University of Washington International DDS Program (UWIDDS) for International Dentists (2026 Guide)

  • Dr. T
  • October 16, 2026
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School guide · University of Washington School of Dentistry · Updated October 2026

University of Washington International DDS Program (UWIDDS) for International Dentists (2026 Guide)

The University of Washington School of Dentistry in Seattle runs the International Dentist DDS Program (UWIDDS), a full-time, 30-month Advanced Standing program of 10 quarters that ends with a US DDS degree. You apply only through ADEA CAAPID; the 2026 window ran from March 5 to June 1, 2026, for classes starting in January 2027.126

Who this guide is for: Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Nepali dentists (BDS), and other internationally trained dentists aiming for a US DDS or DMD through the INBDE and CAAPID.

30months (10 quarters), DDS degree
About 20places a year (ADEA estimate)
3 daysinterview and hands-on skills session
$375,450UW’s projected total, incl. Seattle living

At a glanceWhat UW wantsRequirementsSelection and timelineAm I ready?Cost and loansHow to prepareOther routesFAQ

How The Study Boards helps you get into the University of Washington

  • INBDE: UW will not send your file for review until your INBDE (or NBDE) results are in CAAPID. The Study Boards INBDE course gives you faculty-written Modules and Master Files, 35,000+ questions, the Master and Grand Test Series and nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time, with a 99% first-attempt pass rate for students who complete the course.
  • Personalised to you: our courses are extremely personalised. The course learns from the way you study, red lines and assignments are given to you on the go, and faculty assist you whenever you are stuck.
  • TOEFL: UW strongly recommends 5.00 (100 on the old scale) and does not accept the Home Edition or MyBest scores. Our TOEFL course for dentists prepares you for a test-centre sitting.
  • Your CAAPID file: our CAAPID application program builds your personal statement and CV with you, guides your letters, and helps you pick a realistic school list.
  • Bench test: UW tests restorative, endodontic and fixed prosthodontic procedures on manikins, graded blindly. Our bench test preparation with Dr. Kaur covers these preparations with faculty critique.
  • Interview: UW interviews you with selected faculty during a three-day session and adds a written case-based exam. Interview preparation with Dr. T helps you reason through cases out loud.
The facts in one place

UWIDDS at a glance

From UW’s own pages, its IDDS FAQ and the ADEA CAAPID listing, checked in October 2026.

International Dentist DDS Program (UWIDDS), Seattle
DegreeDDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery)1
Length10 quarters, about 30 months, full-time and daily17
Start dateJanuary 2027 (ADEA lists January 4); orientation in December67
Class sizeAbout 20 (ADEA estimate); UW says a small number71
How to applyADEA CAAPID only, plus a $185 UW fee; no supplemental application26
Last deadlineJune 1, 2026; opened March 56
INBDEPass required, or NBDE Parts I and II; older results accepted26
English testTOEFL iBT 5.00 (100 old scale) strongly recommended; no Home Edition, no MyBest2
Credential evaluationECE or WES course-by-course2
Bench testYes: restorative, endodontic and fixed prosthodontic work on manikins, plus a written case exam3
InterviewIn person, with selected faculty, inside a three-day session3
Program costs and fees$277,930 across 10 quarters (projected)4
Total estimated cost$375,450 with Seattle living costs and the deposit4
Aid for international studentsNo federal aid on nonresident visas; no IDDS scholarships46

How the program works

You start in the winter quarter after you apply and train full time, every day. You are folded into the standard DDS program’s clerkship model, with classroom lectures and direct patient care. When you finish, you can take state or regional board exams for licensure in the US.17

Quarters 1 and 2Start in winter, first half-year
Quarters 3 to 6Full year in the clerkship model
Quarters 7 to 10Final year, patient care

What the school looks for

What the University of Washington focuses on

UW puts more weight than most schools on what your hands can do, and it says so plainly. These points come from UW’s own pages.

Hands

A three-day skills testRestorative, endodontic and fixed prosthodontic procedures on manikins and plastic teeth, graded blindly like UW’s own courses. The grade is part of the basis for acceptance.3

Cases

Clinical reasoningThe skills session includes a written case-based exam alongside the hands-on work.3

Letters

Academic, clinical, characterUW wants one letter on your academic ability, one on your clinical skills and one on your character. Letters should name your strongest and weakest points and your class rank where possible.62

Recent work

Recent clinical contactAt least one letter must come from a dental professional who has worked with you in the last 12 months.2

Service

Service to those in needUW students run free clinics across Washington. Its outreach director says it is the school’s duty and privilege to serve those who need it most.8

Detail

Follow the rules exactlyUW’s own CV template is mandatory, and incomplete applications are not reviewed.26

Our advice

So in your CAAPID essays and interview, show this

  • Current hands-on skill: restorative, endodontic and crown work you have done recently, in numbers. UW tests exactly these.
  • How you think through a case: diagnosis, options, why you chose one. UW pairs the bench with a written case exam.
  • Free or community care you have given. UW’s students and faculty run free clinics across the state.
  • Ask your letter writers to cover academic ability, clinical skill and character separately, and to mention your class rank.
  • A clean, complete file on UW’s CV template, submitted early in the window.

