UNLV Dental School for International Dentists: The 2-Year Advanced Standing DDS (2026 Guide)
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Dental Medicine runs a 24-month, six-semester Advanced Standing DDS program for dentists from non-CODA dental schools, and it accepts F-1 visa-eligible applicants as well as US citizens and permanent residents. You apply through ADEA CAAPID plus a UNLV supplemental application; the last deadline was June 1, 2026, for a May 3, 2027 start, and you need an INBDE pass from the past five years.
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 ADEA CAAPID, whether you live in the US or plan to come on a student visa.
How The Study Boards helps you get into UNLV
- INBDE first: our INBDE Premium Boards course gives you 35,000+ questions, faculty-written Modules and Master Files, full test series, nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time, and a 99% first-attempt pass rate for students who complete the course. UNLV also sets a case-based written exam, and the same clinical reasoning carries over.
- Personalised to you: the course is extremely personalised. It learns from the way you study, red lines and assignments are given to you on the go, and faculty are there to assist you.
- Dexterity test with Dr. Kaur: UNLV ranks you on combined marks, and the dexterity test is one third of them. Our bench test preparation with Dr. Kaur prepares you for it.
- Three panel interviews with Dr. T: interview preparation with Dr. T for three faculty panels in one visit.
- File and English: our CAAPID application program (essays, school list) and our TOEFL course for UNLV’s 98.
UNLV Advanced Standing DDS at a glance
From UNLV’s own pages and the ADEA CAAPID listing, checked in October 2026.
What the 24 months look like
The program trains you across general dentistry, endodontics, pediatric dentistry and oral surgery, with community outreach built in. You graduate when you have met the didactic and clinical requirements, and then sit a regional licensing exam.1
What UNLV focuses on, and what that means for you
These points come from UNLV’s program pages, its mission and goals, and its admission process. The advice under them is ours.
Selection is by combined marksUNLV selects its class on the highest combined marks from the interviews, the written exam and the dexterity test.3 Every part counts; one weak part pulls the total down.
Clinical reasoning on paperA one-hour case-based written exam sits inside the visit.3 The program’s goals stress self-assessment, critical thinking and problem-solving in comprehensive patient care.1
Care for Nevadans, including the underservedUNLV’s mission is to enhance the health of Nevadans through teaching, clinical care, research and service.6 The school says its work centres on care for underserved populations, with about 70,000 patient visits a year.8
Communication and cultural awarenessOne of UNLV’s goals is a humanistic environment where individual differences, cultural awareness and communication are valued.6
A letter from a US dentistOne of your three letters must come from a practising dentist or specialist you worked with or shadowed in the US.2
Recent examsYour board pass must be from the past five years and your TOEFL from the past two.2
- In your one-page personal statement, show how you think through a case: what you saw, what you weighed, what you did and what you would change. That is the skill the written exam and panels test.
- Write about serving people who struggle to get care, with real places and hours, and connect it to Nevada’s patients.
- Show you can work across cultures and explain treatment simply. Practise answering the same question three ways, because you will face three panels.
- Get your US shadowing done early, so the dentist who writes your letter knows your work well.
Requirements in detail
Late or incomplete applications are not reviewed. Review starts only when both your CAAPID and UNLV applications are complete.3
Selection steps and the application timeline
This is how the 2026 cycle ran. UNLV has not posted next cycle’s dates yet.
Am I ready to apply to UNLV?
Tick what is done. What is left is your to-do list before the next CAAPID window, and The Study Boards can help you plan it.
Cost and financing
UNLV charges one rate to in-state and out-of-state graduates of non-US dental schools. Tap to see the breakdown.4
UNLV’s tuition page does not state the academic year of these rates, and a laptop to set specifications is also required. Confirm current figures with the school.
Our arithmetic from UNLV’s per-semester rate, before living costs, instruments and a laptop.
Our arithmetic from UNLV’s per-semester figures. Living costs in Las Vegas for 24 months come on top, so plan with the school’s financial aid office.
