Dentists From the Middle East: How to Practise in the US or Canada
A dentist from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon or Syria cannot use a home licence in the US or Canada. In the US you pass the INBDE and complete an Advanced Standing (2-3 year DDS/DMD), AEGD or residency program. In Canada you pass the NDEB exams, starting with the AFK. Many dentists also enter on a study visa first. That route is financially exhausting, but it is a real pathway.
Who this guide is for: Middle Eastern dentists holding a BDS (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq), a DDS (Jordan, Iran, Syria) or a Lebanese doctorate in dental surgery, plus interns planning their next step.
Board exams, applications and interviews, with dentists who answer you
The Study Boards prepares internationally trained dentists, including many Middle Eastern dentists, for the US and Canadian routes:
- INBDE course: 35,000+ questions, faculty-written Modules, Master Files, full test series and a live test every night at 9 PM New York time. 99% of students who complete the course pass on their first attempt. Plans: $299 for 3 months, $499 for 6 months, $899 for 12 months, or $39 a month.
- Canada: AFK and ADAT courses.
- Applications and admission: the CAAPID application program, TOEFL prep, bench test prep with Dr. Kaur and interview prep with Dr. T.
- In Dr. T’s words: the course is extremely personalised. You get red lines and assignments on the go, the course learns from how you study, and our faculty assist you.
We do not run live classes or lectures; the live part is the nightly test. See the INBDE course blueprint.
Your degree and your local options, by country
Pick your country. Each card shows your degree title and length, the local licence or postgraduate route, and what to watch for on the way to the US or Canada.
Degree: a 5-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), also called the Bachelor of Oral and Dental Medicine. A one-year clinical internship follows, and you need it for a practice licence in Egypt.12
Local options: practise after the internship, or take a university master’s or doctorate in a specialty.
For the US or Canada: your transcripts may be in Arabic, so plan for word-for-word English translations. Finish the internship before you apply anywhere, because many programs and the UAE regulators expect it.
Degree: the BDS. At King Saud University it is a preparatory year, five academic years and a one-year internship: 7 years and 197 credit hours in all.3
Local options: after the internship, the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) runs the exam for the Saudi licence to practise dentistry. The same exam is used to rank applicants for postgraduate programs.4
For the US or Canada: many Saudi dentists aim for US residencies through PASS. Your degree is still non-accredited there, so the INBDE comes first.
Degree: the BDS. At the University of Sharjah it is a five-year full-time program.5
Local licence: under the UAE’s unified qualification rules, dentists complete a one-year internship and pass the health authority’s exam. A General Dentist title also needs two years of clinical experience, though UAE graduates are exempt within two years of the internship.6
For the US or Canada: evaluation follows where your dental degree came from, not where you work.
Degree: the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). At the University of Jordan it is 198 credit hours over five academic years.7
For the US or Canada: a Jordanian “DDS” has the same letters as a US DDS, but it is not CODA-accredited. You still need the INBDE and an Advanced Standing program, or the NDEB route.
Degree: a five-year bachelor’s degree in dentistry (BDS). The University of Baghdad College of Dentistry awards its degree after a five-year undergraduate program.8
For the US or Canada: request transcripts early, with English translations if needed. Iraq is not on the US full or partial entry-restriction lists published in December 2025.11
Degree: the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), a general doctorate of about six years at Tehran University of Medical Sciences.9
For the US: Iran is on the US full-restriction list. Since 1 January 2026, new visas for its nationals, including F and J student visas, are suspended unless an exception applies.11 For Canada: the NDEB route is open to graduates of non-accredited programs from any country.
Degree: a doctorate in dental surgery. At Université Saint-Joseph, the Diplôme de docteur en chirurgie dentaire runs over 10 semesters (5 years), taught mainly in French.10
For the US or Canada: documents in French or Arabic need word-for-word English translations. Strong French helps in Quebec, and Université Laval runs the French-language site of the BTDPC bridge.
Degree: the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). Damascus University’s Faculty of Dental Medicine teaches it over five academic years.
