Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC: The ASPID Program for International Dentists

  • Dr. T
  • October 14, 2026
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USC ASPID · Updated October 2026

Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC: The ASPID Program for International Dentists

The Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC runs the Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists (ASPID), a 24-month program that awards a US DDS degree. You apply through ADEA CAAPID, pay a $150 USC processing fee, and, if invited, come to the Los Angeles campus for an interview that includes a hands-on bench exam. This guide covers every requirement, the selection steps, the 2026-27 cost of attendance and how to get ready for each stage.

24 monthsprogram length, DDS awarded
34seats in the class
$186,945Year 1 cost of attendance, 2026-27
July 31CAAPID deadline in the 2026 cycle

At a glanceRequirementsAm I ready?SelectionTimelineCostHow to prepareOther routesFAQ
Your USC plan

How The Study Boards helps you get into USC

  • INBDE passed before you apply: USC will not consider you without it, so our INBDE Premium Boards course gets you there first, with faculty-written Modules, 35,000+ questions, nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time and a Pass Guarantee.
  • Built around you: the course is extremely personalised. It learns from the way you are studying, red lines and assignments are given to you on the go, and faculty are there to assist you.
  • The bench exam: the Bench Test Course with Dr. Kaur, plus a USC add-on for the onlay, trains the preparations USC sets on campus.
  • File, interview and TOEFL: our CAAPID program, interview prep with Dr. T and our TOEFL course for dentists cover the rest of what USC judges.
The facts in one place

USC ASPID at a glance

Every line below comes from USC’s own pages or the school’s ADEA CAAPID listing, checked in October 2026.

ProgramAdvanced Standing Program for International Dentists (ASPID)Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, Los Angeles, California1
Degree and lengthDDS in 24 monthsTypically two years; USC says some students may need more time23
Start dateMay 3, 2027For students admitted in the 2026 CAAPID cycle3
Class size34 studentsClass of 2028: 20 countries, average age 371
How to applyADEA CAAPID, plus a $150 USC feeNo supplemental application. Open to non-US citizens13
DeadlineJuly 312026 cycle: opened March 5, closed July 31, 20263
National BoardsINBDE passed before you applyOr NBDE Part I and Part II13
EnglishTOEFL iBT, 5 or higher preferredNew 1-6 scale; lower scores considered. Legacy score 100+ preferred. No Home Edition, no MyBest1
Credential evaluationECE or WESIERF “Certification of Studies” only after acceptance3
Bench testYes, on campusFixed prosthodontics and operative dentistry; may include a written exam1
InterviewOn campus, by invitation onlyIncludes the bench test and a group interview evaluation3
LettersThreeYour dental school dean, a faculty member, and a dentist you worked with1
Tuition, 2026-27$128,547 per yearTotal cost of attendance $186,945 (Year 1) and $176,008 (Year 2)4
LoansNot through USC or US banks, usuallyUSC says foreign students are typically ineligible; you must prove first-year funds3

What USC asks for

Requirements in detail

USC keeps its list short, but each item has a detail that catches applicants out.

Degree

A foreign dental degree

A BDS, DDS, DMD or equivalent from outside the US.1 Students in the program already have experience working as dentists in their own countries.2

INBDE

Passed, not just booked

USC requires a pass on the INBDE (or NBDE Parts I and II) to be eligible to apply.3 Plan your exam date so the result is in before you submit. Our INBDE Premium Boards course is built for exactly this timeline.

TOEFL

TOEFL iBT, self-reported

A score of 5 or higher on the new 1-6 scale is preferred, and lower scores are still considered. For tests taken before January 2026, 100 or higher is preferred. USC does not accept TOEFL Home Edition or MyBest scores. You enter your scores in CAAPID and send official reports only if USC asks.1 Need a stronger score? See our TOEFL course for dentists.

Letters

Three specific letters

One from the dean of your dental school, one from a dental school faculty member or clinical instructor, and one from a dentist you have worked with. USC strongly recommends letters written within the past two years.1

ECE / WES

Credential evaluation

The CAAPID listing names ECE or WES for your dental transcripts.3 Not sure which to order? Read WES or ECE: which one you need.

CV

CV and extras

A CV is required. The GRE and ADAT are not required, but USC considers them. If you hold a US master’s degree or higher, send those transcripts to the program contact.3

After you are acceptedOffers are conditional on official transcripts, TOEFL and National Board scores. Only accepted students complete an IERF “Certification of Studies” evaluation. Non-US citizens then need a student visa: USC issues the I-20 once you show a notarized, bank-verified statement of funds for your first year, which the CAAPID listing puts at about $95,000.13 Bringing family? USC’s admission page asks for an extra $13,403 for a spouse and $6,701 per dependent.1

Check yourself

Am I ready to apply to USC?

Tick each item you already have. The counter shows how close you are.

Your readiness

Missing the INBDE? Start there, because USC will not consider you without it. Missing letters, CV or statement? Our Master the CAAPID Application program builds them with you.

