UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry announces new International Dentist Education Program

Published: March 04, 2025 by Kyle Rogers

UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry has announced its new International Dentist Education Program, an innovative program offering a 27-month pathway to a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.

Approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, the IDEP is designed for dentists who have earned their dental degrees outside the United States.

The application cycle is open and available through March 31.

In most states, internationally trained dentists are not eligible for dental licensure unless they have obtained either a DDS or DMD degree from a CODA-accredited dental school or have completed a CODA-accredited residency program of at least two years in length. However, the IDEP establishes a two-year track designed to allow an accelerated timeframe for internationally trained dentists with substantial clinical competence and experience to obtain their DDS degree.

About the program

IDEP begins with an accelerated three-month Bridge Training (May through July 2025), which is a comprehensive calibration and preparation program to review the art, science, and practice of dentistry in the diverse clinical disciplines. This training is designed to prepare the students for matriculation into the third year of the DDS Program in August 2025

The Bridge Training Program is $25,000 USD. Upon successful completion of this preparatory training, matriculation into the third year of the DDS Program will require coordination with the Office of the Registrar. IDEP students can anticipate tuition and fees to average up to $100,000 USD per year, depending on Texas resident status. The total estimated cost for IDEP is $225,000 USD.

Admission Requirements

Below are the requirements to prepare a successful application for submission.

Completed 5-page application, which includes a statement of intent and photo | $300 USD nonrefundable
Resume or CV detailing academic history, certifications, licensures, employment, and training experience (in English)
Dental school diploma (with English translations, if applicable)
ECE Course by Course Evaluation Report of transcripts from non-U.S. dental school
Three letters of recommendation from dental professionals (one letter is required from the dean of the dental school)
Copy of TOEFL scores (reporting a combined score of 92 or above)
Copy National Boards Parts I & II or Integrated National Board Dental Examination score (within the last five years)
Health records completed by a health care provider (with English translations, if applicable):

Completed UTHealth Houston Immunization form (attach any lab work to show proof of immunizations, if necessary)
A letter of good health from a physician

Copy of current CPR certification (provided by the American Heart Association, front and back of card)
A copy of photo identification:

For U.S. Citizens: Copy of your federal or state-issued photo identification
For U.S. Permanent Residents: Copy of your Permanent Resident Card

Additional Considerations

Years of experience as a practicing dentist
Community and voluntary engagement
Shadowing hours and/or work experience in health-related areas
Post-graduate education

Program Timeline (2025)

March 1 through 31: Application cycle open (Go.uth.edu/IDEP)
April: Interviews, bench test, and selection of students
May 19: IDEP begins
Aug. 11: Start of fall semester for 2025-26 academic year

Interview Information

Applicants selected for an in-person interview will also be required to sit for a bench exam (which includes an additional, nonrefundable fee of $300 USD).

IDEP offers a unique opportunity for international dentists to enhance their credentials and join the U.S. dental workforce. UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry invites all eligible candidates to apply and encourages sharing program information within professional dental networks.

For questions or more information, contact the PACE Center at [email protected].