# ADEA CAAPID Application Guide for Internationally Trained Dentists

URL: https://dentovio.com/adea-caapid-application-guide

Last updated: 2026-11-08

ADEA CAAPID is the centralized application internationally trained dentists use to apply to US advanced-standing DDS/DMD programs. For the 2026–27 cycle it costs $264 for the first program and $115 for each additional program, opened March 5, 2026, and accepts submissions until January 29, 2027 at 11:59 PM ET, although each program sets its own, usually earlier, deadline. The ADEA Program Finder lists 47 participating programs. You need a DENTPIN, an ECE or WES course-by-course evaluation sent directly to CAAPID (ECE charges $199), your diploma with an official US translation, up to three letters of evaluation, a personal statement of at most 5,200 characters, INBDE scores sent by the ADA, and TOEFL scores sent to code B451. 36 of the 47 programs hold a bench test and 11 accept only US citizens or green-card holders.

## Key facts

- **CAAPID fee, 2026–27:** $264 + $115 — First program, then each additional program. Card payment only; refunds are not typically granted.
- **Cycle close:** January 29, 2027 — Last day to create an account, submit, or request letters (11:59 PM ET). Most programs close months earlier.
- **Participating programs:** 47 — Listed in the ADEA CAAPID Program Finder on November 8, 2026. All are CODA-accredited.
- **Credential evaluation:** ECE or WES, course-by-course — Sent by the evaluator straight to CAAPID. 25 programs accept ECE only. ECE charges $199.
- **TOEFL code:** B451 — Almost every CAAPID program requires the TOEFL (Ponce does not). The score scale changed to 1–6 on January 21, 2026.
- **Bench test:** 36 of 47 programs — 11 programs accept only US citizens or permanent residents.

## What ADEA CAAPID is, and which programs use it

ADEA CAAPID is the American Dental Education Association's centralized application for internationally educated dentists who want a US DDS or DMD through an **advanced-standing program** (also called an international dentist program). You submit one application with all of your materials. CAAPID processes it and sends it to every program you select.

- **47 programs** were listed in the [ADEA CAAPID Program Finder](https://programs.adea.org/CAAPID/programs) on November 8, 2026. ADEA's quick guide still says "more than 40".
- Every participating program is **CODA-accredited**, so graduates finish with the same degree a US-trained dentist holds and can pursue licensure like any US graduate.
- **Not every advanced-standing program uses CAAPID.** Programs outside it run their own applications, so check each school you are considering.
- Applicants apply to **9 to 10 programs** on average, and almost half of each year's applicants are reapplicants (ADEA quick guide).

Programs typically take 24 to 36 months. The Program Finder ranges from 24 months (Boston University, USC, Pacific, Meharry and others) to 45 months (University of Florida). Compare lengths, tuition and seats in our [international dentist programs guide](https://dentovio.com/international-dentist-programs/index.html.md).

CAAPID is not the only way to a US license. Some states license foreign-trained dentists after a one- or two-year residency instead of a full DDS. See [AEGD and GPR residencies for international dentists](https://dentovio.com/aegd-gpr-programs-for-international-dentists/index.html.md) before you commit to the most expensive route.

## CAAPID cycle dates and a month-by-month plan

**2026–27 cycle dates (ADEA CAAPID Help Center):**

| Milestone | Date |
| --- | --- |
| Cycle opens | March 5, 2026 |
| Last day to create an account, submit, or request letters | January 29, 2027, 11:59 PM ET |
| Last day transcripts and official test scores are matched | February 5, 2027, 5 PM ET |
| Last day evaluators can submit letters | February 5, 2027, 11:59 PM ET |
| Last day to resubmit from Undelivered | February 11, 2027, 11:59 PM ET |
| All processing ends | February 12, 2027, 5 PM ET |

**The cycle close is not your deadline.** Each program sets its own deadline, from April 30 to January 29. The largest cluster, 20 of 44 programs, falls between late May and mid-June, with 9 on June 1 itself. CAAPID states that it cannot extend a missed deadline.

