The majority of dental schools in the United States and some dental schools in Canada are included in a centralized admissions program called the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS), which is managed by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA).

Typically, whole the AADSAS applications must be submitted online, approximately 16 months before the desired date to beginning the studies. The AADSAS application deadline is always on January 1. As a recommendation, it is really important not to send the applications before that date, but not earlier than December 1.

Dental Admission Test (DAT), which is taken to whole U.S. dental school applicants by the American Dental Association (ADA). Basically, the DAT measures general academic skills, scientific knowledge and perception abilities. In the other hand, the Dental Association of Canada uses a similar test called the Dental Aptitude Test.

Once passed the dental tests, American Dental Schools accept the results of the Canadian DAT; however because DAT Canadian test includes a manual dexterity component not applied by U.S. test, Canadian Dental Schools do not accept the U.S. test results.

Finally, there is an Admissions Committee whose job is to review the records and the academic preparation of the applicants; as same as their DAT scores, letters of reference, performance at personal interviews, and all the possible evaluations the candidate could have including those students who have either worked or practice as volunteer in some dental clinic.

Although a bachelor’s degree for admissions is not formally required, the vast majority of applicants have completed a degree in an appropriate discipline before beginning dental school.