WICHE made easy - All Western US Students read this!

I am making this thread because many people do not take advantage of a program that could save them up to $100,000 in dental school. It is the WICHE program.

WICHE stands for Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. It is a program that allows students who come from a state that does not have its own state dental program to gain funds for a western state's program.

Applicants from the following states are eligible:
AK AZ HI MT NV NM ND WY

These are the participating Dental Schools and Locations:

Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health
A.T. Still University
Mesa, AZ 85206

Loma Linda University
School of Dentistry
Loma Linda, CA 92350

University of California, Los Angeles
School of Dentistry
Los Angeles, CA 90025-1762

University of California, San Francisco
School of Dentistry
San Francisco, CA 94143

University of Nevada, Las Vegas
School of Dentistry
Las Vegas , NV 89106-4124

University of the Pacific
School of Dentistry
San Francisco, CA 94115

University of Southern California
School of Dentistry
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0641

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
School of Dentistry
Denver, CO 80262

Oregon Health & Science University
School of Dentistry
Portland, OR 97201-3098

University of Washington
School of Dentistry
Seattle, WA 98195

Here are some links to the Web Page so that you can learn more about it:

WICHE main page

WICHE - PSEP dental

Here are the steps to applying to WICHE:

Student Checklist
Complete the certification process before October 15 of the year preceding admission. State deadlines and requirements vary; please check with your certifying officer. (this is basically to confirm residency)

Apply to the participating schools of your choice. Inform your certifying officer of all the schools to which you are seeking admission.

IMMEDIATELY inform your certifying officer as you receive offers and when you accept an offer of admission at a participating school.

Formally decline offers of admission at schools you will not be attending.

Check directly with your enrolling institution regarding the specific tuition charges that will be required from you.

Enroll and remain enrolled as a full-time student, and maintain your home state residency.

Keep your state certifying officer posted as to your current address.

State certifying officers inform all students of annual renewal requirements for state certification

I copied this from their website, but I suggest you click here since it has all the right links.

PSEP — CERTIFYING OFFICES
Addresses and phone numbers of certifying offices and fields of study supported by each state.

Please note: Although the States of California and South Dakota are in the WICHE region, they do not participate as "sending states" in the Professional Student Exchange Program at this time.

ALASKA
D-OT-OPT-PA-PHRM-POD-PT
(Note: As of the 2000-01 academic year, the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education was authorized by law to administer PSEP participation as a loan program funded by the Alaska Student Corporation. Terms and conditions for the PSEP loan are set by regulation.)

Certifying Officer for Alaska
WICHE Student Exchange Program
Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education
3030 Vintage Blvd.
Juneau, AK 99801-7100
Phone: (907) 465-6741
Fax: (907) 465-5316

ARIZONA
D-OT-OPT-OSTEO-PA-VM

Certifying Officer for Arizona
WICHE Student Exchange Program
Arizona Board of Regents
2020 North Central, Suite 230
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone: (602) 229-2563
Fax: (602) 229-2555

COLORADO
OPT

Certifying Officer for Colorado
WICHE Student Exchange Program
Colorado Commission on Higher Education
1380 Lawrence Street, Suite 1200
Denver, CO 80204
Phone: (303) 866-2723
Fax: (303) 866-4266

HAWAII
D-OT-OPT-PHRM-PT-VM

Certifying Officer for Hawaii
WICHE Student Exchange Program
Student Services Center
2600 Campus Road, Room 413
Honolulu, HI 96822
Phone: (808) 956-6625
Fax: (808) 956-5156

IDAHO
OPT

Certifying Officer for Idaho
WICHE Student Exchange Program
Idaho Board of Education
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0037
Phone: (208) 332-1574
Fax: (208) 334-2632

MONTANA
D-M-OT-OPT-OSTEO-POD-PH-VM

Certifying Officer for Montana
WICHE Student Exchange Program
Montana University System
P.O. Box 203101, 2500 Broadway
Helena, MT 59620
Phone: (406) 444-6570
Fax: (406) 444-1469

NEVADA
D-OT-OPT-PHRM-PT-PA-VM

Certifying Officer for Nevada
WICHE Student Exchange Program
Mail Stop 304
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV 89557
Phone: (775) 784-4900
Fax: (775) 327-5193

NEW MEXICO
D-GLS-OT-OPT-OSTEO-PT-PA-POD-PH-VM

Certifying Officer for New Mexico
WICHE Student Exchange Program
Commission on Higher Education
P.O. Box 15910
Santa Fe, NM 89506-5910
Phone: (505) 827-7383 or 1-800-279-9777
Fax: (505) 827-7392

NORTH DAKOTA
D-OPT-VM

Certifying Officer for North Dakota
WICHE Student Exchange Program
North Dakota University System
State Capitol, 10th Floor
600 East Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 215
Bismarck, ND 58505-0154
Phone: (701) 328-4114
Fax: (701) 328-2961

OREGON
Due to Oregon's current state budget shortfall, they will not be supporting any new students through WICHE's Professional Student Exchange Program until further notice.

Certifying Officer for Oregon
WICHE Student Exchange Program
Oregon University System
P.O. Box 3175
Eugene, OR 97403-0175
Phone: (541) 346-5720
Fax: (541) 346-5764

SOUTH DAKOTA
THIS STATE DOES NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE PROFESSIONAL STUDENT EXCHANGE

Certifying Officer for South Dakota
WICHE Student Exchange Program
South Dakota Board of Regents
207 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501-3159
Phone: (605) 773-3455
Fax: (605) 773-5320

UTAH
OPT-POD-VM

Certifying Officer for Utah
WICHE Student Exchange Program
Utah System of Higher Education
#3 Triad Center, Suite 550
Salt Lake City, UT 84180-1205
Phone: (801) 321-7153
Fax: (801) 321-7199

WASHINGTON
OPT-OSTEO

Certifying Officer for Washington
WICHE Student Exchange Program
Higher Education Coordinating Board
917 Lakeridge Way
P.O. Box 43430
Olympia, WA 98504-3430
Phone: (360) 753-7861
Fax: (360) 704-6261

WYOMING
ARCH-D-GLS-M-OT-OPT-OSTEO-PT-PA-POD-VM

Certifying Officer for Wyoming
WICHE Student Exchange Program
Box 3432, University Station
Laramie, WY 82071-3432
Phone: (307) 766-6556
Fax: (307) 766-6608

Note that your home state is using state funds to pay for you to go to these schools and there is a limited number that they can fund from each state. It will only pay for 4 years and you must be a resident of that state for at least the preceding 1 year (for most states). Last year it filled up quickly in my state, so hurry! even if you are on a wait list, don't fret! People like me went to another school anyway so open spots may come available!