ADEA has not yet published the 2027–28 opening date. The 2026–27 cycle opened March 5, and the Minnesota and New England profiles already show March 4 and March 15, 2027, so plan for early March 2027 and confirm on ADEA's site.

**ADEA's own suggested timeline, counted back from each program's deadline:**

- **At least 3 months before:** create your account.
- **10–12 weeks before:** request official transcripts and order your ECE or WES evaluation. Evaluation services "can take several weeks."
- **6–8 weeks before:** complete and submit the application.
- **4–6 weeks before:** keep monitoring until the status reads Complete.

For a June 1 deadline, that means an account by early March, ECE ordered in March, and submission by mid-April. Count back from your earliest target deadline, not the cycle close. Your INBDE result and TOEFL score should be in hand before you submit, since scores take up to five business days to post (TOEFL scores post weekly, in batches).

## Every document CAAPID asks for

| Item | What CAAPID requires | Common mistake |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **DENTPIN** | Required to start. Enter it with your date of birth so ADA scores match your file. | Registering a name spelled differently from your passport. |
| **Foreign transcript evaluation** | An electronic **course-by-course** evaluation from **ECE or WES**, sent by the evaluator directly to CAAPID. ECE charges $199. | Mailing your own transcripts. CAAPID discards foreign transcripts, even in English. |
| **US or Canadian coursework** | Official transcripts for any US (including graduate) coursework. | Forgetting a US certificate or master's program. |
| **Diploma** | A copy of the original diploma **plus an official US translation**, scanned into one file. | Uploading the translation alone. |
| **Letters of evaluation** | Up to **3** in CAAPID, typed on official letterhead and signed, submitted by the writers through Liaison Letters. Some programs want more. | Assuming CAAPID will warn you about a missing letter. It will not. |
| **Personal statement** | Required; maximum **5,200 characters** including spaces. One essay goes to every program and cannot be edited after you submit. | Naming a single school, or exceeding the limit (the form will not save). |
| **Experiences** | Up to **4** marked as most important; ADEA suggests focusing on the last 10 years. Home-country practice and US assisting or observing count as dental experience. | Listing everything at equal weight. |
| **Licenses** | Upload a copy of each dental license. CAAPID does not verify it. | — |
| **INBDE or NBDE scores** | Sent electronically by the ADA; choose ADEA CAAPID as a results recipient. NBDE results count only from 2012 onward. | Leaving DENTPIN or date of birth blank, so scores never match. |
| **TOEFL** | Sent electronically by ETS to code **B451**. Paper copies are not accepted. | Programs with their own requirement too (UCLA wants a report sent to the school; UIC uses its own code). |

**ECE or WES?** Choose before you order. 25 of the 47 programs accept **only ECE**, 20 accept either, and Minnesota lists WES only. If one program on your list is ECE-only, ECE covers every program except Minnesota, which lists WES only; Ohio State's profile names no evaluator. Enter your schools under Colleges Attended **before** you order the evaluation, or processing can be delayed. An ECE course-by-course report completed within the last five years can be reused.

The same ECE course-by-course report can also satisfy JCNDE's INBDE eligibility. See [the INBDE for international dentists](https://dentovio.com/inbde/for-international-dentists/index.html.md).

## TOEFL after the 2026 score change: 4.5 or 5?

On **January 21, 2026**, ETS moved the TOEFL iBT to a **1–6 scale** in half-point steps. For two years, score reports also show a comparable 0–120 score. ETS maps 5 to about 95+ and 4.5 to about 86+.