This is our advice, built on what the school publishes above. The school does not publish a scoring rubric.

What UW asks for

Requirements in detail

UW reviews only complete applications. Every item below must be in CAAPID before the deadline.6

A full dental degreeOnly applicants with a dental degree (BDS, DDS, DMD, Odontology, Stomatology) can apply. Provisional degrees are not accepted. Upload a copy, translated if needed; a notarized copy of the original is required if you are selected.62

A passing INBDE resultPass the INBDE or NBDE Parts I and II, sent through CAAPID. UW accepts results more than five years old, but will not forward your file until they are uploaded.26 The INBDE costs $1,325 for internationally trained dentists as of October 2026.10 Plan it with our INBDE and CAAPID timeline.

TOEFL iBT, taken at a test centreRequired for everyone whose dental degree is from outside the US, including US citizens, with no waivers. For tests on or after January 21, 2026, UW strongly recommends 5.00 or more (100 before that). No Home Edition, no MyBest, and the test must be under two years old.26

ECE or WES course-by-course evaluationOf every institution you attended, uploaded directly to CAAPID by the agency.2 See WES or ECE: which do you need.

Three letters, through CAAPID onlyIn English, on letterhead, signed and written within 12 months. They may come from a dean, associate dean, department chair or faculty member, and at least one from a dental professional who worked with you in the last 12 months. UW will not accept a fourth letter.26 Our letters guide explains how to ask.

UW’s CV template and the $185 feeYou must use UW’s own CV template. Pay the non-refundable $185 fee online when UW emails you, then email the receipt with your name and CAAPID ID to [email protected].26

Not a US citizen or green-card holder?You can apply. UW does not consider visa status during admissions, but you must be able to study legally in the US if accepted. Students on a visa must show funds for the full program cost before matriculation.6

From CAAPID to your first day

Selection steps and the application timeline

This is UW’s own timeline for the 2026 cycle. Next cycle dates are not posted yet.6

March 5, 2026CAAPID opensApply as early as possible. Follow our CAAPID walkthrough.6
April 2026File reviews beginAllow 4 weeks after CAAPID releases your complete file for UW’s status email.6
May to June 2026Interview invitationsPay the non-refundable skills testing fee and arrange travel.63
June 1, 2026DeadlineIncomplete files are not reviewed.6
June to August 2026Interviews, then the bench examinationA three-day session: orientation, faculty interviews, manikin procedures and a written case exam.63
August 2026DecisionsAccepted students pay a non-refundable $5,000 deposit that does not count towards tuition.65
December 2026Mandatory orientationThen classes start in January 2027.6

The skills grade countsUW grades your bench work blindly and uses it as part of the decision. Practise class II restorations, access openings and crown preparations under time, and read our guides to how bench tests are graded and exercises by school.

Self-check

Am I ready to apply to UW?

Tick what is already done. Anything unticked is your list before the next CAAPID window.

UW’s own projections

Cost and financing

UW projects costs by stage of the program. Tap a stage. Figures are estimates and are reviewed every year.4

Program costs and fees$55,586
Non-refundable deposit$5,000
Cost of living (Seattle)$19,096
Total estimated$79,682

Program costs and fees$111,172
Cost of living (Seattle)$36,712
Total estimated$147,884

Program costs and fees$111,172
Cost of living (Seattle)$36,712
Total estimated$147,884

Program costs and fees$277,930
Deposit$5,000
Cost of living$92,520
Total estimated$375,450

Our sum of UW’s three stages. You must pay all annual program costs and fees to stay enrolled.

Before you are accepted, budget for the INBDE ($1,325), the CAAPID fee ($264 for your first program, $115 for each extra one), your credential report, the $185 UW fee, the skills testing fee and the trip to Seattle.1092

How international dentists pay for it

Advanced Standing usually costs roughly $250,000 to $450,000 all-in. Almost everyone finances it with loans, so do not let the number stop you.

UW is direct about this: financial aid is only for US citizens, permanent residents and eligible non-citizens, and the School of Dentistry has no scholarship program for incoming IDDS students. Visa holders must show a bank letter covering the whole program.

Across the US, the common routes are private education loans, co-signer loans with a US citizen or green-card holder, and a few international lenders that need no co-signer. Read is becoming a US dentist worth it and the cost to apply to US dental schools for the full picture.

We prepare you for each step

How to prepare: our full plan

UW judges your INBDE, TOEFL, written file, a faculty interview and a demanding skills test. Here is how The Study Boards prepares you for each part.