From application to offer

How USC selects ASPID students

Five steps, in the order USC lists them.13

Submit your ADEA CAAPID application by July 31All applications go through CAAPID. USC has no supplemental application, and it does not want extra documents sent directly, apart from GRE scores and US graduate transcripts. Our CAAPID login and application walkthrough takes you through every screen.
Pay the $150 USC processing feeAfter you submit CAAPID, USC emails a confirmation with payment instructions. The fee is non-refundable and is paid through USC’s online portal.
Get an invitation to campusCompetitive applicants are invited to an onsite interview. There is no interview without an invitation.
Interview and bench test in Los AngelesUSC uses the visit to judge your methods, skills and artistic ability through a practical exam in fixed prosthodontics and operative dentistry, which may include a written exam. The visit also includes a group interview evaluation session, and USC assesses your interpersonal skills, critical thinking and English communication.
Offer, then visa and health requirementsOffers are conditional. You complete the IERF evaluation, send proof of funds for the I-20, apply for your student visa, and meet USC’s health requirements.
The bench test is where most applicants are least preparedUSC does not publish the exact exercises. Candidates who have sat it report three tasks, and one of them is a preparation most bench courses never teach. We cover each task, how it is judged, how the two-day visit runs and the kit to practise on in our USC ASPID bench exam guide. New to bench tests? Start with what the dental bench test is and how schools evaluate it.

What the two years look like

The program opens with an intensive summer introduction to US dentistry. You spend about eight months on fundamental, technical and academic procedures, then join third-year DDS students in the school’s clinics for the rest of the program.2 Students in USC’s clinics collectively care for some 12,000 patients, and the school’s community programs serve more than 17,500 low-income people each year.2 The DDS does not license you by itself, but graduates can sit the clinical licensing exam in any US state.2

Plan your year

The USC ASPID application timeline

The 2026 cycle has closed. Use it as the pattern, then plan the next one.

March 5, 2026CAAPID opens for USCApplicants can start submitting.3
July 31, 2026Application deadlineCAAPID must be complete. The $150 USC fee follows the confirmation email.13
After the deadlineCampus invitationsBy invitation only. USC does not publish interview dates; your invitation gives them.
After the interviewConditional offersThen IERF, proof of funds, I-20, visa and health documents.3
May 3, 2027Program startsThe summer introduction to US dentistry.3
About 24 months laterDDS awardedThen the clinical licensing exam in the state you choose.2

FirstPass the INBDEIt is an eligibility requirement, so it comes before everything else. Our INBDE course is built to get you there in 3 to 4 months of steady work.
AlongsideTake TOEFL iBT and order ECE or WESBoth take time to arrive. Sit the TOEFL at a centre, not at home.
NextRequest your three lettersDean, faculty member, and a dentist you worked with. Give each one plenty of notice.
Before CAAPID opensWrite your personal statement and CVHave them reviewed before the cycle opens, so you can submit early.
When the cycle opensSubmit CAAPID and pay the USC feeUSC has not yet posted its next-cycle dates. Check the ADEA CAAPID program finder.
Before invitations arriveTrain for the bench test and interviewBench skills take weeks of repetition; do not wait for the invitation to start.

For the full year-by-year picture across schools, read our INBDE and CAAPID timeline for international dentists.

USC dentistry tuition

What USC ASPID costs, and how people pay for it

USC’s official 2026-27 estimated cost of attendance for ASPID, from the university’s financial aid office.4

Year 1 (summer, fall, spring)$186,945
Tuition $128,547
Fees
Living
Year 2 (summer, fall, spring)$176,008
Tuition $128,547
Fees
Living
TuitionFees, health, instruments, booksHousing, food, transport, personal

Year 1 line by line

Tuition$128,547
Housing and dining$26,462
Books and equipment$11,983
Instrument management system fee$6,042
Health insurance$3,787
Transportation$3,554
Personal$3,496
Student health center$1,850
Smaller fees (scrubs, gown, orientation, membership and others)$1,223
USC estimate, Year 1$186,945

The full picture

Year 1 cost of attendance$186,945
Year 2 cost of attendance$176,008
Two years at 2026-27 rates$362,953

Getting to the offer costs extra: the ADEA CAAPID fee is $264 for your first program and $115 for each additional one, USC adds $150, and the INBDE costs $1,325 for international candidates.516 These are 2026-27 estimates, so check the current year’s figures before you budget, and allow for extra cost if you need more than two years.

How international dentists pay for itUSC accepts only candidates who can fund their studies, and says foreign students are typically ineligible for aid through the university or US banks.3 That is normal for international dentists, and most still finance the degree with loans. The usual routes are private education loans, loans with a co-signer who is a US citizen or green-card holder, and a few international lenders that need no co-signer at all, often combined with family funds. Across US programs, the all-in cost of becoming a US dentist usually lands between about $250,000 and $450,000, and USC sits in that range. Sort out your funding plan before invitations go out, because the I-20 needs proof of first-year funds. Our breakdown of whether becoming a US dentist is worth it walks through the numbers.

How to prepare: our full plan

How to prepare for every USC stage

Each stage of the USC process has its own plan at The Study Boards. US-licensed dentists answer your questions, not AI.