Program minimums now fall into two groups, so check the exact page for each school:

| Program | Stated TOEFL requirement |
| --- | --- |
| NYU | 5 on the new scale (100 on the old one); "MyBest" scores not accepted |
| UCLA | 95 before January 21, 2026, or 5.0 after; Home Edition taken after that date not accepted |
| Minnesota | Total of 5 (94 on the old scale) |
| Colorado | 5 on the new scale, or 94 |
| Boston University | 90 before January 21, 2026, or 4.5 after |
| Pacific (Dugoni) | 4.5 or higher; scores before January 21, 2026 not accepted |
| Western University | 88 (old scale) or 4.5 |
| UIC | 80 or 4.5; the last entering class averaged 101 |
| Harvard | 90 overall before January 21, 2026, otherwise 4.5 in every section |

UCLA, Boston University, Harvard and UIC reject TOEFL scores older than two years. Florida accepts 4.0, Temple asks for 5.5, and Meharry wants 100 with no section below 25. Treat **5 overall with no section below 4.5** as a safer target, then check each school. Ponce does not require the TOEFL; it expects applicants to be bilingual in English and Spanish.

## What applying through CAAPID actually costs

| Cost | Amount | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CAAPID, first program | $264 | 2026–27 cycle |
| CAAPID, each additional program | $115 | Ten programs: $1,299 in CAAPID fees alone |
| Program supplemental fees | about $45 to $250 each | 46 of 47 programs charge one. Examples: Marquette $45, Boston University $80, Pacific and Columbia $100, USC and Minnesota $150, Western $200, UCLA $250 |
| Bench test or interview fees | about $300 to $400 | UCLA $300, UTHealth Houston $300, Indiana $400 (where charged) |
| ECE course-by-course evaluation | $199 | Reusable for five years by ordering a report copy |
| TOEFL iBT | Set by test country | See the ETS fee lookup |
| INBDE, per attempt | $1,325 | $890 exam + $435 non-CODA processing |
| Background check after acceptance | $150 ($250 for New York residents) | Through Certiphi, at participating programs |
| Seat deposit after acceptance | $5,000 at Columbia and LSU | Other schools vary |

A realistic ten-program application, before travel for interviews and bench tests, runs about **$3,500 to $5,500** including the INBDE, TOEFL, evaluation, CAAPID, and supplemental fees. Tuition, often $100,000 or more per year, comes after; see the [cost comparison](https://dentovio.com/international-dentist-programs/index.html.md#cost).

ADEA's CAAPID fee page lists no fee-assistance program. Payment is by card only, and a card chargeback puts the whole application on hold.

## What happens after you submit, and what the statuses mean

CAAPID does not review your file until every transcript, evaluation and payment has arrived. Posting transcripts and test scores takes **five business days** from receipt; letters post immediately.

| Status | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| In Progress | Not yet submitted. |
| Received | Submitted, but required documents are still missing. |
| Completed | All required materials received. This is the final status. |
| Undelivered | An error was found and the application came back to you for correction. |

Boston University tells applicants CAAPID releases the application "1-3 days" after everything is in; ADEA publishes no official turnaround.

**After submission, most sections lock.** You can still add programs whose deadlines have not passed, add letters up to the maximum, and add new entries or optional documents. The personal statement cannot change.

Then each program takes over. Expect, depending on the school:

- a **supplemental application** (23 of 47 programs) or a supplemental fee;
- a **bench test** (36 of 47 programs). Indiana's, for example, is done on a typodont with air-turbine handpieces;
- an **interview**, which may be online first (NYU uses a Kira Talent video interview, then an in-person candidate day);
- **CASPer** at some schools, including UCLA and Pacific.

