F-1 Visa Pathways for Foreign Dentists: Master’s Programs, OPT and What Comes Next
Yes, a foreign dentist can go to the USA on an F-1 student visa by joining a master’s program that does not need a US licence, such as an MPH, an MS in dental public health, oral biology or clinical research, or a health administration degree. After graduation you can work for 12 months on OPT, and for 24 more months if the degree is STEM-designated, but the degree does not make you a licensed dentist: for that you still need the INBDE and a US dental program.
Who this guide is for: dentists with a BDS or BDS + MDS from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Nepal, BDS holders from the Middle East, and Latin American dentists with a Licenciatura or Cirujano Dentista title, who are asking how to go to the USA after BDS.
Use your master’s years to become a licensable dentist
The visa gets you into the country. The INBDE and your application get you into a dental program. The Study Boards prepares you for the second part while you study:
- INBDE course: 35,000+ questions, faculty-written Modules, Master Files, test series and a nightly live test at 9 PM New York time. 99% first-attempt pass rate for students who complete the course.
- Plans that fit a student budget: $299 for 3 months, $499 for 6 months, $899 for 12 months, or $39 a month.
- Everything after the INBDE: the CAAPID application program, TOEFL, bench test prep with Dr. Kaur and interview prep with Dr. T. For Canada, our AFK and ADAT courses.
- Extremely personalised: red lines and assignments are given to you on the go, the course learns from how you study, and our faculty assist you. There are no lectures to sit through, so it fits around your classes.
See the full INBDE course blueprint.
What the F-1 route is, and what it is not
Many dentists mainly want a visa. They join a US master’s program, enter on an F-1 student visa, then work on OPT. It is a legal and common path, and many people find jobs afterwards.
Local postgraduate routes, such as MDS through NEET MDS in India or FCPS through the CPSP in Pakistan, remain sound choices. This page is for dentists who have decided to go abroad.
So the smart version of this route uses the master’s years twice: you earn a degree that can get you a job, and you clear the INBDE and build a CAAPID application at the same time. That second part is where The Study Boards comes in.
Which master’s can you join after BDS?
These programs admit dentists on their existing degree. Whether the degree is STEM-designated depends on its CIP code, the six-digit code printed on your Form I-20, not on the program’s name.
| Program type | Typical CIP code | On the DHS STEM list? |
|---|---|---|
| MPH, general public health | 51.2201 | No |
| MPH or MS in epidemiology or biostatistics | 26.1309 / 26.1102 | Yes |
| MS in dental public health, oral biology or dental sciences, coded as dentistry | 51.05xx | No |
| MS in biomedical sciences, oral or cell biology, coded as biology | 26.0102 and other 26.xx codes | Yes |
| MS in clinical research, coded as drug development | 51.2006 | Yes |
| MS in medical or health informatics | 51.2706 | Yes |
| MHA, health administration | 51.0701 | No |
Checked against the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List (last updated 22 July 2024). The whole biology series (26) is designated; within health (51), only specific codes such as 51.1401, 51.2006 and 51.2706 are.2 The same program name can carry different codes at different schools, so ask the school for the CIP code in writing before you pay a deposit.
Public healthThe most common choice after BDS. It leads to jobs in research, data and community health. Pick an epidemiology or biostatistics track if you want STEM OPT.
Oral biology and dental sciencesResearch degrees inside dental schools. UCLA’s MS in Oral Biology, for example, is open to US and foreign dental degree holders, needs 36 units and a thesis, and takes 12 to 15 students a year.3
Clinical researchNYU College of Dentistry runs a 30-credit MS in Clinical Research, one year full time, aimed partly at foreign and US-trained dentists who want to become principal investigators.4
Health administrationFor managing clinics or health systems. Usually not STEM, so expect 12 months of OPT.
Certificate programsSome schools issue an I-20 for a graduate certificate. Check that it does. STEM OPT needs a STEM degree, so a certificate alone will not get you the 24-month extension.5
Dental public health residencyDifferent from a master’s: it is a CODA specialty program you apply to through PASS. Read our dental public health residency guide.
The F-1 route step by step
OPT and STEM OPT for dentists, explained
| Rule | OPT | STEM OPT extension |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Up to 12 months per education level | 24 more months |
| Who qualifies | F-1 students; the job must relate directly to your major | Degree on the DHS STEM list, plus an initial OPT based on that degree |
| Employer | Any employer, related to your field | Must be enrolled in E-Verify |
| When to apply | 90 days before to 60 days after finishing | Up to 90 days before your OPT card expires |
| Unemployment allowed | 90 days | 150 days in total, including OPT days |
Sources: USCIS OPT page and the Study in the States unemployment counter.58 Pre-completion OPT is deducted from the 12 months.
For a dentist, “directly related to your major” matters. An MPH graduate can work as a research coordinator or data analyst in public health. Working chairside as a dentist is not possible without a state licence, whatever your visa.
H-1B basics
65,000 + 20,000The yearly cap is 65,000, with 20,000 more for people holding a US master’s or higher. The job must need at least a bachelor’s degree in a specific field.11
Cap-exempt employersUniversities and their affiliated nonprofits, nonprofit research organizations and government research organizations are not subject to the cap. This is one reason university research is a common first job after a US master’s.11
Weighted by wageIf there are more registrations than visas, USCIS now runs a selection weighted by the offered wage level. The registration fee for the FY 2027 cap was $215.12
The $100,000 paymentA September 2025 proclamation added a $100,000 payment for certain new H-1B petitions. A federal court vacated the guidance on 8 June 2026, and DHS says it will collect the payment if that order is lifted.11 Check the current position with an immigration lawyer.
