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Advanced Education

Our Specialties

Programs

The School of Dentistry offers two types of programs that are designed for the dentist who wishes to pursue advanced education. These programs are: Degree (Master of Science in Dentistry) and Certificate.

Degree

The degree program leads to a Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD) degree and a certificate in a specialty area of dentistry. Programs are designed to meet the eligibility requirements for examination by the particular American Specialty Board and accreditation standards of the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation. The curriculum in the degree programs varies between programs based upon discipline specific requirements. Orientation in research methodology and human subjects research is required for students pursuing a Master of Science in Dentistry degree. A thesis is required, and the total length of the program varies with the area of specialty. The minimum period of time is four to six academic semesters, depending on the requirements of the particular specialty.

Certificate

The advanced education programs leading to a certificate in general dentistry or a specialty area consist primarily of basic science courses, clinical science courses and seminars, and a clinical program designed to meet eligibility requirements for examination by the particular American Specialty Board and accreditation standards of the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery offers either a four-year certificate or six-year combined MD/certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The award of the certificate is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the required basic and clinical science courses, clinical conferences, appropriate clinical training for the area of specialization and research project if required by the department.

Admissions

Program descriptions and admission requirements may be found on this website under each of the specialty program links, under the Deadlines/Requirements tab, and — except for Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology (OMFP) — at ADEA using the PASS Program Search Engine. Applicants for the Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology program should apply using the button below.

Apply Now
Apply for OMFP

Acceptance Considerations

Generally, applicants for advanced education programs are considered on the basis of the following criteria:

  • Completed application
  • Grade-point average
  • Class standing
  • Transcript/pattern of academic achievement
  • National board scores
  • Experience and training
  • Recommendations
  • Specific program requirements
  • Personal interview (when requested by the department)

Other specific information may be requested directly by the program director.

GRE

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) aptitude test is only a requirement for the Orthodontic program.

TOEFL

Applicants who are nationals of countries where English is not the primary language are required to submit scores from the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL).

All applicants except those applying for the Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology program should complete a Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS) application for the Advanced Education Programs. Applications for PASS are available online at: http://www.adea.org

The completed PASS application requires submission of the following:

  • Dental school transcripts.
  • Three Personal Potential Index Evaluations (PPI) and one Professional Evaluation Form following the guidelines required from each specific program. Please see the PASS Program Search Engine for any additional program requirements concerning evaluations.
  • Official Dental National Board Examination I or Integrated Dental National Board Examination scores are required for all programs. (Scores are on file if you are a graduate of the University of Texas School of Dentistry DDS program. Check with the Office of the Registrar).
  • Those applying for Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD), General Practice Residency (GPR), Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS), Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics and Prosthodontics must register with the MATCH.
  • Applicants who are nationals of countries where English is not the primary language are required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
  • Please see PASS Program Information Site for any required supplemental documents to apply to a program. Any additional documents requested by the program director need to be sent directly to the specific program.
  • International Applicants Only - Official Dental National Board Examination I or Integrated Dental National Board Examination or ADAT (minimum score of 440) or GRE (minimum score of 300) are required for all programs.

Upon conditional acceptance to the program, the following must be submitted to the Registrar's Office:

  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, including dental program. Dental transcripts must show completion of dental degree. (Transcripts are on file if you have attended any UTHealth school. Check with the Office of the Registrar).
  • Official Dental National Board Examination I and II or Integrated Dental National Board Examination scores are required for all programs. (Scores are on file if you are a graduate of the University of Texas School of Dentistry DDS program. Check with the Office of the Registrar).

Additional requirements for the Orthodontic program:

  • The PASS application requires submission of satisfactory scores obtained on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
  • Upon conditional acceptance, official GRE scores must be sent directly from the Testing Center to the Office of the Registrar. This process may take up to three weeks.

Office of the Registrar
UTHealth
7000 Fannin, Suite 2250 UCT
P.O. Box 20036
Houston, TX 77225-0036
[email protected]


Advanced Education Admission Deadlines/Requirements
ProgramDate
Periodontics Aug. 1
Endodontics July 1
Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology (OMFP) 3 Year Program Dec. 31
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) 4 Year Program Sept. 15
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS) 6 Year Program Sept. 15
Orthodontics Sept. 1
Pediatric Dentistry Oct. 1
General Practice Residency (GPR) Oct. 1
Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) Oct. 1
Prosthodontics Sept. 1

If you have a scholarship from the countries of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, or Thailand, you may be eligible for the International Scholarship Training Program (ISTP). For more information, please contact Coordinator I , Educational Programs Aniqua DeClouette at [email protected] or 713-486-4432. 

The Office of International Affairs at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the Visa & Immigration Services Administration Office at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center are the only sources for information regarding visas and other special requirements for the admission of non-U.S. citizens to UTHealth School of Dentistry at Houston.

All non-U.S. citizens, including permanent residents of the U.S., must be cleared for admission by the Office of International Affairs prior to first registration for classes.

For further information, visit the Office of International Affairs website.

Office of International Affairs
UT Health Science Center
7000 Fannin, Suite S-130 (University Center Tower)
PO Box 20036
Houston, TX 77225

Phone: 713-500-3176
Fax: 713-500-3189

For a detailed breakdown of tuition and fees, please visit the Office of the Registrar.

For estimated Cost of Attendance (educational AND living expenses) and information on how this may affect the amount of financial aid you can receive, please visit Student Financial Services.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) reserves the right to make revisions in curriculum and requirements of all programs. Tuition and fees are subject to change according to the Texas Legislature, UT System Board of Regents, and/or the University.