## All 47 CAAPID program deadlines, 2026–27

Sorted by deadline, from each program's ADEA Program Finder profile. Three profiles (Minnesota, New England, Touro) had already moved to 2027–28 dates and are listed below the table. **As of November 8, 2026, Marquette (January 1, 2027), Colorado and VCU (January 29, 2027) were still accepting 2026–27 applications.**

| Program deadline | Program | Program starts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| April 30, 2026 | UAB School of Dentistry (AL) | January 4, 2027 |
| May 5, 2026 | Harvard School of Dental Medicine (MA) | January 4, 2027 |
| May 15, 2026 | Indiana University School of Dentistry (IN) | January 4, 2027 |
| May 15, 2026 | University of Louisville School of Dentistry (KY) | January 4, 2027 |
| May 23, 2026 | UNC Adams School of Dentistry (NC) | January 2, 2027 |
| May 29, 2026 | Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (MA) | January 4, 2027 |
| May 30, 2026 | University of Michigan School of Dentistry (MI) | January 8, 2027 |
| June 1, 2026 | A.T. Still University Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (MO) | January 4, 2027 |
| June 1, 2026 | Loma Linda University School of Dentistry (CA) | March 29, 2027 |
| June 1, 2026 | NYU College of Dentistry (NY) | January 4, 2027 |
| June 1, 2026 | University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine (NY) | May 1, 2027 |
| June 1, 2026 | UMKC School of Dentistry (MO) | January 18, 2027 |
| June 1, 2026 | University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry (NE) | January 4, 2027 |
| June 1, 2026 | UNLV School of Dental Medicine (NV) | May 3, 2027 |
| June 1, 2026 | Penn Dental Medicine (PA) | January 4, 2027 |
| June 1, 2026 | University of Washington School of Dentistry (WA) | January 4, 2027 |
| June 5, 2026 | Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine (FL) | April 19, 2027 |
| June 5, 2026 | Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (IL) | February 8, 2027 |
| June 5, 2026 | University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry (OK) | January 11, 2027 |
| June 9, 2026 | UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry (TX) | January 4, 2027 |
| June 12, 2026 | University of the Pacific Dugoni School of Dentistry (CA) | July 5, 2027 |
| June 15, 2026 | UCSF School of Dentistry (CA) | June 14, 2027 |
| June 15, 2026 | UIC College of Dentistry (IL) | January 1, 2027 |
| June 19, 2026 | University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine (PA) | May 3, 2027 |
| June 30, 2026 | UCLA School of Dentistry (CA) | May 5, 2027 |
| July 15, 2026 | Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry (PA) | April 1, 2027 |
| July 20, 2026 | Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine (CA) | February 1, 2027 |
| July 31, 2026 | USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry (CA) | May 3, 2027 |
| July 31, 2026 | Howard University College of Dentistry (DC) | May 1, 2027 |
| July 31, 2026 | The Ohio State University College of Dentistry (OH) | January 4, 2027 |
| July 31, 2026 | University of Iowa College of Dentistry (IA) | January 4, 2027 |
| August 1, 2026 | Columbia University College of Dental Medicine (NY) | January 4, 2027 |
| August 15, 2026 | LSU School of Dentistry (LA) | July 1, 2027 |
| September 16, 2026 | Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (NJ) | February 1, 2027 |
| October 1, 2026 | University of Florida College of Dentistry (FL) | August 24, 2027 |
| October 1, 2026 | University of Pikeville Tanner College of Dental Medicine (KY) | April 12, 2027 |
| October 1, 2026 | University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine (PR) | June 1, 2027 |
| October 15, 2026 | Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine (MA) | July 26, 2027 |
| October 30, 2026 | UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry (TX) | April 1, 2027 |
| November 1, 2026 | Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry (TN) | June 1, 2027 |
| November 1, 2026 | Ponce Health Sciences University (PR) | June 4, 2027 |
| January 1, 2027 | Marquette University School of Dentistry (WI) | August 1, 2027 |
| January 29, 2027 | University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine (CO) | January 3, 2028 |
| January 29, 2027 | VCU School of Dentistry (VA) | July 1, 2027 |

Already showing 2027–28 dates: University of Minnesota (opens March 4, 2027, deadline May 4, 2027), University of New England (opens March 15, 2027, deadline June 1, 2027), and Touro (deadline August 1, 2027).