INBDE

INBDE Premium BoardsUW will not review your file until the result is in:

  • Faculty-written Modules and Master Files for every subject
  • 35,000+ focused questions, answered by US-licensed dentists, not AI
  • Master and Grand Test Series, plus nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time
  • 99% first-attempt pass rate for students who complete the course
  • $299 for 3 months, $499 for 6 months, $899 for 12 months, or $39 a month

See the INBDE Course Blueprint

CAAPID

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

  • Personal statement, letters and CV, reviewed by our faculty
  • Profile and school-list strategy with Dr. T
  • Mock interview sessions included

See the CAAPID Program

Hands

Bench test preparation with Dr. KaurUW tests restorative, endodontic and fixed prosthodontic work:

  • Video sessions with Dr. Kaur, 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. TFor UW’s faculty interviews and case-based exam:

See Interview Preparation

TOEFL

TOEFL iBT course for dentistsUW strongly recommends 5.00 at a test centre:

  • 45 days, mentor-reviewed, built on the 2026 TOEFL format
  • Reading, listening, writing and speaking practice for the new task types

See the TOEFL Course

Call

Not sure where you stand?Share your INBDE status, TOEFL score and years of practice, and we will tell you honestly whether the University of Washington belongs on your next CAAPID list.

Book a 10-minute call with Dr. T

Keep your options open

Other routes if UW is not the right fit

About 20 places a year, and a skills grade that counts, so most dentists apply to several programs.

DDS/DMD

Advanced Standing elsewhereOther US schools run 2 to 3 year Advanced Standing 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 NDEB AFK route is the first exam on that path, and many of our students prepare for the INBDE and the AFK together.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Can an Indian BDS graduate apply to the University of Washington’s Advanced Standing program?
Yes. UW lists the BDS among the dental degrees it accepts, as long as it is not provisional. You need a passed INBDE, a TOEFL taken at a test centre, an ECE or WES report, three letters and UW’s CV template.
Do Pakistani dentists need the INBDE for the University of Washington?
Yes. Every applicant needs a pass on the INBDE or NBDE Parts I and II, and UW will not review the file until the results are in CAAPID. Results older than five years are accepted.
Does UW have a bench test for international dentists?
Yes. Invited applicants attend a three-day session with faculty interviews, restorative, endodontic and fixed prosthodontic procedures on manikins, and a written case-based exam. The bench work is graded blindly.
Does UW accept the TOEFL Home Edition?
No. UW does not accept the Home Edition or MyBest scores, and no one is exempt.
Can international students get loans for UW’s IDDS program?
Not federal aid: UW gives aid only to US citizens, permanent residents and eligible non-citizens, and has no IDDS scholarships. Most international students use private loans.
How can The Study Boards help me get into UW?
We prepare you for the INBDE, the TOEFL, your CAAPID file, the skills test with Dr. Kaur and the faculty interview with Dr. T, with a plan that adapts to how you study.
Your UW application starts with the INBDE

INBDE Premium Boards by The Study Boards

Modules, Master Files, Grand Tests and nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time, with US-licensed dentists answering your questions. Finish the course on time, score 60% or more on every test and still do not pass? The Pass Guarantee refunds the course and your exam registration fee.

35,000+ questions99% first-attempt pass ratePass Guarantee

See the Blueprint

US Dental Schools for International DentistsEvery Advanced Standing program, side by side.How the Dental Bench Test Is GradedWhat blind graders look for.

Planning to apply to the University of Washington?

Message us on WhatsApp. Our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will contact you over WhatsApp and help you plan your INBDE, TOEFL, bench practice and CAAPID around the next cycle.

Message the Admin Team on WhatsApp

References

  1. University of Washington School of Dentistry. International DDS Program (UWIDDS): overview, 10 quarters, winter start. dental.washington.edu
  2. UW School of Dentistry. IDDS Application Phase: dates, $185 fee, TOEFL, ECE or WES, letters, CV template. dental.washington.edu
  3. UW School of Dentistry. IDDS Interview/Skills Testing Phase. dental.washington.edu
  4. UW School of Dentistry. IDDS Projected Costs, Fees, Financial Aid and Deadlines. dental.washington.edu
  5. UW School of Dentistry. IDDS Acceptance/Notification Phase: $5,000 deposit. dental.washington.edu
  6. UW School of Dentistry. IDDS Admissions FAQ (revised February 2026). dental.washington.edu
  7. ADEA CAAPID. University of Washington School of Dentistry program listing (updated February 9, 2026). programs.adea.org
  8. UW News. UW School of Dentistry shows its commitment to service through free clinics across Washington state, September 15, 2025. washington.edu
  9. ADEA. ADEA CAAPID: Prepare to Apply, 2026-27 application fees. adea.org
  10. 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 the University of Washington School of Dentistry and ADEA CAAPID; costs are projections and change. Confirm everything with UWIDDS ([email protected]) before you apply. The Study Boards is not affiliated with the University of Washington.

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