CA Licensure for foreign-trained dentists

[julkin]

Dear SDNers,

I was reading the requirements to become licensed in CA for FTDs, since it is my ultimate goal to practice there for family reasons.

In the board's website it states that:
"All graduates of a non-accredited dental school desiring to practice dentistry in California must pass the National Board of Dental Examiners Written Examinations before applying for admission to the California Restorative Technique Examination.
After passing the National Board Examination, graduates of non-accredited dental schools are eligible to apply to take the Restorative Technique Examination given by the Dental Board of California in accordance with the Dental Practice Act.
A graduate of a non-accredited dental school who is successful in completing the Restorative Technique Examination is eligible to apply to the Dental Board of California to take the Dental Licensure Examination. Successful completion of this exam is required in order to become licensed to practice dentistry in California."

Is this all they need?, I mean if someone who is a graduate of a non-accredited dental program from say like Eastern Europe passes those exams in the order:
1- the National Board of Dental Examiners Written Examinations
2- the Restorative Technique Examination
3- the Dental Licensure Examination

can get his/her license and start to work?
Do all foreign-trained dentists examine this path before applying to IDP or IDDP or QP programs in CA?
So it seems that the situation for foreign-trained dentists in CA is exactly the same as foreign-medical graduates which is that they have to take the USMLEs and after that if they can score well, they can start to work in hospitals or choose to specialize further.

My apologies for the long post...

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[prachi]

Hi Julkin,
As far as my knowledge goes,I think that only people who have given both NBDE 1 and 2 before 2003 are eligible for the restorative technique.If you qualify....then go ahead.All the best

 

[Dushyant]

I agree with prachi,
Now (thats if u have not taken ur NBDE part I and II before 2003),U have to take 2 yrs of dental school.
I would suggest u to call teh CA dental board in sacremento and talk to them personally.Also u can check the websites of universities of California to know the details abt IDP.
HOpe it helps.

 

[julkin]

Thank you prachi and Dushyant for your replies,

I already knew that if someone is a foreign-trained dentist and wants to be able to work in the US, he/she has to apply to those qualifying programs across the US (under different names in every state) and enroll in the 2-year program (sometimes 2 or more years) which is equivalent to the 3rd and 4th year of the regular US dental program.

But in the article published by the ADA which was available in the PDF format on their website, I read that there are 3 states which have the authority to approve foreign dental schools: CA, MN and HI and so far only one school has been approved by CA in this regard. (a Mexican school) meaning that a graduate of this Mexican school can take the boards directly after graduation and start to work.
Now I assume that, every FTD has to enroll a 2-year program unless the school he/she graduated from is approved by the time of his/her graduation which in this case he/she won't need further schooling (qualifying program, etc.) and after he/she passes the regular boards and regional exams, he/she is licensed and can start to work.

If I am missing something here, please go on and express your thoughts.

Thank you all,

 

[rahmed]

Thank you prachi and Dushyant for your replies,

I already knew that if someone is a foreign-trained dentist and wants to be able to work in the US, he/she has to apply to those qualifying programs across the US (under different names in every state) and enroll in the 2-year program (sometimes 2 or more years) which is equivalent to the 3rd and 4th year of the regular US dental program.

But in the article published by the ADA which was available in the PDF format on their website, I read that there are 3 states which have the authority to approve foreign dental schools: CA, MN and HI and so far only one school has been approved by CA in this regard. (a Mexican school) meaning that a graduate of this Mexican school can take the boards directly after graduation and start to work.
Now I assume that, every FTD has to enroll a 2-year program unless the school he/she graduated from is approved by the time of his/her graduation which in this case he/she won't need further schooling (qualifying program, etc.) and after he/she passes the regular boards and regional exams, he/she is licensed and can start to work.

If I am missing something here, please go on and express your thoughts.

Thank you all,

You got everything right. Hence unfortunately you have to pursue a 2/3 years advanced standing/international dentist/international student program in one of the ada approved dental school. Good luck

rahmed

 

[julkin]

Which CA school is more popular among FTDs: UCLA, UCSF, UOP, USC and Loma Linda?

 

[Dushyant]

Which CA school is more popular among FTDs: UCLA, UCSF, UOP, USC and Loma Linda?

GOOD QUESTIONS JULKIN...... 😕
I am FTD too and i think all these schools are good,if u get a chance to join them.
(besides every institute has its own petals and thorns).

 

[julkin]

GOOD QUESTIONS JULKIN...... 😕
I am FTD too and i think all these schools are good,if u get a chance to join them.
(besides every institute has its own petals and thorns).

That's for sure 😀, even though Loma Linda is not an option for me 👎.

 

[julkin]

Is the GPA which someone achieves in a foreign dental school weighted in CA schools (specially UCLA and UCSF)?

Just checked the UCSF web site, stating that: "Admission requirements include: evidence of a dental degree or equivalent from a foreign country,..."

Does this mean that they only want to see a DMD or DDS on the degree paper or they will go through the entire educational record of the applicant in the school he or she graduated from?

 

[julkin]

bump! 😀