Virginia Commonwealth University
- Virginia
- Orthodontics
- orthodontics.vcu.edu
Program Contact
520 N 12th Street, Room 111, PO Box 980566, Richmond, Virginia, 23298-0566
The Department of Orthodontics offers a 24-month advanced education Master of Science in Dentistry program. The program teaches the latest in clinical care in an environment modeled after private orthodontic practice. The curriculum is composed of seminars and small-group instruction with emphasis on critical thinking and problem solving. Contemporary concepts of orthodontic treatment are reviewed for substantive and scientific content. Also included are regularly scheduled orthognathic surgery conferences and seminars with other dental and medical specialists.
The postgraduate program is designed to develop skilled practitioners who are prepared to grow with the future and manage busy orthodontic practices. Our goal is not only to familiarize future orthodontists with contemporary techniques but also to teach them how to interpret cutting-edge scientific information and use it to approach clinical challenges logically and practically.
The program's clinical experience consists of a wide variety of orthodontic patients, including complex cases requiring orthognathic surgery and patients with facial clefts and other craniofacial abnormalities. An original research experience is an integral part of our program with each project intended to produce results suitable for publication in a nationally circulated orthodontic journal. The successful completion of a research project is required. All senior residents present their research at the Virginia Association of Orthodontists' meeting. The program makes students educationally qualified to take the written portion of the American Board of Orthodontics in the senior year. Residents are required to pass the written portion of the American Board of Orthodontics examination prior to graduation, and are encouraged to continue and complete the board certification process. This exam is given prior to the American Association of Orthodontists' meeting.
Students completing the program earn a specialty Certificate in Orthodontics and Master of Science in Dentistry degree. Students must complete the requirements for the master's degree prior to being awarded the specialty certificate.
The program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Please visit our website (https://orthodontics.vcu.edu/residency-program/) for more detailed information on our program.
Program Information
| Accreditation | This program is accredited by CODA |
|---|---|
| Program Type | Orthodontics |
| Program Code | ORTHO955 |
| Degrees Offered | Certificate, Masters |
| Program Size | 4 |
| Program Length | 24 months |
| Application Deadline | September 1 |
| Program Start Date | July 1 |
| Supplemental Application | Yes |
| Supplemental Fee | Yes |
| Stipend Offered | Yes |
| Match Participating | Yes |
| Program Website | orthodontics.vcu.edu |
Application Requirements
Required Standardized Tests
- GRE
- INBDE
- NBDE1
- TOEFL
- Passing the INBDE before matriculation into the advanced dental education program
Supplemental Requirements
- Requires supplemental application
- Requires supplemental fee
Transcript Evaluation and Instructions
Official dental school transcript(s) mut be submitted to PASS. Also, please submit unofficial undergraduate transcripts from all colleges or universities you have attended before dental school to PASS. If you attended school or an fellowship/internship/residency program after dental school, include those transcripts or certifications as well.
Your unofficial GRE score report must be uploaded to PASS as well.
Letters of Evaluation Instructions
Professional Evaluation Forms (PEFs) and/or Letters of Evaluation. Applicants must submit 3 PEFs/letters through PASS. A letter from the chairperson in orthodontics is not required, but may be included if they have personal knowledge of your skills.
TOEFL Requirement Instructions
TOEFL (minimum score of 550-paper, 213-computer or 80-internet) or IELTS (minimum score of 6.5) scores are required for students whose native language is not English. These scores are not required if you went to dental school or graduate school in an English-speaking environment (USA, Canada, Australia or Great Britain, etc.).
Other Requirement Instructions
For admission to the School of Dentistry residency programs, an individual must be eligible to obtain a Virginia temporary resident’s license from the Virginia Board of Dentistry.
Additional requirements for admission to the orthodontic program include:
- Agreement to participate in the Postdoctoral Dental Match Program and to only apply to programs participating in MATCH
- Agreement to participate in the Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS)
- Graduation or anticipated graduation from dental school
- Submitted application, fee and supplementary materials (application cover page)
- Completion or anticipated completion of INBDE, or completion of NBDE Part I and anticipated completion of Part II
- Completion of the GRE
- TOEFL (minimum score of 550-paper, 213-computer or 80-internet) or IELTS (minimum score of 6.5) is required for students whose native language is not English.
International Student Eligibility
This program will consider applicants who graduated, or plan to graduate, from a non-CODA accredited dental school: Yes
Applicants are eligible to enroll if they are:
- US Citizen
- US Permanent Resident
- Canadian Citizen
- Canadian Permanent Resident
- Non-US Citizen/Resident (program offers sponsorship)
Interview Schedule
Interviews are on October 23 (full-day) and 24 (half-day), 2025. Interviewees must be present on both days.
Additional Information
Faculty in the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Orthodontics feel that participation in the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program is fair and beneficial to all applicants. We also feel that it is in the long-term best interest of the specialty of orthodontics. Consequently, we have decided to interview applicants who are applying exclusively to programs participating in MATCH.
We participate in the Postdoctoral Dental Match Program and in PASS. The deadline for applications is September 1, 2025 for the class entering in 2026. Interviews are by invitation only and are held for selected applicants on October 23 and 24, 2025. A committee consisting of faculty, alumni and student members will review your application. There are four positions available and the admissions process is highly competitive. Classes begin July 1.
Applications submitted are considered without regard to race, gender, religion or national origin.
All advanced dental education students are required to pass a pre-matriculation drug screen test.