The Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) program is a 24-month (six-semester) advanced standing program for dentists from non-CODA-accredited dental schools who are interested in gaining the skills and knowledge necessary to be eligible to practice in the United States after successful regional licensing board completion.

The School of Dental Medicine does not expressly or implicitly guarantee a license to practice dentistry upon admission to or graduation from the school. Licensure is the exclusive right and responsibility of the State Boards of Dentistry in each state. Students must satisfy the requirements of each state's regulatory body independently of any college or school requirements for graduation. Cost of licensure may vary by state, and it is ultimately the responsibility of the student to verify cost with the State Boards of Dentistry.

doctor and nurse looking at teeth

The DDS program will train those dentists from non-U.S. accredited dental schools to be able to:

  1. Develop principles of ethical reasoning and professional responsibility as they pertain to the academic environment, patient care, practice management, and research on dentistry.
  2. Demonstrate self-assessment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills related to the comprehensive dental care of patients.
  3. Promote oral and systemic health of patients within private practice and the community.
  4. Diagnose, treat and/or manage all discipline areas recognized by the general dentist.

The program also offers many community outreach opportunities, and provides top tier clinical training in general dentistry, endodontics, pediatric dentistry, and oral surgery.

Graduation from this six-semester program is contingent upon the student’s satisfactory completion of didactic and clinical requirements. The School of Dental Medicine does not expressly or implicitly guarantee a license to practice dentistry upon admission to or graduation from the school. Licensure is the exclusive right and responsibility of the State Boards of Dentistry in each state. Students must satisfy the requirements of each state's regulatory body independently of any college or school requirements for graduation.

The following information will help you get started as you begin your application process:

DDS Contact

University of Nevada Las Vegas
School of Dental Medicine
DDS Program, Office of Admissions and Student Affairs
Shadow Lane Campus
1001 Shadow Lane MS 7427
Las Vegas NV 89106-4124

Email: DDS_admissions@unlv.edu
Phone: 702-774-2025

*Email is the preferred method of contact.

ADEA CAAPID

American Dental Education Association (ADEA)
Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists (CAAPID)

Phone: 617-612-2035

ECE Course-by-Course Evaluation
Educational Credential Evaluators
P.O. Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470
United States

Phone: 414-289-3400

National Board Dental Examinations — Parts 1 & 2 (NBDE)
American Dental Association
Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611-2637
United States

Phone: 800-232-1694 (toll free) 

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Educational Testing Services
TOEFL Services
660 Rosedale Road
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151
United States

Phone: 6090-921-9000 / 800-468-6335 (toll free)

International Students and Scholars

Please visit the link below for services contact list.

Dental students must take to receive their initial dental license. Requirements vary among states.

The American Dental Association provided a link to that contains specific information about licensure in each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

UNLV does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities, including admissions, on the basis of sex/gender pursuant to Title IX, or on the basis of any other legally protected category as is set forth in NSHE Handbook Title 4, Chapter 8, Section 13. Reports of discriminatory misconduct, questions regarding Title IX, and/or concerns about noncompliance with Title IX or any other anti-discrimination laws or policies should be directed to UNLV’s Title IX Coordinator Michelle Sposito. The Title IX Coordinator can be reached through the online reporting form, by email at titleixcoordinator@unlv.edu, by phone at 702-895-4055, by mail at 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box 451062, Las Vegas, NV, 89154-1062, or in person at Frank and Estella Beam Hall (BEH), Room 555.