This post will give you the basic information on the procedure of DDS and the cost involved. Please note that the information provided are based on the information provided by past dentists who have tried for DDS. The aim is to make the steps simple for the aspirants. The costs and regulations undergo periodic revision. So, after reading this post you are advised to check out the official website of ADA for the latest changes & updates.
For many Dental students who have finished their Dental Graduation, going abroad to countries like USA & CANADA and settling there as a professional dentist, is a big dream .
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But before venturing in to any such journey a clear cut & definite idea about all the rules , regulations and finances is very necessary . If one enters such a venture without proper planning & resources , it can cause lot of tensions .
One of the main information that a candidate needs to know is …
HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO SETTLE IN USA & CANADA AS A DENTIST
Please note that all these are collected informations and the actual costs might vary . The data are just an estimation that past students have given . For the exact costs that do keep varying as per the changes in currency , do contact the embassy of your country .
The estimations given here are in terms of US $. Please estimate the values as per the currency of your country . Please note the prices are subjected to change depending on the authorised bodies.
Dentistry in USA
USA still and will remain the best country for foreign dental graduates. With India and other Asian Countries being the centre of attraction in US economy, they need them as business partner more than ever before.
The single most point which comes to our mind when we plan to go to USA is whether my BDS or Dental Degree is a recognised degree or not ?
As per American Dental Association (ADA), BDS degree from India or other south Asian countries are classified as a Dental Degree from a regionally accredited university or International Dental Students.
That means, all people who have BDS/Outside USA degree can take admission in Advanced Standing Program for International Dental Graduates leading to DDS/DMD degree.
So, to state that your BDS/Dental degree is not recognised or your BDS has gone waste is not true.
They do consider you dentists but from a regionally accredited program.
This classification applies even to all European graduates also.
But you will need to qualify in their Qualifying processes.
In the next few slides simplified steps have been mentioned for the DDS procedure. Go through all the slides for better understanding.
ADMISSION PROCESS for DDS
(along with estimated finance )
Advanced Standing Program for International Dentists leading to DDS
- You need your BDS or MDS degree or Equivalent Dental Graduation Degree of your country.
- Please have a Visa or Mastercard International Credit Card by this stage, otherwise you are just delaying your long application process by going to banks and wasting your time unnecessarily. Many universities and ADA accepts only Credit card. So, have one as soon as possible.
- At this stage, you need to get your Transcript Evaluation done. The cost of evaluation is either USD 150 depending upon your current status and aggregate in four years of dentistry program in India or your country.
PERSONAL STATEMENT AND DENTAL EXPERIENCE
Please provide dental education experiences, dental related activities, and professional goals typewritten on the separate form provided in the application packet.
DENTAL DEGREE
A notarised copy of the foreign dental degree of the applicant must be submitted directly to the Desired college office. If in a language other than English the dental degree must be accompanied by a notarised translation from a bonafide U.S. translator.
OFFICIAL COURSE-BY-COURSE DENTAL SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT EVALUATION
Only an original Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) course-by-course evaluation of the applicant’s dental school transcript will be accepted.
Please make sure the document submitted is “Course-by Course Evaluation” and is issued directly to the to the desired college office from ECE. A minimum U.S. GPA of 2.5 or above is required of all applicants.
OFFICIAL SCHOOL CERTIFIED TRANSCRIPT
An official school certified copy of the applicant’s dental school transcript must be sent directly from the applicant’s foreign dental school to the desired college office.
A U.S. notarised photocopy of the applicant’s foreign dental school transcript is not an acceptable substitute. The official school certified transcripts and all application documents become the property of the desired college and are not returnable.
You need to take your National Dental Board Examination (NBDE) Part 1 examination. This examination is conducted throughout the year across various centres in USA/Canada and costs $345. This exam in fully computerised and contains 400 MCQ’s with no negative marking.
For admissions, one needs to PASS the exams. The results if you Passed or Failed is notified via e-mail.
- Obtaining US Visa is the biggest hurdle in your American dreams. Initially you will go on a Visitors Visa (B1/B2) visa to USA. The cost of this visa is US $ 150 at this moment.
- Other thing you need to take is TOEFL iBT (costing US $170). Remember, TOEFL scores are valid for 2 years time while NBDE scores have 5 years validity. One should score 100 and above in TOEFL iBt as this would make you eligible for all universities.
See Next Slide for all the Documents
that are necessary while applying to Dental Colleges
Press Next
Documents necessary while applying to Dental Colleges
Now if you have scored well in NBDE Part 1 and TOEFL iBT, you are ready for applications to various universities. The admissions are dependent upon a number of variables
- NBDE Part 1 score
- TOEFL iBT score
- GPA (Grade Point Average)
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- A solid and professional Career Statement or Statement of Purpose
- Original Transcripts signed by Dean/Principal of your college/university
- Application submission
- Personal Interviews
- Resume
- Paper/Poster presentation
- Typically, yearly expenses are in the range of US $ 90,000 to 100,000 dollar.
- Then, if you get admitted to DDS/DMD program, you will need a co-signer (can be a relative or a friend) who is either a US citizen or Green card holder for your Student loan.
Loans are very easy and long term like 15-20 years. The loan amount even covers your living expenses and if you have a spouse and children, they cover even that. So, a two year program will cost in INR 80 lakhs to 95 lakhs (INR). The expenses covered includes all Tuition fees; Health insurance; Dental instruments/material expenses; laptop and its software charges; all lodging and boarding expenses including meals. No payments are required while you are in school. There is no prepayment penalty.
