Hi, I heard something about international students restricted to practice in only one state of their choice after passing board exam, is that true?
I am wondering, If i decided to take the Western Regional Board, and I pass it, and consider practising in CA. Do I have to take any further exam for CA? What if I am applying a specialty program at a different state other than CA, will I be allowed to treat patient during my residency?

Ok, now I'm confused !
Do you even have a dental degree ? What are you talking about ?
I'm starting to get a sense that you're full of hot air ahga80.
What's the deal ?

Note to everyone else:
This is what I am talking about ...
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=277620

Hi, I heard something about international students restricted to practice in only one state of their choice after passing board exam, is that true?
I am wondering, If i decided to take the Western Regional Board, and I pass it, and consider practising in CA. Do I have to take any further exam for CA? What if I am applying a specialty program at a different state other than CA, will I be allowed to treat patient during my residency?

I am sorry that you are confused.
I do mean to ask this question because I am thinking to specialize or not. As an international student, if i am only limited to one state to practice, then going to specialty at that state will make more sense. However, there are not many schools in one state. So I would like to know how international students who just graduated from dental school and interested in specialize go about selecting school and finding job afterward.
These questions are important, because if there is so much obstacle for international students to be specialist and practice in the state, I will seriously think about being a GP only and make life easier.
YOu may think that why the hell a pre dent asks questions about specialty. But to me, choosing UCSF / Harvard is really a question of choosing GP vs. Specialize. I hope you understand.

I am sorry that you are confused.
I do mean to ask this question because I am thinking to specialize or not. As an international student, if i am only limited to one state to practice, then going to specialty at that state will make more sense. However, there are not many schools in one state. So I would like to know how international students who just graduated from dental school and interested in specialize go by selecting school and finding job afterward.
These questions are important, because if there is so much obstacle for international students to be specialist and practice in the state, I will seriously think about being a GP only and make life easier.
YOu may think that why the hell a pre dent asks questions about specialty. But to me, choosing UCSF / Harvard is really a question of choosing GP vs. Specialize. I hope you understand.
I'm afraid I still don't understand ahga.
Your question would be relevant only to a "foreign dental graduate" and not a "foreign pre-dent" (international student). Since you will be attending Harvard or UCSF you should not have a problem with any of these issues.
A handful of states still require citizenship for licensure purposes, but still, specializing would not make a difference.
In short, if you have a DDS/DMD, which either school would grant you, you can apply for licensure/practice anywhere in the US. Anywhere. On the other hand, if you have an international degree (BDS or equivalent), that is when you may have a problem.
I still however disagree that the choice between Harvard and UCSF is one of specializing or not. Both schools have very promising rates of matching in PASS.
Good Luck.

I am very confused about the whole regional board thing. To my understanding, the western regional board will cover many states. But as a non-American resident, am I only restricted to practice in only one state? Or am I free to practice any state within what the western regional board covers?
If i took the western regional board, am I only limited to applying western schools for specialty program??

I still however disagree that the choice between Harvard and UCSF is one of specializing or not. Both schools have very promising rates of matching in PASS.
It's a solid fact that most students from Harvard specialize (32/35) vs. 10% for UCSF. If i want to do GP, it's obvious that UCSF is the choice because it's got much better facilities, and clincial training.

You know, I am confused about how the rules apply to people who are international students getting the DMD/DDS vs. a foreign dentist getting the DMD/DDS.
There is also a group of people who are foreign dentists applying for specialty program......

As a Foreign Trained Dentist getting a US DDS/DMD degree, the same rule applies as an American Dental Graduate. This means, that after passing the Regional Board it would allow you to practice in the states which part of it.
I hope it's clear.
Annnnd jojo out
:laugh:

You know, I am confused about how the rules apply to people who are international students getting the DMD/DDS vs. a foreign dentist getting the DMD/DDS.
There is also a group of people who are foreign dentists applying for specialty program......
Why would you be concerned with that ?
It's a long process, and I don't think you want to confuse yourself with it, but to answer your question, yes. It happens all the time.

