Greetings!

Welcome to the UCLA School of Dentistry’s Professional Program for International Dentists (PPID) website. We encourage you to become acquainted with us, and hope that we may eventually become acquainted with you.

Our program for foreign-trained dentists is specifically designed for those who wish to further their training and become eligible for licensure through the State Board examination process. The philosophy at UCLA differs from that of many schools in that we do not believe in having two separate degree tracks, one for foreign-trained dentists and one for our traditional students. On the contrary, a D.D.S. degree earned through our PPID will be exactly the same, and carry the same prestige, as our traditional D.D.S. degree. To accomplish this goal, we provide a rather rigorous summer curriculum for our PPID students so that by the Fall Quarter they are ready to be fully integrated into the 3rd year class. From this point forward the PPID student will be viewed as a traditional UCLA student, and will progress through the 3rd and 4th years as part of the traditional student body.

While we respect the fact that each candidate has or will have achieved a dental degree in another country, we believe that UCLA has much to offer, further, in the clinical arts and sciences. We take pride in our reputation for academic excellence, and the fact that well over half of our graduates are accepted into post-doctoral programs each year.

We welcome your application to join the Professional Program for International Dentists, and become part of the UCLA community. I personally look forward to meeting you in the near future.

Donald E. Rowland, D.D.S.
(UCLA School of Dentistry, Class of 1973)
Director, Professional Program for International Dentists

PROGRAM INFORMATION

• Program Facts
• Requirements/Pre-requisites
• Timeline
• Selection Factors
• Fees and Expenses
• Financial Aid
• Contact Information

Program Facts

The Professional Program for International Dentists (PPID) offers qualified foreign dental graduates an opportunity to obtain a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the UCLA School of Dentistry. The goal of this program is to graduate dentists who possess the necessary scientific knowledge and clinical skills to provide competent comprehensive dental care as practiced within the United States. The graduates of the PPID are eligible to take the dental licensing examinations throughout most of the United States.

The PPID is an intensive two-year program that begins in late June each year and continues for a minimum of 24 consecutive months. The program commences with a pre-clinical review course that includes didactic review and clinical preparatory instruction. After the students successfully complete the pre-clinical courses, they will be rapidly integrated as 3rd year students in the UCLA School of Dentistry’s traditional four-year program. Students who then fulfill all the requirements of the traditional, competency, based third and fourth year curriculum will be awarded a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree. As with our traditional students, those who do not pass basic competencies will be required to spend extra time to remediate their deficiencies, while those who demonstrate advanced proficiency will have the opportunity for additional training within the normal curriculum.

After completion of the summer didactic program, PPID students will be granted the same opportunities in research and clinical experiences as are available to the traditional student.

The UCLA School of Dentistry - Professional Program for International Dentists will admit up to twelve qualified foreign dental graduates each year.

Requirements/Pre-requisites

To be considered for admission the applicant must fulfill the following requirements:

1. PPID Application Form
   
   Submit a completed and accurate PPID application form along with all necessary document to the address listed below
   
   Professional Program for International Dentists
   Office of Student Affairs
   UCLA School of Dentistry
   A0-111 Center for the Health Sciences
   Los Angeles, California 90095



2. Application Fee
   
   A non-refundable application fee of US $150 (money order or cashiers check only) made payable to UC Regents, must be submitted with initial application.



3. Translated/Evaluated Official Transcripts
   
   All of the following documents must be submitted directly to International Education Research Foundation, Inc. (IERF) or to Educational Credential Evaluators Inc. (ECE), for a “Detail Report” / “Subject Analysis” in English translation.
   
   i. Original certified college (post-secondary) transcripts.
   ii. Original certified professional education transcripts.
   iii. Official copy of the diploma and /or degree from the applicant’s dental school or program.
   iv. Official copy of the applicant’s dental license or its equivalent.
   
   As of this date, the Detail Report / Subject Analysis Fee is US $150. The applicant should specify on the IERF or ECE application that he/she would like the evaluation to be sent directly to the Office of Student and Alumni Affairs (see address above). Please allow fifteen business days for standard processing. To obtain further information regarding IERF or ECE, please visit their website IERF (www.ierf.org) or ECE ( www.ece.org).



4. National Board Dental Examination
   
   Part I Test results of the National Board Dental Examination must be submitted by the administrators of that examination directly to the Office of Student Affairs (school code 05).



5. English Language Proficiency (TOEFL)
   
   The TOEFL exam is required of applicants whose native language is not English. The applicant is required to request official results of the Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to be submitted directly to the Office of Student Affairs (campus code: 4837, department code: 38). Only official scores submitted by the administrators of the TOEFL examination will be accepted, with a minimum score of 560 (paper-based) or 220 (computer-based) required. Waivers will not be granted for scores below the stated minimums.



6. Three Letters of Recommendation (in English or with certified English translation)
   
   The applicant must submit one letter of recommendation from each of the following individuals.
   
   • Dean or head official of the applicant’s dental school.
   • Dental school clinical instructor able to evaluate the applicant’s potential.
   • A person of the applicant’s choosing, preferably someone with whom the applicant has worked.



7. Curriculum Vitae/Professional Resume
   
   A current copy of the applicant’s curriculum vitae/professional resume must be submitted. Please include: education, professional employment/organizations, research/publications, honors/awards, and community service.



8. Certification of Finances
   
   Qualified applicants who require a F-1 or J-1 visa must complete a Confidential Financial Statement before final admission. The certification is necessary for UCLA to provide a Certificate of Eligibility, which allows the applicant to apply for a student visa. (Only those accepted to the program will need to complete the form)
   

Timeline

All of the above items (1-8) must be received no later than 4:00pm on October 1, 2004 at the address listed below.

Professional Program for International Dentists
Office of Student Affairs
UCLA School of Dentistry
A0-111 Center for the Health Sciences
Los Angeles, California 90095

Only completed applications will be eligible for review by the Committee. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all materials are received by the October 1st deadline date.

Selection Factors

The admissions process has two phases. In phase one, all files are reviewed and finalists selected. Factors influencing the selection of final candidates, to be invited for personal interviews, didactic testing and pre-clinical exam, include National Board Part I scores, TOEFL scores, aptitudes demonstrated in dental school, personal statements, and letters of recommendation. We anticipate that selections for phase two will be done no later than mid-November. In phase two, weight is given to performance on the written and pre-clinical exam, and interpersonal skills demonstrated in the interviews. Applicants selected for phase two will be assessed a US $300 (non-refundable) testing fee. The testing fee must be made payable to the UC Regents in form of a money order or cashiers check. Testing for phase two should be completed by mid-December. Notification of acceptance will be no later than January 15, 2005; those candidates offered admissions to the program would be expected to submit a $5000 (non-refundable) deposit within 30 days of acceptance.

Fees and Expenses

The above-listed represent an estimate of expenses. Living expenses include room/board, transportation and personal expenses. These estimates do not include costs for dental/medical care, car payments, debts, charge accounts, spouses and childcare. It is essential to note that budgets are subject to modification.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL FEES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid information will be available upon receipt of the $5000 deposit.

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding the application form or procedures, please contact:

Nate L. Kasper
Program Coordinator
Professional Program for International Dentists
310-825-6218
nkasper@dent.ucla.edu