Bench tests, seats, length, citizenship limits and evaluator rules for every program are in the [full program comparison](https://dentovio.com/international-dentist-programs/index.html.md#programs).

## The mistakes that delay or sink a CAAPID application

1. **A name or date of birth that doesn't match.** If your TOEFL or ADA record shows your name differently from your CAAPID application, the scores will not post automatically. ADEA says this often happens with hyphens and apostrophes. Use one exact spelling from the DENTPIN onward.
2. **Treating January 29 as your deadline.** Many programs close around June 1, months before the cycle does. Apply as soon as your file is ready.
3. **Sending your own foreign transcripts.** CAAPID discards them. Only an ECE or WES course-by-course report sent by the evaluator counts.
4. **Ordering WES when a target program is ECE-only.** 25 programs, including NYU, accept ECE only.
5. **A two-year-old or wrong-scale TOEFL.** Several programs reject scores older than two years, and Pacific rejects any score from before January 21, 2026.
6. **Waiting for CAAPID to chase your letters.** It will not tell you a letter is missing.
7. **Two accounts or a chargeback.** Duplicate accounts and card chargebacks put the application on hold for every program.
8. **Missing a program's own requirement.** Supplemental forms, a school-specific TOEFL report, a dean's letter (Boston University and NYU require one), or a GPA floor (Pacific will not consider an ECE GPA of 1.99 or lower).
9. **Applying where you are not eligible.** 11 programs accept only US citizens or permanent residents. Check the citizenship field before paying a fee.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does the CAAPID application cost?

For 2026–27, **$264 for the first program and $115 for each additional program**, so ten programs cost $1,299. Almost every program also charges its own supplemental fee (about $45 to $250), and some charge $300 to $400 for a bench test or interview.

### When is the CAAPID deadline?

The 2026–27 cycle accepts submissions until **January 29, 2027 at 11:59 PM ET**, but each program sets its own deadline. They run from April 30 (UAB) to January 29, 2027 (Colorado, VCU); the largest cluster falls between late May and mid-June.

### When does the 2027–28 CAAPID cycle open?

ADEA had not published it as of November 8, 2026. The 2026–27 cycle opened March 5, 2026, and some program profiles already show March 2027 open dates, so plan for early March 2027.

### How many schools use CAAPID?

The ADEA CAAPID Program Finder listed **47 programs** on November 8, 2026. All are CODA-accredited advanced-standing DDS or DMD programs. Some advanced-standing programs apply outside CAAPID.

### Do I need ECE or WES for CAAPID?

CAAPID accepts a course-by-course evaluation from either, sent directly by the evaluator. But 25 programs accept **ECE only**, so ECE is the safer choice unless your list is all ECE-or-WES schools.

### What is the CAAPID TOEFL code?

**B451.** Send scores electronically from ETS; paper copies are not accepted. Some programs, such as UCLA and UIC, also want scores sent to the school directly.

### How long can the CAAPID personal statement be?

**5,200 characters**, counting spaces, line breaks, and punctuation. The same essay goes to every program and cannot be edited after you submit.

### Do I need the INBDE before applying through CAAPID?

45 of 47 program profiles list the INBDE as a required standardized test, and NYU states applicants must pass it. Take it before you submit so the score posts in time.

### Can I edit my CAAPID application after submitting?

Mostly no. Sections lock on submission. You can still add programs whose deadlines have not passed, add letters up to three, and add new entries or optional documents.

