If I plan on practicing dentistry in California, should I only apply to dental school in California?

[super112]

As a pre-dent, I've heard that the California regional licensing test is more difficult than others and only California schools will adequately prepare you for their state examinations. Knowing this should I limit my applications to California or the school doesn't really matter? Any thoughts/opinions?

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[Silent Cool]

As a pre-dent, I've heard that the California regional licensing test is more difficult than others and only California schools will adequately prepare you for their state examinations. Knowing this should I limit my applications to California or the school doesn't really matter? Any thoughts/opinions?

LOL, no. Go to the cheapest school, regardless of where it is.

Also, I believe that now California has reciprocity with the rest of the country, so if you are boarded anywhere else you are automatically boarded in CA. Of course, if you attend dental school in CA you will have to take the CA board. I think that CA started to offer reciprocity about 7-8 years ago and when they did the state experienced a huge influx of dentists. The previous requirement for re-boarding via the CA board is what traditionally kept a lot of dentists out of the state.

Other dentists: please correct me if I am wrong.

good luck.

 

[super112]

Very interesting, thanks for the reply!

 

[Daurang]

CHEAPEST school...NO 'if', 'or', 'but'. Even if you don't get boarded in Cali, you will automatically get your Cali license after 5 years practicing elsewhere. By then you may never ever want to return to Cali until retirement. I've been there and done that.

 

[Miley Cyrus.]

CHEAPEST school...NO 'if', 'or', 'but'. Even if you don't get boarded in Cali, you will automatically get your Cali license after 5 years practicing elsewhere. By then you may never ever want to return to Cali until retirement. I've been there and done that.

Cali schools ain't cheap. UCLA is around $220k w/o living expenses and UCSF is $230k w/o living expenses. Both are in high cost of living areas and the rents have gone up significantly quite recently.

 

[cfar83]

I practice in California and I would love to do it somewhere else. there are so many dentists here, go to Texas, you'll be better there.

 

[Silent Cool]

I practice in California and I would love to do it somewhere else. there are so many dentists here, go to Texas, you'll be better there.

cfar, whereabouts in CA do you practice?

Is it better for specialists?

thanx

 

[super112]

cfar will know better than me, but I hear CA (specifically Southern CA) has a lot of dentists/specialists competing with one another. How bad is it? I can't say. But does anyone know if specialists automatically get to practice in CA since they have done residency (even if it was out of state)?