Specializing Overseas

[Tooth]

I graduated from a US dental school but am considering specializing overseas in New Zealand. As such, it is prudent to verify that I could still practice that specialty later on in the US if so desired.

I have researched two states so far, Texas and Washington. Texas is clear that you have to specialize in an ADA accredited specialty program. But Washington doesn't appear to care. It appears that specialists are just lumped into the same pile of "dentists" and, as long as you went to an accredited US dental school, you qualify. Am I missing something?

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[CoachJawbone]

Great question! i too will be looking for an answer!

 

[Notradaya]

Well I'm on the other side of the coin, I am American but I did my general dental degree in Australia, now I'm trying to specialize back home in the States. DOH! Biggest mistake ever. Honestly, I'm so lost in which states will recognize my degree as a specialist but not force me into the foreign trained dentist programs to get my general degree recognized, but I can tell you this: unless you plan to stay in NZ, you are far better off remaining in the US for your specialty. You can take that American degree most places without needing re-training, but getting back to the US to specialize with a specialty obtained overseas will probably limit you in where you want to work. Licensing rules can always change, and you know you'll alway be free to work anywhere in the US with a US degree. Save yourself the headache unless you are certain you don't care.

I thought I was certain I was immigrating to Aus forever when I accepted my position here, now I'm stuck and really battling to get home. It's hard and way more expensive, and I've really limited my options unless I do a bridging program. But such is life...

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Tooth]

Well I'm on the other side of the coin, I am American but I did my general dental degree in Australia, now I'm trying to specialize back home in the States. DOH! Biggest mistake ever. Honestly, I'm so lost in which states will recognize my degree as a specialist but not force me into the foreign trained dentist programs to get my general degree recognized, but I can tell you this: unless you plan to stay in NZ, you are far better off remaining in the US for your specialty. You can take that American degree most places without needing re-training, but getting back to the US to specialize with a specialty obtained overseas will probably limit you in where you want to work. Licensing rules can always change, and you know you'll alway be free to work anywhere in the US with a US degree. Save yourself the headache unless you are certain you don't care.

I thought I was certain I was immigrating to Aus forever when I accepted my position here, now I'm stuck and really battling to get home. It's hard and way more expensive, and I've really limited my options unless I do a bridging program. But such is life...

Good luck with your decision!

Fascinating. Thank you for your post.

Recently, I was informed of a shortage of dentists in Australia. Dr. Derek Mahony, an Orthodontist from Australia, spoke at the California dental convention. There, he urged American dentists to consider immigrating to Australia due to a shortage of Aussie dentists. He stated that the shortage was so profound that one could expect an income of 2.5 MILLION dollars a year. The caveat being that you must practice in a rural location as the cities are quite saturated. To me, this claim appears far fetched. While there may be a dentist earning that, I highly doubt that it is common. However, as a dentist in Australia, can you provide any credence to his argument?

 

[koobpheej]

Can you provide a reference for this individual...not that I don’t believe you heard what you say you did...I'm just mildly interested in checking out the possibility...living in AUS could be cool

 

[Tooth]

Can you provide a reference for this individual...not that I don’t believe you heard what you say you did...I'm just mildly interested in checking out the possibility...living in AUS could be cool

http://www.derekmahony.com/Curriculum.htm