## Plan your route

Free route check for up to three states: https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-roadmap/index.html.md

## Related guides

- [International dentist programs: requirements, cost, and admissions](https://dentovio.com/international-dentist-programs/index.html.md)
- [AEGD and GPR residencies for international dentists](https://dentovio.com/aegd-gpr-programs-for-international-dentists/index.html.md)
- [Foreign-trained dentist to US dental hygienist](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-to-dental-hygienist/index.html.md)
- [Foreign-trained dentist licensure by state](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-licensure/index.html.md)
- [The INBDE for internationally trained dentists](https://dentovio.com/inbde/for-international-dentists/index.html.md)

## Sources

- [ADEA CAAPID Help Center — application fees](https://help.liaisonedu.com/ADEA_CAAPID_Applicant_Help_Center/Starting_Your_ADEA_CAAPID_Application/Getting_Started_with_Your_ADEA_CAAPID_Application/03_Application_Fees)
- [ADEA CAAPID Help Center — 2026–27 cycle dates](https://help.liaisonedu.com/ADEA_CAAPID_Applicant_Help_Center/Starting_Your_ADEA_CAAPID_Application/Getting_Started_with_Your_ADEA_CAAPID_Application/02_Application_Cycle_Dates)
- [ADEA CAAPID Help Center — quick start guide and suggested timeline](https://help.liaisonedu.com/ADEA_CAAPID_Applicant_Help_Center/Starting_Your_ADEA_CAAPID_Application/Getting_Started_with_Your_ADEA_CAAPID_Application/01_Quick_Start_Guide)
- [ADEA CAAPID Help Center — foreign transcripts and evaluations](https://help.liaisonedu.com/ADEA_CAAPID_Applicant_Help_Center/Sending_Your_Official_Transcripts%2C_Foreign_Evaluations%2C_and_Test_Scores_to_ADEA_CAAPID/Sending_Official_Transcripts_and_Foreign_Evaluations_to_ADEA_CAAPID/1_Foreign_and_French-Canadian_Transcripts)
- [ADEA CAAPID Help Center — personal statement](https://help.liaisonedu.com/ADEA_CAAPID_Applicant_Help_Center/Filling_Out_Your_ADEA_CAAPID_Application/Supporting_Information/06_Personal_Statement)
- [ADEA CAAPID Help Center — letters of evaluation](https://help.liaisonedu.com/ADEA_CAAPID_Applicant_Help_Center/Filling_Out_Your_ADEA_CAAPID_Application/Supporting_Information/01_Evaluations)
- [ADEA CAAPID Program Finder — participating programs](https://programs.adea.org/CAAPID/programs)
- [ADEA — CAAPID applicants](https://www.adea.org/home/application-services/international-dentists/adea-caapid-applicants)
- [ADEA CAAPID applicant quick guide](https://www.adea.org/docs/default-source/adea-main/application-services/caapid/2025-adea-caapid-applicant-quickguide.pdf)
- [ECE — ADEA CAAPID application instructions](https://www.ece.org/ECE/Credential-Evaluations/US-Institutions/School-and-Organization-Specific-Applications/Centralized-Application-Services/ADEA-CAAPID-Application-Instructions)
- [ETS — understanding TOEFL iBT scores (1–6 scale)](https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/scores/understand-scores.html)
- [ETS — TOEFL iBT fees by test country](https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/ibt/register/fees.html)
- [UCLA School of Dentistry — PPID admissions](https://dentistry.ucla.edu/academics-admissions/programs-for-international-dentists/professional-program-for-international-dentists-ppid/admissions-and-applying)
- [Indiana University School of Dentistry — international dentist program](https://dentistry.iupui.edu/academics/how-to-apply/international-dentist-program.html)
- [Boston University — advanced standing application](https://www.bu.edu/dental/?p=54837)
- [Columbia — advanced standing program for internationally trained dentists](https://www.dental.columbia.edu/education/global-programs/advanced-standing-program-internationally-trained-dentists)
- [LSU School of Dentistry — international program](https://www.lsusd.lsuhsc.edu/admissions/iedp/)

Educational information only, not legal, immigration, or admissions advice. Requirements, fees, and deadlines change every cycle; confirm each one with the program, ADEA, JCNDE, or the state dental board before you apply or pay.

Dentovio is an independent publisher. It is not affiliated with ADEA, the ADA, JCNDE, CODA, any dental school, or any state dental board.