What to Do After BDS in Nepal: NMC Licence, MDS, the US and Canada

  • Dr. T
  • October 16, 2026
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Career guide for Nepali dentists · Updated October 2026

What to Do After BDS in Nepal: NMC Licence, MDS, the US and Canada

After BDS in Nepal, most dentists pick one of four paths: practise with a Nepal Medical Council (NMC) licence, compete for MDS through the Medical Education Commission (MEC), move to the US through the INBDE and an Advanced Standing or residency program, or move to Canada through the NDEB Equivalency Process, which starts with the AFK. Many also go abroad first on a study visa. That route is financially exhausting, but it is a real pathway.

Who this guide is for: Nepali dentists with a BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) from Kathmandu University, Tribhuvan University or another Nepali university, and final-year students and interns planning what comes next.

4.5 + 1years: BDS study plus the compulsory internship
$1,325INBDE fee for internationally trained dentists
2-3 yrsAdvanced Standing to a US DDS or DMD
3NDEB exams in the Canadian Equivalency Process

How we helpNMC and MDSPick a pathUS routesCanada routesVisa-firstPaperworkOur planFAQ
How The Study Boards helps you after BDS

One team for every exam on the road from BDS to DDS

The Study Boards prepares internationally trained dentists, including many Nepali dentists, for every exam and application on this page:

  • 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 options at home

Step one in Nepal: the NMC licence, then MDS if you want it

Your BDS takes about four and a half years of study plus a one-year compulsory rotating internship. Kathmandu University describes its BDS as five and a half years in total.1 Two bodies decide what happens next.

NMC

Nepal Medical Council: your licenceThe NMC registers dentists in Nepal. It runs the licensing examination, publishes exam notices and results on nmc.org.np, and takes applications through its online portal. By 31 December 2022 it had registered 4,413 dental doctors.23Do this first, whatever your plan

MEC

Medical Education Commission: MDS seatsThe MEC runs the common entrance exam for postgraduate health programs, including MDS, and allocates seats through open, government and foreign groups. It posts entrance, seat and matching notices on mec.gov.np.4Read every notice for your cycle

Why the NMC licence matters even if you plan to leavePass the NMC exam and register as soon as you can. You can then practise while you prepare, earn clinical experience for your CV, and show proof of registration in your home country. Foreign evaluators and boards often ask for that proof.

MDS in Nepal vs DDS abroad

MDS in Nepal DDS/DMD in the US Licence in Canada
Main exam MEC common entrance (MECEE-PG) INBDE, then a school’s bench test and interview NDEB AFK, ACJ and NDECC
Result Specialist in Nepal Licence to practise as a dentist in the US Licence to practise in Canada
Main cost Depends on your seat group About $250,000-$450,000 all-in, mostly funded by loans About CAD 9,750 in NDEB Equivalency fees, or a degree-completion program
Main risk Limited seats each year Cost and the number of Advanced Standing seats The NDECC clinical exam and long timelines

An MDS is a strong choice if you want to specialise and stay. It is not a short cut abroad: US and Canadian boards treat a Nepali MDS as a non-accredited degree, so you still take the same exams as a BDS graduate. Read BDS or MDS to DDS/DMD for how US schools view it.

Which path fits you?

Pick your situation

Choose the line that sounds most like you.

Choose an option above to see your route.
US licence route

NMC licence, then the INBDE, an ECE evaluation and TOEFL, then CAAPID for Advanced Standing (2-3 years to a DDS or DMD). Add PASS for AEGD or residency if you want more options. Start with the INBDE course.

Canada route

Apply to the NDEB Equivalency Process and pass the AFK first. Then the ACJ, then either the NDECC or a degree-completion or bridge program. Start with the AFK course.

Visa-first route

An MS or MPH in the US (F-1 visa, then OPT), or a master’s at a public university in Canada (study permit, then a work permit). It costs a lot and does not license you. Take the INBDE or AFK alongside it. See visa-first routes.

MDS in Nepal

NMC licence, clinical work, then the MEC entrance. If you might still go abroad, take the INBDE in the year you prepare. It tests the same clinical basics, and a pass stays useful when you decide later.

