Canadian Friendly US Dental Schools in

List of Canadian-Friendly US Dental Schools (Canadians accepted as out-of-state)

1. Temple University
2. University of Maryland School of Dentistry
3. Loma Linda University School of Dentistry
4. University of Detroit Mercy
5. University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
6. NYU School of Dentistry
7. Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Medicine
8. Columbia College of Dental Medicine
9. University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine

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Canadian-Friendly US Dental Schools: How to Get Accepted

1. Temple University’s Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry

Canadian Applicants Accepted as Out-of-State: Yes

Canadian DAT Accepted: Yes

The Temple University School of Dentistry sits in the middle of historic Philadelphia and is the second-oldest dental school in the US. Despite its pedigree, the school welcomes and accepts dental school applications from Canadian-degree holders, as well as transfer applicants from either US or dental schools in Canada.

However, the school will also accept students without a full bachelor’s degree (US or Canadian), as long as they have a minimum of 90 credits completed from a list of dental school prerequisites. Still, with over 2500 applicants every year, the school admits only 140 students each year, giving it an acceptance rate of around 5%, which is among the lowest US dental school acceptance rates.

Even the school’s post-baccalaureate program accepts Canadian students who want to prepare for the main program academically. Temple’s extended training and graduate certificate programs have various requirements, and some accept Canadian students, while other programs are specifically for dental school graduates who trained outside of the US. However, resident programs are only for applicants who have passed the US national board examinations and other nation’s board exams will have to be verified.

2. University of Maryland School of Dentistry

Canadian Applicants Accepted as Out-of-State: Yes

Canadian DAT Accepted: Yes

The University of Maryland School of Dentistry is part of the larger University of Maryland professional school system, which also includes the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The school recognizes all bachelor’s degree from US or Canadian institutions. However, like Temple, UMSOD does not require a full bachelor’s degree, but only 90 credits completed in a series of different dental school prerequisites.

The school also places emphasis on manual dexterity, so all applicants should know how to answer dental school manual dexterity questions if they reach the interview level. While the school does welcome Canadian and international students, it also warns applicants that they will not be eligible for internal scholarships or federal student aid, as those are only available to US citizens.

3. Loma Linda University School of Dentistry

Canadian Applicants Accepted as Out-of-State: Yes

Canadian DAT Accepted: Yes

Loma Linda University is a private, faith-based institution in California, which also hosts one of the many medical schools in California, along with the School of Dentistry, a School of Nursing, and a Ministry School. Loma Linda recognizes all Canadian degree holders, but only requires that all applicants (American and Canadian) have a minimum of 96 credits of a full degree to apply. The school is so Canadian-friendly that it accepted students from Concordia University and the University of Alberta in its upcoming class.

Applicants from outside the US or Canada can also apply through the school’s special International Dentist Program, which recognizes degrees specifically from outside the US or Canada. The school also offers a post-baccalaureate program but that program is only for US citizens who have passed their national board exams; Canadian applicants must have taken and completed a dentistry certificate program or have US citizenship to be eligible.

4. University of Detroit Mercy

Canadian Applicants Accepted as Out-of-State: Yes

Canadian DAT Accepted: Yes

Given its proximity to the Canadian border, it is no wonder that the University of Detroit Mercy recognizes and accepts degrees from Canada, as 10% of its most recent class were Canadian. The school is among the easiest dental schools to get into, as it - in “exceptional” cases - will consider applicants who have only completed two years of undergraduate study, but have, nevertheless, demonstrated a desire, understanding and commitment to dentistry either through dental school extracurriculars or any other dental school application experiences.

However, the school does have other dental school requirements that all applicants must meet, such as submitting DAT scores and taking the Kira online assessment test. But only students invited to interview are the ones who need to take CASPer test prep as only they are required to submit their CASPer scores as part of the dental school interview. The school’s friendliness to Canadians extends to both of its seven-year, dual-degree programs but not its accelerated three-year program, that is only open to US citizens who have passed US national board exams.

5. University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine

Canadian Applicants Accepted as Out-of-State: Yes

Canadian DAT Accepted: Yes

The UConn School of Dental Medicine is one of the only public dental schools in the state, and it is a state-funded school, so it shows a preference for in-state applicants. However, the school welcomes applicants from other parts of the US and Canada. The dental school requirements for the DMD program include submitting DAT scores, as well as either a single predental advisory committee letter or three dental school letters of recommendation from previous science faculty.

The entire program receives almost 1300 applications every year and admits up to 85 annually, giving it an acceptance rate of about 6.5, which is low and should be something you consider if you are an out-of-state or Canadian applicant. Between 50-60% of every class is Connecticut residents, while 25% are from bordering states, so there is room for qualified Canadian applicants be admitted.

6. NYU School of Dentistry

Canadian Applicants Accepted as Out-of-State: Yes

Canadian DAT Accepted: Yes

The NYU School of Dentistry treats all Canadian applicants as out-of-state applicants, and has one of the highest dental school acceptance rates of all US dental schools, as it admits almost 375 applicants out of 3000 applications every year, giving it an acceptance rate of close to 12.5%. The school has the usual entry requirements as other dental schools so it is not a dental school without prerequisites.

The prerequisites apply equally to all applicants, American and Canadian, and requires applicants complete a minimum of two semesters in biology, chemistry, physics and any writing intensive course (all science courses must include lab work). One unique requirement for NYU is that it also requires all applicants have at least 100 hours of shadowing time, so they should know how to shadow a dentist if they are serious about applying to the School of Dentistry. Applicants from outside the US or Canada can still apply to the program, but must have their degree and transcripts verified by an accrediting agency.