For the US: Syria was added to the US full-restriction list in December 2025, effective 1 January 2026, so new student visas are suspended unless an exception applies.11 For Canada: the NDEB route is the realistic path, and BTDPC is open to protected persons.
| Country | Degree title | Length | US visa status (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | BDS / Bachelor of Oral and Dental Medicine | 5 years + 1-year internship | Not restricted |
| Saudi Arabia | BDS | Prep year + 5 years + internship | Not restricted |
| UAE | BDS | 5 years (University of Sharjah) | Not restricted |
| Jordan | DDS | 5 years, 198 credit hours | Not restricted |
| Iraq | BDS | 5 years | Not restricted |
| Iran | DDS | About 6 years | Full restriction |
| Lebanon | Docteur en chirurgie dentaire | 5 years (10 semesters) | Not restricted |
| Syria | DDS | 5 years | Full restriction |
“Not restricted” means the country is not on the December 2025 proclamation lists. It does not mean your visa will be approved. Libya, Yemen and holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents are also under full restriction.11
Credential evaluation and English tests
Course-by-course evaluationUS programs want an ECE course-by-course report ($199). Documents not in English need a word-for-word English translation. ECE lets you prepare it yourself, or pay a small fee for a translation waiver on some reports.1213ECE for dentists
Canada checks its own wayFor Canada, the NDEB verifies your credentials as part of the $900 Equivalency Process application.15WES vs ECE
English testsMost US programs want TOEFL iBT. Canada’s bridge program accepts TOEFL iBT or IELTS Academic. A Canadian work permit after study needs CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French.18TOEFL course
How to become a dentist in the USA from Egypt, Saudi Arabia or anywhere in the region
Every US route starts with the INBDE (Integrated National Board Dental Examination). The fee for internationally trained dentists is $1,325: $890 plus a $435 processing fee.14 Then choose a route.
Advanced Standing / IDP via ADEA CAAPIDA 2-3 year program that ends in a US DDS or DMD, which lets you sit a state licensing exam. CAAPID costs $264 for the first program and $115 for each additional program in 2026-27.16The main route to a full licence
AEGD via ADEA PASSA 1-2 year general dentistry residency. Some states give a limited licence to foreign-trained dentists after it, and rules vary by state. See AEGD residency.Check your target state first
Specialty residency via ADEA PASSSome orthodontic, endodontic, periodontic and other programs take international dentists directly. These are the most competitive seats. See CAAPID or PASS.Research and a strong profile help
Teaching and researchSome dental schools hire foreign-trained dentists as faculty or researchers, especially those with a master’s degree or publications.Fewer seats, but real
The Study Boards walks you through each step in DDS in the USA for international dentists and Advanced Standing programs.
Middle East dentist to Canada: the NDEB routes
Canada treats every Middle Eastern dental degree as non-accredited, so you qualify through the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB).15
The overview is in how to become a dentist in Canada.
Study-visa routes: financially exhausting, but a real pathway
Many dentists enter on a student visa, work, and license later. It costs a lot, it does not make you a dentist abroad, and visa rules change often.
United States: F-1 visa, OPT, then H-1B or other routes
- Programs you can enter without a US licence: MS or MPH in public health, an MHA, dental public health, oral biology or other research MS degrees, and some certificate programs.
- Cost example: at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health, 2026-27 MPH tuition is $49,888 for two semesters, plus $8,391 in program fees and about $31,184 in living costs. Public universities are often cheaper.17
- After graduation: OPT gives up to 12 months of work. The 24-month STEM OPT extension applies only if your degree’s CIP code is on the DHS STEM list and your employer uses E-Verify. Epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health and medical science are on the list; a general MPH code is not.1920
- Then: H-1B is a capped lottery, and its fee rules have been in court during 2025-2026. Check the USCIS page for the current position.21
- Iran, Syria, Libya, Yemen: new F-1 visas are suspended under the current proclamation, so this route is closed for most nationals unless an exception applies.11
Canada: study permit, PGWP, then permanent residence
- Study permit: since 1 January 2026, master’s and doctoral students at public institutions do not need a provincial attestation letter. Canada expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits in 2026.22
- Money: for applications from 1 September 2026, a single student must show CAD 23,448 for the first year’s living costs, plus tuition and travel.23
- Work permit: a master’s of at least 8 months can lead to a 3-year Post-Graduation Work Permit. Degree graduates have no field-of-study rule but need CLB 7 or NCLC 7.18
- Permanent residence: Canadian work experience can count toward Express Entry through the Canadian Experience Class.24 Permanent residence also opens the BTDPC bridge.
