Admissions
Learn everything about the admissions requirements to the IDP Program here, including extra resources to help succeed in the admissions process.
Admission Requirements
- All applicants must meet the following requirements in order to be considered for admission to our International Dentist Program.
- All completed applications that meet our admission requirements will receive a full file review.
ON THIS TAB:
- Applicants must be a graduate of an international dental school, have earned the dental degree, and hold a final diploma prior to applying to our program.
- Have satisfactorily completed an academic program of study of not less than four years, culminating in a degree, diploma, or certificate in dentistry recognized by the appropriate civil authorities of the country in which the school is located.
- Provisional dental degrees and/or certificates are not sufficient for admission to our International Dentist Program.
NBDE or INBDE Requirements
- Applicants must meet the Integrated (INDBE) or National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) requirements.
- Applicants applying for Summer 2026 admission and beyond must either have passed Part I of the NBDE or the Integrated NBDE by our June 15, 2025 application deadline to be considered.
- Those students who have passed either Part II of the NBDE or the Integrated NBDE [INDBE] will be given preference over those applicants who have only passed Part I of the NBDE.
NBDE or INBDE Official Score Submission
- You must make arrangements to submit official INBDE scores to CAAPID directly.
- Our committee must see your official INBDE scores in the CAAPID portal by our June 15, 2025 admissions deadline. Self-reported INBDE will not be considered.
- The committee will not know if you passed INBDE in your online CAAPID application unless you submit official INBDE scores in the CAAPID portal.
- Please refer to the ADA website for additional NBDE information.
NO INBDE OR NBDE EXAM EXPIRATION DATE
- We do not have an INBDE or NBDE exam expiration date.
- If you already passed INBDE, part I NBDE, and/or Part II NBDE, you do not need to retake the exam for admission consideration.
INBDE
Resources
- All applicants must meet the Integrated [INDBE] or National Board Dental Examination [NBDE] requirements.
- Check out the resources to learn more about the INDBE Examination!
NBDE
Part 1
- Our program requires passage of Part I NBDE to be eligible to apply.
- Our committee must see your official NBDE scores in the CAAPID portal by our June 15, 2025 admissions deadline. Self-reported NBDE Part I will not be considered.
- The committee will not know if you passed NBDE Part I in your online CAAPID application unless you submit official NBDE scores in the CAAPID portal.
Part I of the NBDE is no longer offered by the ADA.
NBDE
Part 2
- Applicants who have passed NBDE Part II or the Integrated NBDE will be given preference for admission.
- You must make arrangements to submit official NBDE Part II scores to CAAPID directly.
- Our committee must see your official NBDE scores in the CAAPID portal by our June 15, 2025 admissions deadline.
- Self-reported NBDE Part II will not be considered.
- The committee will not know if you passed NBDE Part II in your online CAAPID application unless you submit official NBDE scores in the CAAPID portal.
- You can still be considered for the program if you have not taken NBDE Part II.
- However, preference is given to those applicants who have passed Part II or the Integrated NBDE.
TOEFL
Requirements
- All students must meet our TOEFL Requirements in order to be considered to the International Dentist Program.
- Please refer here for TOEFL frequently asked questions.
- Bench Test and Interviews will take place in September and October 2025.
- Those candidates offered the opportunity to Bench Test and interview will receive exact dates.
Unfortunately, the Bench Test Preparation Course is no longer offered at our dental school.
- Applicants to the IDP program may be foreign nationals (those requiring a visa), United States citizens, or Permanent Residents of the United States.
- However, all IDP students are strongly encouraged to review the American Dental Association Licensure process to gauge their ability to practice in the United States.
- An important consideration in the selection process for the International Dentist Program is the applicant’s effectiveness and clarity in verbal communication.
- It is essential both for completion of the academic program and for effective communication with patients in the clinics.
MARCH 15 2025
Applications Open
JUNE 15 2025
Applications Close/Bench Test and Interview Offers Begin
JULY 2025
Final Bench Test and Interview Offers
AUGUST 2025
Bench Test and Interviews Begin
SEPTEMBER 2025
Bench Test and Interviews Conclude
OCTOBER 2025
Decision Notifications Begin
SPRING 2026
Decision Notifications Conclude
Summer 2026 IDP Program Application
- Our summer 2026 IDP Program application opens on March 6, 2025.
- Our summer 2026 application deadline is June 15, 2025.
- 716-829-6926
- idp@buffalo.edu
- 9:00 - 5:00 EST, M-F
- IDP Admissions
School of Dental Medicine
315 Squire Hall
University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY 14214