Simply put ahga, if you have a DDS/DMD and are NOT a permanent US resident, you are allowed to apply for licensure and practice in ANY of the states which do not have any residency (green card/citizenship) restrictions. These states are the majority by the way.
Who told you that UCSF has only a %10 match rate? I think that is absurd. I find that to be a misleading statement.
UCSF is an excellent school and in fact I would think of it as superior to Harvard in many ways in regards to dental edcuation/training. If only %10 of one specific class "decided" to go to post grad positions does not mean that the whole school has a weak match potential.
Getting into post grad positions is mostly dependant on yourself, your grades and your class rank as opposed to what school you graduated from ... ie; the top %15 in Harvard would match as good as the top %15 of UCSF.
Did you really get accepted at both schools? I am seriously questioning that now ...
Sorry if I come across as being too critical or mean, but you are just not making sense to me.

On a lighter note, regional boards should not dictate which state you go to specialize in or reside in later on. Whatever program you get accepted into following dental school would be the judge of that.

My personal judgment is that you are getting way ahead of your self way to early. Just get into dental school first, work hard to get a high score on your boards and maintain a excellent GPA. Then come back in a couple of years and we can complete this discussion then on a sounder basis.

Either school is good. Trust me.

Good Luck.

I am very confused about the whole regional board thing. To my understanding, the western regional board will cover many states. But as a non-American resident, am I only restricted to practice in only one state? Or am I free to practice any state within what the western regional board covers?
If i took the western regional board, am I only limited to applying western schools for specialty program??


It's a solid fact that most students from Harvard specialize (32/35) vs. 10% for UCSF. If i want to do GP, it's obvious that UCSF is the choice because it's got much better facilities, and clincial training.

Simply put ahga, if you have a DDS/DMD and are NOT a permanent US resident, you are allowed to apply for licensure and practice in ANY of the states which do not have any residency (green card/citizenship) restrictions. These states are the majority by the way.
Who told you that UCSF has only a %10 match rate? I think that is absurd. I find that to be a misleading statement.
UCSF is an excellent school and in fact I would think of it as superior to Harvard in many ways in regards to dental edcuation/training. If only %10 of one specific class "decided" to go to post grad positions does not mean that the whole school has a weak match potential.
Getting into post grad positions is mostly dependant on yourself, your grades and your class rank as opposed to what school you graduated from ... ie; the top %15 in Harvard would match as good as the top %15 of UCSF.
Did you really get accepted at both schools? I am seriously questioning that now ...
Sorry if I come across as being too critical or mean, but you are just not making sense to me.

On a lighter note, regional boards should not dictate which state you go to specialize in or reside in later on. Whatever program you get accepted into following dental school would be the judge of that.

My personal judgment is that you are getting way ahead of your self way to early. Just get into dental school first, work hard to get a high score on your boards and maintain a excellent GPA. Then come back in a couple of years and we can complete this discussion then on a sounder basis.

Either school is good. Trust me.

Good Luck.

Thank you for your advice. I dont think it's bad to know things ahead of time because my admission depends on whether I will specialize or not in the future. It's my way of thinking. Of course you have no problem questioning it. I will not question your way of thinking either. Yes I do get accepted in both schools. Yes, 10% as I counted no. of students get into specialty program (exclude GPR or any general dentistry graduate training) in UCSF. I got all the data from the interviews.
I dont know why you think I am not making any sense. I am just seeking help here, like the rest of the students here. If I were you, I would not be as critical. I dont know why you have such negative attitude toward me, just because I am asking qeustions that are important to me. If someone asks me a question, no matter how stupid it is, I will never say anything to make that person upset.

Ok, now I'm confused !
Do you even have a dental degree ? What are you talking about ?
I'm starting to get a sense that you're full of hot air ahga80.
What's the deal ?

Note to everyone else:
This is what I am talking about ...
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=277620

After reading the posts,it looks like you are attached to Harvard's name and SF as a place.Whats more important to you?A good education? either school is great.Warm weather??SF all the way.Or the tag that u went to Harvard?
Sure it is a good to think ahead....but trust me your ideas are in for a re evaluation as you complete DDS.
Like someone said it before..get a damn good education first.. :)