International Dentist Program - admission information

Two-academic-year program

The International Dentist Program at Loma Linda University is designed to allow qualified dentists, educated in countries outside the United States, to earn a doctor of dental surgery (DDS) degree in the United States. The DDS degree from a US dental college is an educational requirement for eligibility to take the dental licensure examination in many states. The program has a minimum length of two academic years (24 calendar months). All instruction is provided under the direction of the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry.

Admissions standards

Prerequisites include the following:

• A dental degree from a recognized foreign dental school
• National Dental Board Examination Part I and Part II (Minimum suggested scores: Part I - 81, Part II - 79).
• TOEFL examination - Required minimum scores:
  • CBT (Computer-based test) 213
  • PBT (Paper-based test) 550
  • IBT (Internet-based test) 20 in all areas
• Evaluation of dental school transcripts with English translation and course-by-course evaluation. All international transcripts, including high school, must be submitted to one of the following evaluation services. Evaluations by different companies are not accepted and will necessitate the resubmission of foreign transcripts to one of the following evaluation services.
  
  American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
  Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc (ECE)

In addition, for application purposes, the following documents are required:

• Three letters of reference (preferably from dental school faculty)
• Dental school diploma and dental school transcripts with English translation
• Copy of visa or immigration status
• Curriculum vitae
• Personal statement or essay
• Recent photograph

Upon acceptance into the School of Dentistry, you will be required to buy a specific laptop. You will receive information on the computer and be directed to a web site where you must purchase the laptop. Any laptop not purchased at the web site will not be allowed onto the School of Dentistry network. For more information you may contact dental computing services at (909) 558-4674.

For an information brochure, please email your name and postal mailing address to idp@llu.edu or call (909) 558-4621.

Continuing education

The International Dentist Program provides a special continuing education program for missionary dentists who are foreign trained and are currently serving in a Seventh-day Adventist clinic facility.