INBDE

Pass the INBDE first

INBDE Premium Boards: 12 sequenced course sections, 35,000+ focused questions, 8-hour Grand Tests and a nightly live test at 9 PM New York time. 99% of students who complete the course pass on their first attempt, and the Pass Guarantee refunds your course fee and your INBDE registration fee (about $1,000) if you finish on time with no overdue days, score 60%+ on every TSB test and still do not pass.7

See the INBDE Blueprint

CAAPID

Build the application

Master the CAAPID Application: your personal statement, a review of all three letters, your CV with Dr. Kaur, a profile and school strategy session with Dr. T, and three mock interviews. $1,800 for one application cycle, limited to 40 students.

See the CAAPID Program

Bench

Train for the USC bench exam

The Bench Test Course with Dr. Kaur ($1,100) covers the Class II, composite, crown and bridge preparations schools set most, with your work marked against school criteria. A separate USC add-on drills the onlay that standard courses skip.

See Bench Test Prep

Interview

Get ready for the group interview

Three live video sessions with Dr. Slesnick and Dr. T: two before your invitations, one after your first real interview, with school-specific preparation. $1,100. Warm up with the five toughest dental school interview questions.

See Interview Prep

TOEFL

Reach USC’s preferred TOEFL score

A 45-day, mentor-reviewed TOEFL iBT course built on the January 2026 format, with 80+ reading tests, 40+ listening sets, 50+ writing drills and 80+ speaking recordings. $499.

See the TOEFL Course

Shortlist

Apply to more than one school

With 34 seats, USC should be one school on your list, not the only one. Compare programs in our US dental schools guide and the bench test exercises by school.

Shortlist Your Programs

Keep your options open

Other routes if USC is not the right fit

Passing the INBDE opens more than one door. These are the four main routes for international dentists in the US.

Advanced Standing at other schoolsTwo to three years to a DDS or DMD, through ADEA CAAPID. See all programs in our Advanced Standing hub.
AEGD residencyThrough ADEA PASS. Some states give a limited licence after an AEGD; the rules vary by state. Read the AEGD guide.
Specialty residencyApply directly through ADEA PASS. More competitive. See CAAPID or PASS.
TeachingFaculty and teaching roles at US dental schools, where your clinical experience counts.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

How long is the USC ASPID program?
24 months. USC says the program is typically completed in two years, though some students need more time. Graduates receive a DDS degree.
What is USC dentistry tuition for international dentists?
For 2026-27, ASPID tuition is $128,547 a year. USC’s full estimated cost of attendance, including fees, housing and living costs, is $186,945 for Year 1 and $176,008 for Year 2, about $362,953 in total.
Do I need to pass the INBDE before applying to USC?
Yes. USC requires a pass on the INBDE (or NBDE Parts I and II) to be eligible to apply to ASPID. Plan your exam so the result is in before you submit CAAPID.
What TOEFL score does USC ASPID need?
USC has no hard cut-off. It prefers 5 or higher on the new 1-6 scale and still considers lower scores; for older tests it prefers 100 or higher. TOEFL Home Edition and MyBest scores are not accepted.
Does the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry have a bench test?
Yes. Invited applicants take a short practical exam in fixed prosthodontics and operative dentistry during the campus interview, and it may include a written exam. Our USC ASPID bench exam guide covers what candidates report.
Can international students get loans for USC ASPID?
Usually not from USC or US banks. Most international dentists use private loans, a co-signer who is a US citizen or green-card holder, or an international lender that needs no co-signer, often with family funds. You must show first-year funds for the I-20.
Step one for USC

Pass the INBDE on your first attempt

USC will not consider you without an INBDE pass. 99% of our students who complete INBDE Premium Boards pass on their first attempt, with US-licensed dentists answering their questions.

35,000+ questions12 course sectionsNightly 9 PM NY live testsPass Guarantee

See the Blueprint

Planning to apply to USC? Let us map your year.

Tell us where you are: INBDE, TOEFL, letters or bench skills. Our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will contact you over WhatsApp.

Message the Admin Team on WhatsApp

References

  1. Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists (DDS): Admission Requirements, How to Apply, Class Profile (page updated 3 September 2026; checked 14 October 2026). dentistry.usc.edu
  2. Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists (DDS): Educational Programs (checked 14 October 2026). dentistry.usc.edu
  3. ADEA CAAPID Program Finder. Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC (last updated 13 July 2026; checked 14 October 2026). programs.adea.org
  4. USC Financial Aid. Cost of Attendance: Dentistry Students, ASPID 2026-2027 Estimated Cost of Attendance (checked 14 October 2026). financialaid.usc.edu
  5. American Dental Education Association. ADEA CAAPID: Prepare to Apply, 2026-27 application fees (checked 14 October 2026). adea.org
  6. Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE). INBDE 2026 Candidate Guide: examination fee and non-CODA processing fee. jcnde.ada.org
  7. The Study Boards. INBDE Premium Boards Course Blueprint: course structure, first-attempt results of students who complete the course, Pass Guarantee. parmjitllc.com

Current as of October 2026. USC sets its own requirements, fees and dates each cycle; confirm them with the school and on ADEA CAAPID before you apply. The Study Boards is not affiliated with USC, ADEA or the JCNDE.

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