Repayment begins 6-9 months after you leave school, or when you get a job. You can have multiple co-signer’s also for a loan.
DENTISTS and SPECIALIST DOCTORS remain the most lucrative and best salaried profession.
On an average, a DDS graduate starting salary range from $ 120,000 to $ 1,40,000. As per ADA figures, annual average salary of a dentist across USA in 2006 to 2015 was on average in excess on $300,000.
In 2005, 5 % Americans had an annual salary in excess of one lakh dollar or more. So, when you start your career in USA as a dentist, you straightaway belong to upper 5 % income group bracket in USA. That is a big reward you get for all pains and hardships associated with being a dentist.
Above all, US has a stable work permit in form of H1B followed by Green Card, and then US citizenship.
And remember always refer the USA / CANADIAN embassy of your country for the most UPDATED information.
Useful Links for Foreign Dental Students
Wanting to be a Dentist in USA
An Advice to all Aspirants
You all by now, know the value of Study Materials in the preparation of NBDE. Also keep in mind that every year the question sets are updated with new additions. When you are planning for DDS, then why act miserly and try to download old, outdated version of study materials. They are not going to be of help any way. Also its not easy to get the scanned online versions. Even if you do manage to get some papers from some of your seniors – they will be very old versions.
Check out these Books that will help you in your preparation. These are selected few popular books and every NBDE aspirant must have them.
The Official Steps – Guide for International Dentists to Work in USA by
American Dental Association
Two Best Selling Books on NBDE Test Papers by Mosby. Another two books and useful guides published by Mosby are: Mosby’s Review for the NBDE, Part I and Mosby’s Review for the NBDE, Part II. They also have very good reviews.
Kaplan Study Materials is also one of the best in the Market for Review of NBDE Preparation
The Very Popular NBDE First Aid Series
Once of the Most Popular Preparing Materials – Dental Decks
Resources for Advanced Standing or International Dentists/Students
- How to obtain a student visa
- Dental programs offering advanced standing programs
- Study materials and tips for taking the NBDE Parts I and II
- The ADA’s Guide for the International Dentist: The U.S. Dental Licensure Process contains information about admission to the U.S., state licensure requirements, applying to a dental education program, preparing for written and clinical licensing examinations, finding employment or starting a practice and more
- The Student Doctor Network forums and tips for advanced standing students
- Searchable database for post-doctoral programs participating in the ADEA PASS and the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program (the “Match”) to continue your training in the U.S.
- Information about the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
- Interviewing and job search tips provided by UC Berkley’s career centre
See Next Slide
More Useful Articles with Information on NBDE Examination & Dentistry in USA
Other Must Read Articles on NBDE / DDS
WELCOME TO UNITED STATES | DENTALORG.COM
Hey Doctors ,welcome back …. So this article is all about NATIONAL BOARDS DENTAL EXAMS (NBDE) starting from peer pressure, books, strategy till the applications form, evaluations and everything. The day we dream about doing DDS, a stream of questions just comes out from our mind like syllabus, books , procedure and then we end up with discouragements and underestimations due to ample of unanswered questions…..
NBDE – DDS : The Cost and the Opportunities | DENTALORG.COM
For Indian/foreign dentists to practice in America,DDS is a must and then again DDS is not all that easy.Here is a little information that will help the aspiring ones settle down easily.Certain colleges in the US that offer Advanced Standing Program (DDS/DMD) to foreign trained dentists require at least NDEB (National Dental Examining Board) Part I.
20 STEPS TO DDS – THE AMERICAN DENTAL DREAM | DENTALORG.COM
Hi to all the docs. This article is written by By DR. ROLI RAJVANSI. DENTALORG.COM has brought to you all many articles on How to Settle in USA after BDS , NBDE & DDS .But the current article is perhaps one of the best articles on the topic as it is written & explained by one the dental surgeons who herself cleared all the hurdles , formalities , exams and finally joined DDS .
NATIONAL BOARD DENTAL EXAMS – ROUTE TO DDS | DENTALORG.COM
When it comes to license requirements or application to international or advanced standing programs for foreign trained dentists, NBDE is by far considered the common denominator and the first step in this long process. As of now the NBDE exam consists of two parts and it’s administered by the ADA Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE).
NBDE FAQS : THE MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS | DENTALORG.COM
For many Indian & Asian students who have finished their Dental Graduation , going abroad to countries like USA & CANADA and settling there as a professional dentist , is a big dream . But before venturing in to any such journey a clear cut & definite idea about all the rules , regulations and finances is very necessary .
Study Materials for NBDE Exams
An Advice to all Aspirants
You all by now, know the value of Study Materials in the preparation of NBDE. Also keep in mind that every year the question sets are updated with new additions. When you are planning for DDS, then why act miserly and try to download old, outdated version of study materials. They are not going to be of help any way. Also its not easy to get the scanned online versions. Even if you do manage to get some papers from some of your seniors – they will be very old versions.
Check out these Books that will help you in your preparation.
These are selected few popular books and every NBDE aspirant must have them.
The Official Steps – Guide for International Dentists to Work in USA by
American Dental Association
Two Best Selling Books on NBDE Test Papers by Mosby. Another two books and useful guides published by Mosby are: Mosby’s Review for the NBDE, Part I and Mosby’s Review for the NBDE, Part II. They also have very good reviews.
Kaplan Study Materials is also one of the best in the Market for Review of NBDE Preparation
The Very Popular NBDE First Aid Series
Once of the Most Popular Preparing Materials – Dental Decks
