submitTouro emails you about the $100 fee1
August 1Deadline for the application and the fee1
Fall and winterBench test and interviewSelected candidates receive the details.1
After acceptanceVisa and fundsStudent visa and two years of financial documentation, if you are not a US citizen or permanent resident.2
MayClasses begin in the third-year curriculum1

Applied this year? Your interview season is nowTouro holds bench tests and interviews in the fall and winter of the application year, so October is the time to sharpen your preparations and your answers. Read how schools evaluate your bench test and the five toughest interview questions.

Self-check

Am I ready to apply to Touro?

Tick what is already done. Anything left unticked is your to-do list before the next March window.

Touro’s own figures, 2026-27

Cost and financing

Touro does not publish a separate IDP fee table. IDP students take the third- and fourth-year DDS curriculum, so the closest guide is Touro’s 2026-27 rates for those years. Confirm your exact bill with Touro. Tap a year to see the numbers.13

Tuition$86,490
Fees (New York campus)$18,330
Total tuition and fees (New York)$104,820
Living, transport, insurance, books and other estimated costs$54,427
Estimated cost of attendance (New York)$159,247

Tuition$83,990
Fees (New York campus)$17,925
Total tuition and fees (New York)$101,915
Living, transport, insurance, books and other estimated costs$54,427
Estimated cost of attendance (New York)$156,342

Tuition, both years$170,480
Tuition and fees, both years (New York)$206,735
Estimated cost of attendance, both years (New York)$315,589

New Mexico totals are slightly lower: $104,655 and $101,750 in tuition and fees. F-1 students pay a $50 international student fee each semester, and graduation costs $150.

Before you are accepted, budget for the INBDE ($1,325), the CAAPID fee ($264 for the first program, $115 for each extra one), your credential evaluation (ECE charges $199) and Touro’s $100 fee, plus your TOEFL.1678 See what it costs to apply to US dental schools.

How international dentists pay for it

Advanced Standing usually costs roughly $250,000 to $450,000 all-in, and Touro’s two years sit in the middle of that range. Almost everyone finances it with loans, so do not let the number stop you.

Touro’s financial aid page says federal aid requires US citizenship or eligible non-citizen status.5 Across the US, the common routes for everyone else are private loans, co-signer loans with a US citizen or green-card holder, and a few international lenders that need no co-signer. If you need a visa, you must also document two years of funding before enrolment.2

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

We prepare you for each step

How to prepare: our full plan

Touro judges your boards, TOEFL, written file, hands and interview. Here is how The Study Boards prepares you for each.

INBDE

INBDE Premium BoardsThe result Touro gives preference to:

  • Faculty-written Modules, Master Files and 35,000+ questions, answered by US-licensed dentists, not AI
  • Subject, cumulative and full-syllabus test series, plus 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

Hands

Bench test preparation with Dr. KaurFor the fall and winter bench test:

  • Seven live video sessions, 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. TBefore your invitation arrives:

  • The 3-session program with Dr. Slesnick and Dr. T: two before your invites, one after your first real interview
  • Motivation, ethics and clinical questions, answered without a script

See Interview Preparation

CAAPID

Master the CAAPID ApplicationYour written file, built with our faculty:

  • Personal statement, letter review and CV, reviewed by a 5-faculty bench
  • Profile and school-list strategy with Dr. T
  • 3 mock interview sessions included

See the CAAPID Program

TOEFL

TOEFL iBT course for dentistsTouro takes no IELTS:

  • 45 days, mentor-reviewed, built on the 2026 TOEFL format
  • Practice for every new task type

See the TOEFL Course

Call

Not sure where you stand?Share your INBDE status, TOEFL score and graduation year, and we will tell you honestly whether to aim for Touro’s next cycle.

Book a 10-minute call with Dr. T

Keep your options open

Other routes if Touro is not the right fit

About five places a year is very few, 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 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 to choose.

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 step there. Our NDEB AFK exam guide explains it.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Can an Indian BDS graduate apply to Touro’s International Dentist Program?
Yes. The IDP is for dentists educated outside the US, and non-US citizens can apply. If admitted, you need a student visa and proof of funding for two years. You also need the INBDE (or recent NBDE I and II), a TOEFL score and three letters.
Do Pakistani dentists need the INBDE for Touro?
You need the INBDE, or NBDE Parts I and II no more than three years old. Touro gives preference to applicants who have passed the INBDE or NBDE Part II.
Does Touro accept IELTS?
No. Touro accepts only the TOEFL, and not MyBest scores. 4.5 on the new scale, or 90 on the old one, is considered competitive.
Is there a bench test for Touro’s IDP?
Yes. Selected candidates take a bench test and an interview in the fall or winter of the application year. Touro sends the details to those it selects.
Can I do my clinical years in New Mexico?
Yes. The CAAPID listing says IDP candidates can choose the New York or New Mexico campus for their clinical years.
When is the Touro IDP deadline?
Touro’s page says applications open on March 5 and close on August 1, with classes beginning in May. The year labels on the CAAPID listing conflict, so confirm the cycle with Touro Admissions ([email protected]).
Your Touro 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 on time, score 60% or more on every course 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

Bench Test Exercises by SchoolWhat other schools on your list ask you to prepare.What Is the Dental Bench Test?The basics, before you start practising.

Planning to apply to Touro?

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, bench test and CAAPID around Touro’s next cycle.

Message the Admin Team on WhatsApp

References

  1. Touro College of Dental Medicine. International Dentist Program (IDP): dates, $100 fee, requirements, bench test and interview, curriculum. dental.touro.edu
  2. ADEA CAAPID. Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College program listing (updated September 22, 2026). programs.adea.org
  3. Touro College of Dental Medicine. Tuition and Fees, 2026-27, and cost of attendance. dental.touro.edu
  4. Touro College of Dental Medicine. About Us. dental.touro.edu
  5. Touro College of Dental Medicine. Financial Aid Eligibility Requirements. dental.touro.edu
  6. ADEA. ADEA CAAPID: Prepare to Apply, 2026-27 application fees. adea.org
  7. Educational Credential Evaluators. ADEA CAAPID Application Instructions. ece.org
  8. 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 Touro College of Dental Medicine and ADEA CAAPID; 2026-27 costs are for the DDS third and fourth years and may differ for IDP students. Confirm everything with Touro Admissions ([email protected]) before you apply. The Study Boards is not affiliated with Touro University.

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