Should I retake TOEFL for GPR's

[PG2010]

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I am an international dentist in a two years DMD program. I am applying for GPR programs. My TOEFL is expired, I want to know if I should retake TOEFL. Am I still considered an international dentist ? (with DMD from a US school)

 

[Lindademais]

I am an international dentist in a two years DMD program. I am applying for GPR programs. My TOEFL is expired, I want to know if I should retake TOEFL. Am I still considered an international dentist ? (with DMD from a US school)

Hey, PG2010. Great question. I'm in the same situation here.
I am on University of Florida and you?

 

[bleach]

well. sorry to give you bad news but, international dentist of FTD will follow you like a curse even after obtaining the US degree,and yes many programs will ask you to retake it, some of them says if you spent min 2 years in a US school, you are exempt. If you are applying GPR during your junior year, to start after graduation, it means you have not spent 2 years in the US dental school. This answer is coming from someone who has the same background like you, I had to retake it when I was applying during my junior year.

Good luck, just realize that getting into a residency is more of an uphill battle for you than regular american graduates.

 

[PG2010]

Hey, PG2010. Great question. I'm in the same situation here.
I am on University of Florida and you?

I am in BU. thinking to apply for GPR's, so I was wondering if I should retake TOEFL, but didn't get a definite answer. Taking TOEFL is not a big deal, but I was under impression that once you have a US degree you don't need retake TOEFL every time you apply for a new degree, but at the other end as said above we don't have the actual DMD degree in hand.

 

[2thDr]

I am in BU. thinking to apply for GPR's, so I was wondering if I should retake TOEFL, but didn't get a definite answer. Taking TOEFL is not a big deal, but I was under impression that once you have a US degree you don't need retake TOEFL every time you apply for a new degree, but at the other end as said above we don't have the actual DMD degree in hand.

I am not an international dentist, but having gone through residency, your best bet is to narrow down the programs that you are applying to. After that, call the program directors, ask to speak to them, and convince them that you do not need to retake the TOEFL.
Obviously if you are a dentist and going through 2 years again, you know English! Make your argument with the program directors that you are a strong candidate based on your other skills.
Most often of the times, program directors will waive certain requirements if you can convince them that you will have a strong application otherwise.

Of course, you can avoid all the hassle, spend the few bucks and just retake the test. Sometimes, its all about having a 'current test score' rather than the score itself.
With a few exceptions, the program director has complete authority on the program requirements (unless superceded by State or hospital/dental school administration) and also have the final say on which candidate gets admission, or ranked (if going through PASS)