How to Work in the U.S. As a Foreign-Educated Dentist

Many foreign-educated dentists wonder about immigrating to the United States with their skills and obtaining employment as a dentist. This process may be lengthy, but it does come with some advantages. In the U.S., you can make good money as an accredited dentist. According to the U.S. News & World Report, the average dentist can make from $101,570 to $208,000 a year. To achieve this, you need to get your foreign credentials recognized and qualify for state licensing.

Our guide tells you how to complete this process and answers questions such as:

• What Is the Process for Working in the U.S. As a Foreign-Educated Dentist?
• How Much Does It Cost to Work as a Foreign-Educated Dentist in the U.S.?
• How Long Does It Take To Work as a Foreign-Educated Dentist in the U.S.?
• Are There Any Restrictions to Working as a Foreign-Educated Dentist in the U.S.?
• What Are the State-Specific Requirements for Foreign-Educated Dentists?
• What Are the Immigration Requirements for Foreign-Educated Dentists?
• Where Can I Get a Certified Translation?

What Is the Process for Working in the U.S. As a Foreign-Educated Dentist?

This process involves state-specific components due to differing state licensing requirements, so it’s important to pick a state you wish to work in before getting started. The steps for becoming a foreign-educated dentist in the U.S. include:

1. While state requirements for dentist licensing do vary, all states require that applicants meet basic education and examination requirements. In order to practice as a dentist in the U.S., you will need to have obtained an education from a dentistry program that is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). If you already possess an international degree for practicing dentistry in your home country, you are eligible to apply for an advanced standing dental education program. These programs are offered by institutions across the United States and allow international applicants to obtain an accredited dental education within a much shorter time frame, typically two to three years depending on the program.
   Review CODA-accredited programs and the American Dental Education Association’s (ADEA) guidelines on applying to advanced standing dental education programs as an international applicant to get started. It’s important to note that these programs do have varying entrance requirements, so you will need to carefully look at the requirements of the program you are interested in applying to.
2. Meet all application requirements for the advanced standing education program you are interested in and travel to the United States to study. You may be required to obtain a credential evaluation of your foreign dentistry degree with an organization in the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE), submit a certified translation of important documents like diplomas and licenses, or pass entrance examinations. You will also most likely need to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to ensure you are prepared for coursework conducted entirely in English if this isn’t one of your country’s main languages. Additionally, you will need to work with the program you are interested in to ensure you meet all visa requirements that allow you to study and complete your dental education in the U.S.
3. After graduating from your advanced standing education program, you will need to look into state dentist licensing requirements. State requirements for education, clinical residencies, and continuing education will vary, which is why it’s important to research the state you wish to work in before applying to an accredited dentistry program, but all states will require that you take and pass the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) before a dentist license is awarded.
4. Once you’ve obtained a state dentist license, you will need to ensure you have the proper visa to allow you to practice in your chosen state without issue. There are several different visa options available for foreign-educated dentists including the H-1B visa, the EB-2 NIW, and the EB-3 visa.

After you have completed all of these steps, you are legally able to practice dentistry in your chosen state. Make sure that you pay attention to continuing education and license upkeep steps that your state requires, in addition to meeting any ongoing visa or green card requirements.

How Much Does It Cost to Work as a Foreign-Educated Dentist in the U.S.?

The cost of working as a foreign-educated dentist is not inexpensive, as you will need to complete an advanced standing dental program in order to be eligible for a state dentist license. These programs range between $30,000 and $50,000 in tuition fees before scholarships and other deductions, depending on the program you choose to enroll in. You may also be required to pay enrollment and examination fees associated with your education.

Applying for a state dentist license costs anywhere from $50 to a few hundred dollars depending on the state and the examination requirements you need to meet; the INBDE is a minimum of $680, not including preparation materials. You may also have to submit background checks, credential evaluations, and certified translations of your documents, all of which come with fees.

The TOEFL or IELTS tests are an additional cost if you need to take them, and you will also need to factor in the cost of your visa application, which can range between $460 and $1,000 or more, depending on the visa type that is best for your personal immigration situation.

You will also need to keep in mind that some states require ongoing license fees or continuing education credits that you will have to pay for if you wish to keep your state dentist license up to date.

How Long Does It Take To Work as a Foreign-Educated Dentist in the U.S.?

It can take several years before you are able to work as a foreign-educated dentist in the U.S. Most advanced standing dental programs take between one and three years to complete, and then you will need to take the INBDE and meet other state-specific license requirements. Depending on how long you study for the INBDE and state requirements such as clinical residency or examination requirements, this could take up to another year to obtain.

You will also need to apply for a visa so you can legally practice as a dentist in your chosen state. Visa application timelines vary based on the visa you are applying for, so this process can take anywhere between 13 and 24 months, though you may be able to apply for your visa at the same time as you complete other steps of this process to lessen your waiting time as much as possible.

Are There Any Restrictions to Working as a Foreign-Educated Dentist in the U.S.?

Once you obtain your accredited dentistry education and your state dentist license, pass all examinations, and receive your visa for working in the U.S., you will be able to freely practice as a dentist. There are no restrictions for foreign-educated dentists as long as they make sure to meet all continuing state license and visa requirements.

What Are the State-Specific Requirements for Foreign-Educated Dentists?

States have varying requirements when it comes to awarding a dentist license. All states require that you have an accredited dentist education and pass the INBDE before being eligible for licensure. Some states may require clinical residencies or examinations, and some may have continuing education and license renewal requirements that you need to meet to keep your dentist license active.

Review the requirements of the state dental board in the state that you wish to practice dentistry before starting this process so you know which type of accredited education program you will need to complete. Doing this will also help you prepare and become familiar with any state-specific license requirements.

You may also want to use the American Dental Association’s (ADA) interactive dental licensure map for updated information on state dentist license requirements and state-specific ongoing education or examination requirements.

What Are the Immigration Requirements for Foreign-Educated Dentists?

All foreign-educated dentists that want to practice in the U.S. will need to obtain a visa to do so. Initially, this may be a student visa, as obtaining an accredited dental education is a prerequisite for a dental license in all states. After graduation and as you start to apply for a state dental license, you will need to obtain a visa or green card that allows you to work in the U.S. long term.

There are several different visa options available for dentists including the H-1B visa for specialty occupations, and the employment-based EB-2 and EB-3 visas. The USCIS provides more information about all of these visa types and the National Interest Waiver which some applicants may be eligible for alongside the EB-2 visa.

Where Can I Get a Certified Translation?

Certified translations are a vital part of ensuring you can work in the U.S. as a foreign-educated dentist. You will most likely need to obtain certified translations of your original academic documents, diplomas, and licenses before receiving a credential evaluation and applying to an advanced standing dental education program in the United States. You may also be required to submit certified translations alongside your original documents to state dental licensing boards.

Visit our online store to obtain a certified translation of your important documents such as:

• Diplomas
• Academic transcripts
• Business licenses and certifications
• Resumes and employment records
• Birth certificates

Order Your Certified Translation