7. Boston University Goldman School of Dentistry

Canadian Applicants Accepted as Out-of-State: Yes

Canadian DAT Accepted: Yes

Boston University’s Goldman School of Dentistry is a private university so it has no obligation to accept students from in-state. This also means that Canadian graduates can apply to the school’s DDS program, as well as the twelve different post-doctoral programs the school offers to successful graduates of any DMD or DDS program in the US or Canada. Canadian graduates applying to any of the residency programs must have obtained their degree from a recognized and accredited Canadian dental school. But international students from outside the US or Canada can also apply, as long as they have the international equivalent, a BDS, from their home country.

BU also offers a seven-year, dual-degree program which is also open to international students, including Canadians. Except, Canadians who apply do not have to meet any additional requirements and can submit their Canadian DAT scores, Canadian transcripts and use their Canadian degree to satisfy the degree requirement, as the GSDM requires all applicants to have a full bachelor’s degree. GSDM also offers a two-year, advanced standing program for anyone (US and Canada) who graduated from a non-accredited dental program to gain the skills and training to ascend into the DMD program.

8. Columbia College of Dental Medicine

Canadian Applicants Accepted as Out-of-State: Yes

Canadian DAT Accepted: Yes

The Columbia College of Dental Medicine is part of Columbia University and has the distinction of offering a four-year DDS program that integrates medical school learning and knowledge into dental school education. Entrants to the DDS program can expect to be taught by practicing dental health professionals and lecturers from the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons as well.

The school requires all applicants to have a full bachelor’s degree from either a US or Canadian institution. It also requires a series of prerequisite courses mainly in the sciences, such as physics, chemistry and biology. The school also has a list of recommended courses, such as mathematics, a foreign language and a humanities course to round out their education, since the medical school recommends similar additional courses.

9. University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine

Canadian Applicants Accepted as Out-of-State: Yes

Canadian DAT Accepted: Yes

New York being a border state could be the reason the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine treats all Canadian applicants as out-of-state and accepts all Canadian degrees and DAT scores, even though applicants can apply with only 90 completed credits from a four-year school. Along with the degree requirements, students must apply with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and submit a dental school personal statement. There is no minimum DAT score to apply and the school recommends that you stick to a strict DAT study schedule so you can submit you can take the test before the December 1 deadline.

UBSDM hosts a premiere dental school program that offers several degree options, pathways and specialty tracks to admitted dental students, including an International Dentist program primarily for graduates from outside the US or Canada. There are also twelve different post-doctoral programs that are also open to Canadian citizens, if they have either passed their board exams or carry a DMD or DDS from an accredited Canadian dental school.

List of US Dental School that Accept Canadian Degrees but not CDAT

As every dental school has its own admission requirements, some dental schools in the US accept Canadian applicants but not the Canadian version of the Dental Admissions Test, which is usually a universal requirement for all dental schools in the US and Canada. Canadian applicants to these schools must either take the American DAT or choose one of the programs that recognizes Canadians as out-of-state.

1. University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine

Canadian Applicants Accepted as Out-of-State: Yes

Canadian DAT Accepted: No

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine is the only dental school in Nevada, and also hosts one of the only other medical schools in Nevada, the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine. The school does recognize Canadian degrees and any prerequisite coursework completed in Canada. It requires all applicants, US or Canadian, to have at a minimum 90 credits before applying, with at least 30 of those credits being awarded from a four-year institution.

The Canadian DAT is not accepted, and all Canadian applicants must register with the American DAT provider to take the test. The school also hosts a two-year International Dentist program, which is open to all applicants outside of the US who wish to earn a degree from an American dental school to be able to practice in the US.

2. Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine

Canadian Applicants Accepted as Out-of-State: Yes

Canadian DAT Accepted: No

Midwestern has two DMD program at its campuses in Illinois and Arizona. The four-year program is open to Canadian applicants who have earned at the minimum a full bachelor’s degree and requires all applicants to have a minimum GPA of 3.0. It also requires that all coursework be completed with a minimum C grade to be considered a competitive application. Canadian applicants must take the American DAT and earn a score of at least 18 to have their application progress to the interview level.

3. Rutgers School of Dental Medicine

Canadian Applicants Accepted as Out-of-State: Yes

Canadian DAT Accepted: No

The Rutgers School of Dental Medicine program is another lauded dental program in the US, and regularly accepts out-of-state and Canadian applicants. All applicants to the school must at least have a bachelor’s degree when they apply. Despite not having any obligation to only admit in-state applicants and that it regularly accepts applicants from outside New Jersey, Rutgers does not recognize the Canadian DAT. However, the school is also one of the few dental schools that does not use a dental school supplemental application, but, instead, uses only the AADSAS application process to screen applicants and determine who will be invited for an interview.

List of US Dental Schools with a Separate International Program

1. University of Alabama School of Dentistry

Canadian Applicants Accepted as Out-of-State: No

Canadian DAT Accepted: No

The University of Alabama School of Dentistry is one of the many different professional schools under the UA umbrella, including the University of Alabama School of Medicine. While Canadian applicants are not accepted to the main, four-year DMD program at U of A, it does host a separate International Student Program specifically for degree-holders from outside the US. Canadian applicants are treated as international students and must hold a DDS or DMD from an accredited or recognized dental school to be considered. This program is for internationally-trained dentists to become eligible to practice in the United States by obtaining an American degree.

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