Practicing in a different state

[kittywalker]

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I am a junior undergrad from Ohio and I will be applying to dental school this summer. I have average scores but I feel as though they will be good enough to get me into OSU (since I'm in-state). The catch is that I plan to live and practice in Colorado after I graduate from dental school. Several dentists I have observed have told me that you really need to go to school where you plan to practice--I'm assuming this is to be sure that your techniques are adequate for the area?? Does anyone know how true this is? I probably won't apply to Colorado for dental school since I am average and I know they don't really even consider people who aren't from the area. Would I be better off taking a year off and getting my masters in Colorado and then applying in-state??

I'd appreciate any advice!

Thanks!

 

[tinman831]

It's simply a matter of taking the licensing exam during your fourth year that will be accepted by your state. The premise of going to school in the area that you want to practice in, is that the school will be of more help in preparing you for the exam for that given state (not to say that they won't prepare you adequately for any other exam).

 

[DrJeff]

Tinman said it well. Once you graduate from dental school and successfully pass the board exam for the state that you'd like to practice in, you're fine! There are a few select states that have their own board exam(as opposed to a regional one) where the unofficial policy is that your chances of passing that exam are much greater if your mailing address is in that state and not some other state🙄, but if you're heading into your senior year of college and then tack on 4 years of d-school, your atleast 5 years away from a board situation and there very well may be a truely national board exam by that time.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Apply to and attend school wherever you wish. You'll be able to pass whatever licensing exam you need to pass in order to practice in Colorado. Don't sweat it at all, especially not at this point!