United States

The US routes after BDS

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.5 You will also need an ECE course-by-course evaluation ($199) and, at most schools, a TOEFL score.6

1

Advanced Standing / IDP via ADEA CAAPIDA 2-3 year program that ends in a US DDS or DMD, the degree that lets you sit a state licensing exam. You apply through ADEA CAAPID: $264 for the first program and $115 for each additional one in the 2026-27 cycle.7The main route to a full licence

2

AEGD via ADEA PASSA 1-2 year general dentistry residency. Some states give foreign-trained dentists a limited licence after it, and the rules vary by state. See AEGD residency.State rules decide what it gives you

3

Specialty residency via ADEA PASSOrthodontics, endodontics, periodontics and others accept some international dentists directly. These are the most competitive seats. See CAAPID or PASS.Strong profile and research help

4

Teaching and researchSome dental schools hire foreign-trained dentists as faculty or researchers. What you may treat depends on each state’s rules. It suits dentists with an MDS or a research record.Fewer seats, but a real option

The money question, honestlyAdvanced Standing costs roughly $250,000 to $450,000 all-in, including living costs. Almost everyone finances it with loans: private loans, co-signer loans with a US citizen or green-card holder, and a few international lenders that need no co-signer. Most graduates repay from a US dentist’s income. Our cost guide shows the numbers: is it worth it?

The Study Boards has a plan for each exam on this route. For the full country roadmap, read DDS in the USA for Nepali dentists, and compare schools in Advanced Standing programs for international dentists.

Canada

The Canada routes after BDS

A Nepali BDS is a non-accredited degree in Canada, so you qualify through the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB).8

NDEB Equivalency ProcessApply ($900), then pass three exams: the AFK (Assessment of Fundamental Knowledge, $1,000), the ACJ (Assessment of Clinical Judgement, $1,350) and the NDECC clinical exam ($6,500). Then you move to NDEB certification, which includes the Virtual OSCE.89 Start with our AFK exam guide.
Degree-completion (qualifying) programsSome Canadian universities run programs that end in a Canadian DDS or DMD. Many ask for AFK results, and some ask for the ADAT. See Canadian degree-completion programs.
The new bridge program (BTDPC)Bridge Training to Dental Practice in Canada is a pilot program for citizens, permanent residents and protected persons who have passed the AFK and ACJ. It replaces the NDECC for people who complete it. See the bridge pathway.

The overview is in how to become a dentist in Canada.

Visa first, licence later

Study-visa routes: financially exhausting, but a real pathway

Many Nepali dentists first go abroad on a student visa, then work, and then license. This can work. Just know three things before you pay a deposit: it costs a lot, the course 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, so compare each school’s international cost-of-attendance page.10
  • 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.11 Epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health and medical science are on the list; a general public health (MPH) code is not.12 Check the CIP code on your I-20 before you accept an offer.
  • Then: H-1B is a capped lottery, and its fee rules have been in court during 2025-2026, so check the USCIS page for the current position.13
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 2026.14
  • 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.15
  • Work permit: a master’s program of at least 8 months can lead to a 3-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Degree graduates have no field-of-study rule, but they need CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French.16
  • Permanent residence: Canadian work experience can count toward Express Entry through the Canadian Experience Class.17 Permanent residence also opens the BTDPC bridge program.
What a study visa does and does not doA study visa gets you into the country and, often, into a job. Many graduates work first in research, public health, dental assisting or other non-clinical roles, depending on local rules. It does not let you practise as a dentist. That still needs the INBDE and CAAPID route in the US, or the NDEB route in Canada. Take your board exam during the program, not after. For visa specifics, ask the school’s international office or an immigration lawyer. This page is not immigration advice.

Nepal-specific paperwork

Documents to start collecting now

We teach these exams

How to prepare: our full plan

Pick the exam that starts your route. The Study Boards has a plan for each one.

INBDE

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

See the INBDE Blueprint

AFK

AFK and ADAT for CanadaThe same Modules-to-mocks system for the NDEB AFK, plus an ADAT course for degree-completion applicants.

See the AFK Blueprint

App

CAAPID and TOEFLThe CAAPID application program covers your CV, personal statement and letters. Our TOEFL course gets the score schools ask for.

