Advanced Standing Dental Program

Advanced Standing Dental Program

The UMKC School of Dentistry offers an advanced standing dental educational program to train dentists with dental degrees from outside the United States who desire to have a United States dental degree from a Commission on Dental Accreditation approved institutional program. The program will result in the demonstration of knowledge, skills and values expected of any graduate of the UMKC School of Dentistry Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program.

Meet the Inaugural January 2024 Cohort

DDS Curriculum

This program integrates internationally trained dentists into the third and fourth year of our traditional four-year DDS curriculum. Students accepted to the program will complete a full semester of preparation prior to matriculation into the third year cohort. The program length is 29-months. The cohort size is nine students.

Acceptance to the program is only available to qualified internationally trained dentists.

Admissions Requirements:

  • Submission of application to the American Dental Education Association Centralized Application for Advanced Placement of International Dentists (CAAPID).
  • Submit official copies of all academic credentials (mark sheets, score cards, transcripts, graduation certificates, degree certificates) with literal English certified translation (through CAAPID).
    • Evidence of a dental degree from a foreign country that does not have a reciprocal agreement for recognition with the Commission on Dental Accreditation (i.e., Canada). Submit official Dental Diploma degree and transcripts (through CAAPID). Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES) transcript evaluation report on a course-by-course basis is required. Minimum dental degree GPA of 3.0, a 3.4 and above is preferred.
    • A passing score on Part I and Part II of the National Dental Board Examination -or- Integrated National Dental Board Examination.
    • Three letters of recommendations: one from a dean and a faculty member of a dental school program attended plus a letter from a practicing dentist within the U.S.
  • Must demonstrate English proficiency by providing official documentation of at least a score of 90 on the TOEFL (iBT). The “MyBest Score” and “Home Edition” for the TOFEL are not accepted.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident and submit official documentation.  Individuals within the U.S. on a Visa are not eligible.
  • Upon request submission of UMKC general application and non-refundable general application fee.

Admissions is a multi-step process.  After the submission of the ADEA Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists (CAAPID) application, a committee will review the applications and select candidates to be invited for an interview and a bench skills assessment test which will also include a writing sample.  The interview and skills assessment process require a multi-day visit to the school.

Candidates invited for an interview will be required to submit a fee of $2,500 to take the skills assessment tests (non-refundable).  Upon completion of the application process, interview, and skills assessment, if invited, an offer of admittance will be communicated to the successful candidates.

Invitation to interview and challenge the bench skills assessments does not guarantee admission.  If accepted, candidates have 7 days to respond to the letter of placement and submit a non-refundable deposit of $3,000 which will be applied toward tuition and fees upon matriculation. The deposit and a signed statement of intent must be received by the deadline reply date to maintain acceptance and placement.

Timeline for Cohort Starting January 2, 2026: 

  • The CAAPID application will be open March 1 – June 1, 2025.
  • The SOD Advanced Standing Dental Program Admission Committee will review applications and invite candidates in mid-June for a personal interview and skills test. This will be a multi-day visit to the School of Dentistry. It will include instrument check-out, procedural lectures, practice time, interview, writing assessment and a skills bench-exam. The interview and skills assessment require a fee of $2,500 (non-refundable). Invitations for interviews will go out from mid to late June with our interview and skills test occurring in the end of July.
  • Offers for positions will be made starting August 1st and continue on a rolling basis until the class is filled.
  • The program requires enrollment in orientation and review courses beginning in January at the start of the Spring 2026 semester. Successful completion of the spring semester will lead to joining the third-year cohort of the dental program during the summer term.

Tuition & Fees:

  • These are estimated costs. The “Educational Fee” (tuition) is a flat-rate pending approval. There is not a different rate based on Missouri-resident vs Non-resident. The University of Missouri Board of Curators will annually approve the yearly educational fee in late Spring. Fees are subject to change on an annual basis. Further details are available at https://www.umkc.edu/cashiers/tuition-fees/index.html
2024 – 2025 Estimates
Educational Fee (Fall or Spring Semesters) $41,500 each semester (5 semesters total)
Educational Fee (Summer Semesters) $20,750 each semester (2 semesters total)
Student Life Fee $775 each semester
SOD Instructional and Instrument Fee $3,200 each semester
Books, Manuals, Lab Equipment, & Lab Materials $3,500 one-time; first-semester

Program Contact:

  • Advanced Standing Dental Program: asdp@umkc.edu
  • Madison Mohr, Enrollment Advisor
  • Dr. Gustavo Leal, Director, Advanced Standing Dental Program