Add your TOEFL and ECE report.3910 See what it costs to apply to US dental schools.
How you pay for it
Advanced Standing usually costs roughly $250,000 to $450,000 all-in. UNLV’s tuition and fees come to about $203,000, and the 24-month length means fewer months of rent to cover. Almost everyone finances it with loans, so do not let the number stop you.
UNLV says international students are not eligible for federal funding but may use private educational loans and institutional funds.7 Green-card holders are eligible for federal student aid; F-1 students are not.11 Across the US, the common routes are private 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 for the full picture.
How to prepare: our full plan
UNLV scores your interviews, written exam and dexterity test together. Here is how The Study Boards prepares you for each part, and for the INBDE that gets you in the door.
INBDE Premium BoardsThe pass UNLV requires, and case-based thinking for the written exam:
- 35,000+ questions, faculty-written Modules, Master Files and Grand Tests
- Nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time, questions answered by US-licensed dentists
- 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
Bench test preparation with Dr. KaurFor UNLV’s dexterity test:
- 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
Interview preparation with Dr. TFor three faculty panels:
- One-on-one practice with Dr. T
- Or the 3-session program with Dr. Slesnick and Dr. T
Master the CAAPID ApplicationYour one-page statement, CV, letters and school list:
- Personal statement reviewed by our faculty
- School-selection strategy with Dr. T
TOEFL iBT course for dentistsFor UNLV’s 98:
- 45 days, mentor-reviewed, built on the 2026 TOEFL format
Not sure where you stand?Share your INBDE status, TOEFL score and visa situation, and we will tell you honestly whether to aim for UNLV next cycle.
Other routes if UNLV is not the right fit
A class of eight to twelve is small, so most dentists apply to several programs.
Advanced Standing elsewhereOther US schools run 2 to 3 year 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 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.
Residency directlySpecialty residencies through ADEA PASS. This is more competitive for internationally trained dentists. Read CAAPID or PASS.
TeachingSome dentists start in teaching and research roles at dental schools while they plan their next step.
If you are also weighing Canada, the AFK route through the NDEB is the first exam there, and much of your INBDE study carries over.
Frequently asked questions
Can an Indian BDS graduate apply to UNLV’s Advanced Standing program?
Do Pakistani dentists need the INBDE for UNLV?
How long is the UNLV Advanced Standing DDS?
What happens in the UNLV bench test and interview?
Does UNLV accept WES?
How much does UNLV Advanced Standing cost?
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 TSB test and still do not pass? The Pass Guarantee refunds the course and your exam registration fee.
Planning to apply to UNLV?
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 and bench preparation around the next cycle.
References
- UNLV School of Dental Medicine. Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program: 24-month advanced standing, learning goals, licensure. unlv.edu
- UNLV School of Dental Medicine. DDS Application Requirements. unlv.edu
- UNLV School of Dental Medicine. DDS Application Process: supplemental fee, Phase II testing, selection, acceptance. unlv.edu
- UNLV School of Dental Medicine. DDS Tuition. unlv.edu
- ADEA CAAPID. University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine program listing (updated May 28, 2026). programs.adea.org
- UNLV School of Dental Medicine. Mission, Vision and Goals. unlv.edu
- UNLV School of Dental Medicine. Financial Aid. unlv.edu
- UNLV School of Dental Medicine. Support the School: underserved care, patient visits. unlv.edu
- ADEA. ADEA CAAPID: Prepare to Apply, 2026-27 application fees. adea.org
- Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. INBDE 2026 Candidate Guide: fees. jcnde.ada.org
- Federal Student Aid. Eligibility for Non-U.S. Citizens. studentaid.gov
Current as of October 2026. Program details, dates and costs are from the UNLV School of Dental Medicine and ADEA CAAPID; costs are subject to change. Confirm everything with DDS Admissions ([email protected]) before you apply. The Study Boards is not affiliated with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.