Master the CAAPID Application

Bench

Bench test and interviewBench test prep with Dr. Kaur, and interview prep with Dr. T, for the last two steps before an offer.

Bench Test Prep

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

What to do after BDS in Nepal?
Pass the NMC licensing exam and register first. Then choose: clinical practice in Nepal, MDS through the MEC entrance, the US route (INBDE, then CAAPID or PASS), or the Canada route (NDEB AFK first). If you are unsure, prepare for the INBDE or AFK while you work, because a pass keeps the door open. The Study Boards courses are built for dentists who study around a job.
What are the best career options after BDS in Nepal?
Practice in Nepal, an MDS specialty, a US DDS through Advanced Standing, a Canadian licence through the NDEB, or a research and public health career through an MS or MPH. The best one depends on your budget, your family plans and how long you can study before you earn.
Is MDS or DDS better for a Nepali dentist?
They answer different goals. MDS makes you a specialist in Nepal. A US DDS or DMD lets you practise in the US. An MDS does not exempt you from the INBDE or the NDEB exams, though it can strengthen a residency or teaching application.
Can a Nepali BDS graduate take the INBDE?
Yes. Internationally trained dentists can register with the JCNDE after getting a DENTPIN, and the fee is $1,325. Most US programs also want an ECE evaluation and a TOEFL score.
Can I go to the US or Canada on a student visa after BDS?
Yes, through an MS, MPH or similar program in the US, or a master’s at a public university in Canada. It is expensive and it does not license you, so plan to take the INBDE or AFK alongside it. Ask the school’s international office or an immigration lawyer about your own case.
Do I need the NMC licence if I am leaving Nepal?
It is wise to have it. It lets you work while you prepare, builds clinical experience for your CV, and gives you proof of registration in your home country, which evaluators and boards often ask for.
For Nepali dentists going abroad

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.

99% first-attempt pass rate*9 PM New York live testsPass GuaranteeFrom $39 a month

See the Blueprint

DDS in the USA for Nepali DentistsThe full US roadmap from Nepal.How to Become a Dentist in CanadaEvery Canadian route in one place.Dental Hygiene in the USA paid step for foreign-trained dentists.INBDE and CAAPID TimelineWhen to sit each exam.

Not sure which path fits you?

Tell us your BDS year, your budget and where you want to live. Our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will contact you over WhatsApp.

Message the Admin Team on WhatsApp

References

  1. Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences. Bachelor in Dental Science (BDS): five and a half years, including a one-year compulsory rotating internship. Checked 15 October 2026. kusms.edu.np
  2. Nepal Medical Council. History and information: functions of the Council; 4,413 dental doctors registered by 31 December 2022. nmc.org.np
  3. Nepal Medical Council. Exam notices, exam application portal and results. nmc.org.np
  4. Medical Education Commission. Master’s degree (PG) notices: common entrance, seat allocation and matching for open, government and foreign groups. mec.gov.np
  5. JCNDE. INBDE 2026 Candidate Guide: examination and non-CODA processing fees. jcnde.ada.org
  6. ECE. Services and fees: course-by-course evaluation $199. ece.org
  7. ADEA. ADEA CAAPID applicants: 2026-27 fees. adea.org
  8. NDEB. Graduates of non-accredited dental programs: the Equivalency Process. ndeb-bned.ca
  9. NDEB. Examination fees, effective 1 July 2025. ndeb-bned.ca
  10. Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Tuition and fees, 2026-27 MPH. columbia.edu
  11. DHS Study in the States. STEM OPT extension overview. dhs.gov
  12. ICE / SEVP. DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List (2024). ice.gov
  13. USCIS. H-1B specialty occupations: payment requirement and court orders, 2025-2026. uscis.gov
  14. IRCC. 2026 provincial and territorial allocations under the international student cap. canada.ca
  15. IRCC. Study permit: proof of financial support. canada.ca
  16. IRCC. About the PGWP and PGWP study requirements. canada.ca · canada.ca
  17. IRCC. Express Entry. canada.ca

Current as of 15 October 2026. *Pass rate refers to students who complete the INBDE Premium Boards course. Fees, visa and immigration rules change often; confirm with the NMC, MEC, JCNDE, NDEB and the relevant government before you apply. Educational content, not licensing or immigration advice.

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