University of Michigan School of Dentistry for International Dentists: The ITDP Guide (2026)
The University of Michigan School of Dentistry runs the Internationally Trained Dentist Program (ITDP), a full-time, 28-month program that ends with a DDS degree. You apply through ADEA CAAPID, pay a $75 fee directly to Michigan, and need a passed INBDE (or NBDE Part I), a TOEFL iBT score and an ECE course-by-course evaluation.13
Michigan takes 20 international dentists a year. About 70 candidates are invited to a Multiple Mini Interview each summer, and candidates may also be asked to sit a bench test on manikins. The ADAT is not required, but applicants who send ADAT scores get priority review.236
How The Study Boards helps you get into the Michigan ITDP
- INBDE and ADAT: a passing INBDE is required and the ADAT earns priority review. Our courses give you faculty-created Modules for every subject, a large bank of focused questions (35,000+ for the INBDE), timed simulation exams, daily tasks and nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time.
- Built around you: The Study Boards courses are extremely personalised. Red lines and assignments are given to you on the go, the course learns from the way you study, and faculty are there to assist you.
- The rest of the file: our TOEFL course, the CAAPID application program, Dr. Kaur’s bench test course and interview prep cover TOEFL 5+, your letters and statement, a possible manikin exam and the MMI.
Questions are answered by US-licensed dentists, not AI. See the INBDE Course Blueprint.
Michigan ITDP at a glance
Taken from the University of Michigan’s own pages and Michigan’s ADEA CAAPID listing, checked in October 2026.
You do not need a green card: Michigan offers admission to US citizens, permanent residents and candidates who need an F-1 visa.6
Requirements in detail
Michigan reviews every application “in a holistic manner”, looking at all parts together. Test scores, letters and the ECE report are accepted only through CAAPID. Anything sent straight to the school is not accepted.23
A passing National Board resultReport a passing result in CAAPID. Michigan accepts the INBDE or the older NBDE Part I (Part II encouraged, not required). Part I scores from the last five years are preferred, but any pass counts. For international candidates the INBDE costs $890 plus a $435 processing fee, $1,325 in total. Our INBDE plan is below.29
ADAT: optional, but it moves you upThe ADAT is “recommended but not required”. ADAT takers get priority review, but everyone who meets the minimums is still reviewed. Choose ADEA CAAPID as a score recipient when you register, and self-report the score too. See our ADAT course blueprint.2
ECE course-by-course, not WESYou need an official ECE course-by-course evaluation of all dental coursework done outside the US and Canada, sent directly to CAAPID. Michigan states it does not accept WES evaluations. The report costs $199. See WES or ECE.38
One dean’s letter, two of your choiceOne letter comes from your dental school’s current dean, or another current administrator who can confirm your enrolment, graduation and good standing. Two come from instructors who can judge your knowledge, skill and character. All must be signed, on letterhead and confidential. Letters under two years old are more competitive; extra letters are not accepted. See our letters guide.2
Dental experienceMichigan expects you to show experience in the dental field. Direct patient care as a licensed dentist is “desirable and strongly recommended”.2
Which TOEFL minimum applies to you?
ETS changed the TOEFL iBT score scale in January 2026, so Michigan now sets two minimums. Pick the date of your test.2
If you are testing now, this is your scale. Aim for 5 or more in all four sections, not just overall.
Old-scale scores count only while they are under two years old.
For both scales: scores must go electronically from ETS to CAAPID before the deadline, the Home Edition is accepted, and MyBest scores are not considered.2 Our TOEFL iBT course for dentists is built on the 2026 format.
Am I ready to apply to Michigan?
Tick each item you have done. Whatever is left is your to-do list before the next CAAPID cycle opens.
Stuck on the CAAPID part? Our CAAPID login and application walkthrough shows every screen.
How Michigan selects ITDP students
Michigan emails you at every stage: your application status, interview invitations and the final decision.3
The application cycle on a timeline
These are Michigan’s dates for the class that starts in January 2027. Michigan has not posted dates for the next cycle yet, so use this pattern to plan and confirm on Michigan’s page.356
For a month-by-month plan from INBDE to interview, read our INBDE and CAAPID timeline.
What the Michigan ITDP costs, and how people pay for it
The U-M Office of Financial Aid publishes a full cost of attendance for ITDP students: four months as a D2, then a full D3 and D4 year. These are 2026-27 rates for an international, out-of-state student.5
| 2026-27 rates | D2 (4 months) | D3 (12 months) | D4 (12 months) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $30,611 | $89,588 | $89,588 |
| Living expenses | $12,752 | $38,256 | $38,256 |
| Books, materials, supplies and equipment | $10,589 | $6,908 | $6,102 |
| Transportation | $200 | $600 | $600 |
| Personal costs, including health insurance | $4,656 | $13,968 | $13,968 |
| Total cost of attendance | $58,808 | $149,320 | $148,514 |
That adds up to $356,642 over 28 months, of which $209,787 is tuition and fees. Tuition is set each June, so later years may cost more.5
Your rough all-in figure
The $1,500 enrolment deposit is not extra: it is applied to your tuition.4 TOEFL and ADAT fees are not included.
Note that your first semester (January to April) is its own loan period, and a private loan can take up to eight weeks to process.5 To weigh the cost against the income, read is becoming a US dentist worth it?