How to prepare: our full plan
Pick the exam that starts your route. The Study Boards has a plan for each one.
INBDE Premium Boards35,000+ questions, Modules, Master Files, test series and nightly 9 PM New York live tests. $299 / $499 / $899, or $39 a month.
- 99% first-attempt pass rate for students who complete the course
- Pass Guarantee: refund of the course and the INBDE fee if you meet the benchmark and still do not pass
AFK and ADAT for CanadaThe same Modules-to-mocks system for the NDEB AFK, plus an ADAT course for degree-completion applicants.
CAAPID and TOEFLThe CAAPID application program covers your CV, personal statement and letters, and our TOEFL course gets the score schools ask for.
Bench test and interviewBench test prep with Dr. Kaur, and interview prep with Dr. T, for the last steps before an offer.
Frequently asked questions
How can an Egyptian dentist work in the USA?
How does a Saudi dentist get a US licence?
Can a dentist from the UAE move to Canada?
Is a Jordanian DDS the same as a US DDS?
Can an Iraqi dentist do Advanced Standing in the US?
Can Iranian or Syrian dentists still go to the US?
Do Lebanese dentists need translations?
Start with the board exam: INBDE Premium Boards by The Study Boards
Modules, Master Files, 35,000+ questions and nightly live tests, with US-licensed dentists answering your questions.
Not sure which route fits you?
Tell us your country, your degree and where you want to live. Our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will contact you over WhatsApp.
References
- German University in Cairo, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine. Study program. Checked 15 October 2026. guc.edu.eg
- Future University in Egypt, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine. Overview. fue.edu.eg
- King Saud University College of Dentistry. Bachelor of Dental Surgery: 1 + 5 + 1 years, 197 credit hours. ksu.edu.sa
- Umm Al-Qura University. News: the exam for the Saudi licence to practise dentistry, held by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. uqu.edu.sa
- University of Sharjah. Bachelor of Dental Surgery: five-year full-time program. sharjah.ac.ae
- UAE health authorities (DHA, DOH, MOHAP). Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements, 3rd version 2022. dha.gov.ae
- University of Jordan. Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS): 198 credit hours over five academic years. ju.edu.jo
- University of Baghdad College of Dentistry. Five-year bachelor’s programme. uobaghdad.edu.iq
- Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.): program duration 6 years. tums.ac.ir
- Université Saint-Joseph de Beyrouth. Diplôme de docteur en chirurgie dentaire, catalogue: semesters 1 to 10. usj.edu.lb
- The White House. Fact sheet: further restricts and limits the entry of foreign nationals, 16 December 2025. whitehouse.gov
- ECE. Services and fees: course-by-course evaluation $199. ece.org
- ECE. Top FAQs. ece.org
- JCNDE. INBDE 2026 Candidate Guide: examination and non-CODA processing fees. jcnde.ada.org
- NDEB. Equivalency Process and examination fees (effective 1 July 2025). ndeb-bned.ca · fees
- ADEA. ADEA CAAPID applicants: 2026-27 fees. adea.org
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Tuition and fees, 2026-27 MPH. columbia.edu
- IRCC. About the PGWP and PGWP study requirements. canada.ca · canada.ca
- DHS Study in the States. STEM OPT extension overview. dhs.gov
- ICE / SEVP. DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List (2024). ice.gov
- USCIS. H-1B specialty occupations. uscis.gov
- IRCC. 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap. canada.ca
- IRCC. Study permit: proof of financial support. canada.ca
- IRCC. Express Entry. canada.ca
Current as of 15 October 2026. *Pass rate refers to students who complete the INBDE Premium Boards course. Visa and immigration rules change often; confirm with the embassy, IRCC, the JCNDE and the NDEB before you apply. Educational content, not licensing or immigration advice.