The H-1B lasts up to 3 years at first and can be extended to 6.11 This page is general information, not legal advice. For your own case, ask your school’s international office or a licensed immigration lawyer.
Cost of an MS or MPH in the USA after BDS
These are real published figures, used only as examples. Every school sets its own price.
| Example | Published figure | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia Mailman School, full-time MPH (4 semesters) | $49,888 tuition for 2026-27, plus about $8,391 in program fees13 | One academic year; living costs extra |
| NYU College of Dentistry, master’s program | $43,668 tuition; $90,984 total cost of attendance for 2026-2714 | Tuition plus living, books and fees |
| Visa and SEVIS | $185 + $35067 | One time, before the interview |
If you then join an Advanced Standing program, that is a second, larger cost. Read is it worth it? The cost of becoming a US dentist before you decide.
Combining the master’s with the INBDE and CAAPID
Pick where you are now. This is how students of The Study Boards fit the pieces together.
Timeline: INBDE and CAAPID timeline.
Check our INBDE eligibility guide, and finish the INBDE before you apply.
The US routes after the INBDE
Advanced Standing / IDP through CAAPIDTwo to three years to a DDS or DMD, applied through ADEA CAAPID. The main route to a full licence. See Advanced Standing programs.
AEGD through PASSA general dentistry residency. Some states give a limited licence after it; the rules vary by state. See the AEGD residency guide.
Specialty residency through PASSStraight into a specialty, which is more competitive. Read CAAPID or PASS.
Teaching and researchFaculty and research roles at dental schools. Your US master’s helps most here.
Advanced Standing costs roughly $250,000 to $450,000 all-in, and almost everyone finances it with loans: private loans, co-signer loans with a US citizen or green-card holder, and a few international lenders who need no co-signer. It is a big number, but financing it is the norm on this route, and a US dentist’s income is what repays it. Some dentists also work in hygiene first; see dental hygienist in the US for foreign-trained dentists.
If you are also considering Canada
Canada’s visa-first route is a study permit, then a Post-Graduation Work Permit, then permanent residence. Licensing runs through the NDEB.
Equivalency ProcessThe AFK, then the ACJ, then the NDECC, then the Virtual OSCE. You do not need Canadian status to apply. Start with our AFK exam guide.
Degree-completion programsTwo to three years to a Canadian DDS or DMD, usually for citizens and permanent residents, with the ADAT. See degree-completion programs.
BTDPC bridgeA new program of about 8 months for dentists who have passed the AFK and ACJ. See the bridge training pathway.
The full picture is in our guide on how to become a dentist in Canada.
How to prepare: our full plan
INBDE Premium BoardsModules, Master Files, 35,000+ questions, test series and nightly 9 PM New York time live tests. $299 / 3 months, $499 / 6 months, $899 / 12 months, or $39 a month.
- 99% first-attempt pass rate for students who complete the course
- Pass Guarantee: full refund of the course and the INBDE registration fee if you meet the benchmark and still do not pass
CAAPID, TOEFL, bench and interviewsOne team for the whole application.
Your F-1 checklist
Frequently asked questions
How to go to the USA after BDS?
Which MS in the USA after BDS is best?
Is an MPH after BDS in the USA STEM?
Can I work as a dentist in the USA after an MS or MPH?
Can I take the INBDE while on an F-1 visa?
INBDE Premium Boards by The Study Boards
Study around your master’s classes with Modules, Master Files and 35,000+ questions, and get your doubts answered by US-licensed dentists.
Not sure if the F-1 route fits you?
Tell The Study Boards your degree, budget and goal. Our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will contact you over WhatsApp.
References
- American Dental Association. Licensure for international dentists. Checked 15 October 2026. ada.org
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List, last updated 22 July 2024. ice.gov
- UCLA School of Dentistry. Master of Science Degree in Oral Biology. dentistry.ucla.edu
- NYU Bulletins. Clinical Research (MS), College of Dentistry. bulletins.nyu.edu
- USCIS. Optional Practical Training (OPT) for F-1 Students, including the STEM OPT extension. uscis.gov
- ICE. I-901 SEVIS Fee. ice.gov
- U.S. Department of State. Student Visa. travel.state.gov
- Study in the States (DHS). Working in the United States and Unemployment Counter. studyinthestates.dhs.gov · counter
- Study in the States (DHS). Final Rule: Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission, Quick Facts; Federal Register, 17 July 2026. studyinthestates.dhs.gov
- Study in the States (DHS). DHS Publishes Proposed Rule Establishing Fees for Optional Practical Training, October 2026. studyinthestates.dhs.gov
- USCIS. H-1B Specialty Occupations. uscis.gov
- USCIS. H-1B Electronic Registration Process. uscis.gov
- Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. Tuition and Fees. publichealth.columbia.edu
- NYU Bulletins. College of Dentistry Cost of Attendance, 2026-2027. bulletins.nyu.edu
Current as of 15 October 2026. *Pass rate refers to students who complete the INBDE Premium Boards course. Program examples are for illustration only; we are not affiliated with any school named. Immigration rules change often. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice: confirm every detail with your school’s international office or a licensed immigration lawyer.