Information for Foreign Trained Dentists

Thank you for your interest in the University of Washington School of Dentistry. Admission to practice in the state of Washington is dependent on the candidate's having a dental degree from a dental school approved by the Washington State Department of Health, Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC). DQAC can be reached at (360) 236-4700. Specific details can also be found on the DQAC website located at: www.doh.wa.gov. After reaching this web address click on "Licensing /Certification" then "Dentists." Our School does not provide a special program for foreign trained dentists.

Our Admissions Committee may consider for entry into our four-year program foreign trained dentists who have resident alien status or U.S. citizenship. For admission to this predoctoral program, you must apply through the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS), 1400 K Street N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, D.C., 20005 or contact them at (202) 289-720 or www.adea.org/aadsas.

You may wish to know that there are dental schools in California that provide a two year curriculum for foreign trained dentists. These programs are located at Loma Linda University, The University of the Pacific, University of California San Francisco, and University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. For information about all dental schools that offer such programs you may contact the American Dental Association at ada.org. (A PDF document with a complete listing of schools that accept foreign dental graduates can be found in the "Foreign Trained Dentist" window at the top of the page).

Another way to meet the Washington state requirement for licensure would be to earn a degree from one of our graduate programs which provide clinical training in a specialty area. Enclosed is a handout outlining these advanced education opportunities.

Financial aid is available only to US citizens and permanent residents. Foreign applicants on nonresident visas are required to provide documentation from a financial institution that monetary support will be sufficient to ensure completion of the program.

If you wish to proceed with application to our predoctoral curriculum, you will need to apply through AADSAS (see above address) by November 1 for entry to the following Autumn Quarter. Only those applications received by AADSAS by the priority filing date will be forwarded to our Admissions Committee.

Once we have received your AADSAS application, we will send competitive applicants a supplementary application and a request for the following materials:

1. A supplementary application which includes a short personal statement.
2. A non-refundable $35.00 application fee.
3. Three letters of recommendation.
4. Dental Admission Test scores.
5. Transcripts from all higher education institutions attended.
6. Signed acknowledgement of Essential Requirements of Dental Education at UWSoD
7. Conviction/Criminal History Information: Washington state law requires that all faculty, students, and staff disclose background information concerning crimes and offenses against vulnerable populations.