Last updated on February 23, 2023.

University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine

Program Size
50
Program Length
29 months
Application Open
March 9, 2023
Application Deadline
June 1, 2023
Program Start
January 2, 2024

Program Contact

Menty Beyleyen Senior Associate Director of Admissions
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine 240 South 40th Street, Room 122 Philadelphia, PA 19104 215-898-0558
Brian Hahn Director of Admissions
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The Program for Advanced Standing Students (PASS) at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (Penn Dental Medicine) is designed for graduates of international dental schools who want to practice dentistry in the United States. Most states require a degree from a dental school accredited by the American Dental Association before granting licensure. Penn Dental Medicine offers a 29-month program that leads to a D.M.D. degree to prepare non-U.S. trained dentists. Upon matriculation, PASS students will join the second semester of the second year by participating in all ongoing preclinical, laboratory and didactic clinical courses. PASS students will not be required to take any second-year basic science courses, but instead will participate in an additional, specially designed preclinical laboratory/seminar program. Following the successful completion of the second year, students will be fully integrated into the class, and they will take part in all academic and clinical experiences in the third and fourth years of dental school. Students participate in a modern health care delivery system, which simulates general practice. In addition, they rotate through the specialty departments and work under the preceptorship of master clinicians.

Program Information

Degree Awarded D.M.D.
Program Size 50
Program Length 29 months
Application Open Date March 9, 2023
Application Deadline June 1, 2023
Program Start Date January 2, 2024
Supplemental Application Yes
Supplemental Fee Yes
Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or hold U.S. legal permanent resident status (green card) No
Bench Test No
Program Website dental.upenn.edu

Application Requirements

Required Standardized Tests

  • NBDE
  • INBDE

Supplemental Requirements

  • Requires supplemental application
  • Requires supplemental fee

Citizenship and Immigration Eligibility

Residency Status — Penn Dental Medicine is only accepting applications from those students who currently reside in the U.S./Canada and hold a valid visa status to reside, study, or work in the U.S.

Transcript Evaluation and Instructions

Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)

Official copy of a Course-By-Course Evaluation conducted by ECE (Educational Credential Creditors). The Course-By-Course evaluation report provides the U.S. equivalence of each educational credential plus a list of courses taken and their U.S. and grade equivalents. It also identifies upper level courses and grade point averages. 

Letters of Evaluations Instructions

Three letters of evaluation— one letter must come from the dean or director of the applicant’s dental school on letterhead stationery with signature. One letter must come from a faculty member of the same institution on letterhead stationery with signature. One letter must come from a faculty member, dental professional, or a work supervisor on letterhead stationery with signature.

TOEFL Requirement Instructions

An official TOEFL score is required for all applicants (including native English speakers) who have received their dental degree from a non U.S. dental school.

  • Please note, for the 2023 cycle there will be a minimum score requirement of 100 and only the most recent score will be considered.
  • TOEFL scores from July 2021 and later are required for admission.
  • For additional info visit TOEFL Penn Dental Medicine’s TOEFL Institution Code is 2944 and the Department Code is 38 or 00 or “undergraduate.”

National Board Requirement Instructions

Official National Dental Board Examination (NDBE) Scores — passing official NBDE Part I and Part II, or INBDE scores are required for all applicants

Other Requirement Instructions

Applicants who are extended an interview are required to provide us with the following documentation either prior to or on the day of the scheduled interview. Do not send us these documents unless you have been extended an invitation to participate in the PASS interview process.

  • Dental School Diploma – we will accept a notarized copy of your original dental school diploma with a certified English translation, if needed.
  • Official Dental School Transcripts – we will accept either an original sealed official transcript or a notarized copy of your official dental school transcript. If your transcript is in a language other than English, we will require a certified English translation.