How to prepare: our full plan for Michigan
Six things decide a Michigan application. Here is the plan The Study Boards uses for each one.
Pass the INBDE first timeNo passing board result, no review. Our INBDE Premium Boards course has 12 sections, 35,000+ questions and nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time. 99% of students who complete the course pass on their first attempt.10
- 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 (about $1,000).
- Your questions are answered by US-licensed dentists, not AI.
Earn priority review with the ADATMichigan reviews ADAT takers first. Our ADAT Premium Boards course has 13 sections, including full 4.5-hour simulation exams, and the same nightly 9 PM New York live tests. Six months of access is $499.
- The ADAT has no pass mark, so a strong score is what counts.
Build an application that gets readMaster the CAAPID Application covers your personal statement, a review of all three letters, your CV, a strategy session with Dr. T and three mock interviews. A five-faculty bench reviews every document. 300+ dentists placed, limited to 40 students per cycle.
- We check your dean’s letter and two letters of choice against Michigan’s rules.
Get your hands ready for Ann ArborOur bench test course with Dr. Kaur runs seven live days online, one preparation at a time, then a practice week with unlimited evaluations. It covers Class II amalgam, PFM and other crown preparations, a bridge, and Class II and III composite preparations.
- That covers every preparation students have reported from Michigan.
Practise for the Multiple Mini InterviewOur 3-session interview program with Dr. Slesnick and Dr. T starts with behavioural and MMI groundwork, including timed MMI-style scenarios and ethics questions.
- Two sessions before your invitation, one debrief after your first real interview.
Reach 5 or more in every sectionMichigan calls 5+ in all sections competitive. Our TOEFL iBT course for dentists is a 45-day, mentor-reviewed program for the January 2026 format, including the new Listen and Repeat and Interview speaking tasks. $499.
- Test early so your scores reach CAAPID well before 30 May.
Other routes if Michigan is not the right fit
Michigan has 20 places a year. Passing the INBDE opens four routes, and many dentists apply to more than one at once.
Advanced Standing at another schoolTwo to three years to a DDS or DMD, all through ADEA CAAPID. Each school sets its own rules on bench tests, TOEFL and evaluators. Compare them in our Advanced Standing programs guide and full list of US dental schools, then shortlist with the CAAPID directory method.
AEGD through ADEA PASSAn Advanced Education in General Dentistry program. Some states give a limited licence after an AEGD, but the rules vary by state, so check the state where you want to work. See AEGD programs for international dentists.
A residency directly through PASSSome dentists apply straight to a residency such as orthodontics or endodontics. It is more competitive for international applicants. Start with CAAPID or PASS: how to pick.
TeachingSome international dentists join a US dental school as faculty or in an academic role. Each school and state sets its own requirements, so ask the school directly.
Frequently asked questions
Does the University of Michigan School of Dentistry accept international dentists?
Is the ADAT required for the Michigan ITDP?
Does Michigan have a bench test for international dentists?
What TOEFL score does University of Michigan dentistry need?
How much does the Michigan ITDP cost?
Can I practise outside Michigan after the ITDP?
Planning to apply to Michigan?
Our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will contact you over WhatsApp. We will help you plan your INBDE, ADAT, TOEFL, CAAPID, bench test and interview steps around Michigan’s dates.
References
- University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Internationally Trained Dentist Program (ITDP): 28 months, DDS, CODA accreditation, licensure disclosure. dent.umich.edu (checked 14 October 2026)
- University of Michigan School of Dentistry. ITDP Requirements: National Boards, ADAT, TOEFL, dental experience, letters, $75 fee. dent.umich.edu (checked 14 October 2026)
- University of Michigan School of Dentistry. ITDP How to Apply: 2026 dates, ECE, no WES, interviews, MMI, bench test. dent.umich.edu (checked 14 October 2026)
- University of Michigan School of Dentistry. ITDP Admitted Students: deposit, background check, documents. dent.umich.edu (checked 14 October 2026)
- University of Michigan Office of Financial Aid. Internationally Trained Dentist Program: 2026-2027 cost of attendance, loans, deadlines. finaid.umich.edu (checked 14 October 2026)
- ADEA CAAPID. University of Michigan School of Dentistry program listing (updated 9 February 2026): size, dates, bench test, citizenship, program structure. programs.adea.org (checked 14 October 2026)
- ADEA. ADEA CAAPID: Prepare to Apply, 2026-27 fees. adea.org (checked 14 October 2026)
- Educational Credential Evaluators. Services and Fees: Course by Course $199. ece.org (checked 14 October 2026)
- JCNDE. INBDE 2026 Candidate Guide: $890 fee plus $435 non-CODA processing fee. jcnde.ada.org
- The Study Boards: INBDE Premium Boards course blueprint and first-attempt results of students who complete the course. parmjitllc.com
- The Study Boards: CAAPID Bench Test Exercises by School (student-reported, not official). parmjitllc.com
Current as of 14 October 2026. Program details, dates and costs come from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, the U-M Office of Financial Aid and ADEA CAAPID. The all-in figure is our estimate built from Michigan’s published numbers. Program contact: [email protected]. Confirm everything on Michigan’s site before you apply. This guide is independent and is not endorsed by the University of Michigan.