Accepted Students

  • General Information

    Letter of Intent

    Print and sign the letter of intent, which was emailed to you with your acceptance letter. Mail it to:

    Office of Student and Academic Affairs
    School of Dentistry
    7500 Cambridge Street, Suite 4120
    Houston, TX 77054

    or email to: Ms. Aniqua DeClouette

  • Immunizations

    Beginning late March our Registrar's Office will begin emailing your User ID and Password to access MyUTH (Student System). You will need this User ID and Password for the link below.

    You must document your immunizations through myUTH and upload supporting proof of all immunization requirements. To submit your immunization you will need to log into myUTH and select the Immunizations links under the “Holds and To Do’s” sections. Once you list required dates and submit your records, you will be asked to upload your immunization documentation. The system will only allow one upload but you will be able to upload multiple documents. Only load your immunization records into the online database once they are 100% complete. Any updates after this upload must be faxed into UTHealth which can extend the processing time.

    After you have logged and submitted all required information and it has been verified by Student Health Services, the immunization hold will be released. We recommend that you submit this information immediately to avoid any delays in your registration process.

    View Immunization Requirements. If there are any questions regarding immunization requirements, please contact Student Health Services at 713-500-5171.

    Please note:

    • You must submit a copy of the laboratory report on all titers.
    • Please submit your immunization record only when you have uploaded ALL of the required documents.
    • Your uploaded documentation must be legible.
    • We recommend that students keep a personal copy of their immunizations and titers for future needs.
  • Insurance

    Beginning late March our Registrar's Office will begin emailing your User ID and Password to access MyUTH (Student System). You will need this User ID and Password to either submit proof of your health insurance or confirm your participation in academic health plans.

    Health Insurance Requirements for All Students:

    The Board of Regents of The University of Texas System mandates health insurance (Texas Education Code Section 51.961) for all students enrolled in the UT System health components. As such, each UTHealth student who cannot provide evidence of continuing coverage under another approved plan will be enrolled in the student insurance plan with Academic HealthPlans and assessed a health insurance fee.

    Before being able to register for classes each semester, every student must complete the health insurance certification process through his/her MyUTH account. Through this process, students either provide proof of their own coverage or confirm their participation in Academic HealthPlans. To waive this fee you are required to show proof of current health insurance coverage through another provider by completing the information below before the twelfth day of class for the Fall/Spring semester and the fourth day of class for the Summer semester of every academic year. Failure to provide this information before the deadline will result in forfeiting your option to waive the health insurance coverage and associated fee. Please note that it is not necessary to submit the waiver every semester, as after submitting the waiver in the fall and/or spring semester, the insurance fee will be removed from your bill for the remaining academic year.

    Please visit UTHealth Auxiliary Enterprises - Student Insurance for more information.

  • Criminal Background Check

    Please review the policy before following the steps below.

    Student Criminal Background Check
    Please read through ALL the information. The answers to frequently asked questions are provided below, as well as information that you will need to know.

    • Once you have completed your application, please review the information you provided before submitting to avoid a delay in your background check.
    • If you have your phone or computer set to Auto fill, then you absolutely need to double check the information you entered.
    • If there is a problem with your application or additional information is needed, we will contact you using the email address that you provided. Please double check that you provided a valid email address. You are responsible for replying to our email when information is updated, as we will not be notified otherwise and your background check will not be started.
    • You will receive an email when your background check has been accepted. Your background check will usually begin processing within 1-3 business days; however, we cannot guarantee this time. Please complete the process as soon as possible to avoid exceeding the deadline.
    • Please do NOT contact The Pre-Check Company for the status of your background check. The completed background check will be sent directly to the school. You will not receive notification when it is completed.
    • Students with criminal activity or that have lived outside of Texas may take longer to process. Additional fees may apply for certain counties. We will contact you if an additional fee is required.
    • International students will take longer to process. The processing time varies per country. There will be an additional fee for all International background checks. This fee also varies per country. After reviewing your completed application, we will contact you with the fee amount and if any additional information is required.
    • If you have any questions, please e-mail Shannan Tighe.
    • Please do NOT call The Pre-Check Company.

    Step by Step Instructions for New Students

    • Go to ESA and click on "Apply Here." Once you enter the application, please complete the following steps:
    • Fill in your contact information. The application is based on your e-mail address so if you need to apply again for another background check, you will need to use a different e-mail address.
    • Pay the $44 fee via credit card using the Submit Payment button.  
    • Click “yes” if you have paid and then Submit Now.
      • Your background check will not be started until payment is received.
    • Read through the Acknowledgements.  
      • Click Submit Now.
    • Provide your Identity Information.
      • If you do not have a middle initial, fill the space with a period.
        • Please do not put n/a, no middle name, etc. in the middle initial field.
      • If you do not have a former name, you can leave this section blank.
        • Please do not provide your current name again in this section.
      • If you do not have a Social Security Number, fill in 999-99-9999.
    • Click Next Section.
    • Complete the Current Residence Section.
      • Click Next Section.
    • Complete the Previous Residence Section.
      • If you do not have a prior address, you can leave this section blank.
      • Click Next Section.
    • Complete ALL of the Criminal Record Information.
      • Click Next Section.
    • Electronically sign the Student Release for Background Investigation.
      • Click Next Section.
    • Complete the Non-United States Residency form.
      • Please note: It is not assumed that you are, and have been, a resident of the U.S. for at least 6 months. All applicants are required to complete this form before your background check can be accepted.