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 into the American Dental Education Association Centralized Application for Advanced Placement of International Dentists (CAAPID)
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident and submit official documentation.  Individuals within the U.S. on a Visa are not eligible.
• 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. 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 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).
• Upon request submit official copies of all academic credentials (mark sheets, score cards, transcripts, graduation certificates, degree certificates) with literal English certified translation. Submit official Dental Diploma degree and transcripts. Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES) transcript evaluation report on a course-by-course basis is required.
• 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, 2025: 

• The CAAPID application will be open March 1 – June 1, 2024.
• The SOD Advanced Standing Dental Program Admission Committee will review applications and invite candidates for a personal interview and skills test. This will be a multi-day visit to the School of Dentistry occurring in the summer. 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). Dates are TBD (likely late June or early July).
• Offers for positions will be made 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 2025 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

Program Contact:

• Advanced Standing Dental Program: asdp@umkc.edu
• Dr. Gustavo Leal, Interim Director Advanced Standing Dental Program
• Richard Bigham, Assistant Dean for Student Programs
• Dr. Liz Kaz, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs