# AEGD and GPR Programs for International Dentists: Programs, Applications, and Residency Licensure States

URL: https://dentovio.com/aegd-gpr-programs-for-international-dentists

Last updated: 2026-11-08

AEGD (Advanced Education in General Dentistry) and GPR (General Practice Residency) programs are CODA-accredited postdoctoral residencies, usually one year with an optional second. CODA's standards let them admit graduates of international dental schools with equivalent education "as determined by the institution and program," so each program decides. Programs that accept non-CODA graduates include UConn, Nova Southeastern, Howard, Rochester Eastman, Temple, UT Health San Antonio, UCLA (one position), the University of Florida's two-year program, and the Kentucky, Miami, and LSU GPRs; Penn, Buffalo, UTHealth Houston, Virginia, Mount Sinai, and NYU Langone Brooklyn do not. Most apply through ADEA PASS ($199 for the first program, $92 for each additional in 2026–27). A residency can replace a US DDS for licensure in only some states: Virginia accepts a 12-month advanced general dentistry program, Vermont a one-year general-dentistry postgraduate program the Board accepts, and Iowa a one-academic-year GPR at an accredited dental college, while Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Washington, Louisiana, and West Virginia require two years. North Carolina accepts a two-year AEGD or GPR only within licensure by credentials, which also requires five years of active practice. Most states, including California, New York, and Massachusetts, still require a CODA-accredited DDS or DMD.

## Key facts

- **Foreign graduates eligible?:** Program by program — CODA Standard 4-2(c) allows international graduates with equivalent education "as determined by the institution and program."
- **Length:** 1 year, or 2 — Most AEGD programs are one year; many offer an optional second. Most licensure states require two.
- **Shortest licensure route:** Virginia · Vermont · Iowa — Virginia: a 12-month advanced general dentistry program. Vermont: a 1-year program the Board accepts. Iowa: a one-academic-year GPR (not AEGD).
- **ADEA PASS fee, 2026–27:** $199 + $92 — First program, then each additional. PASS opened May 13, 2026 and closes February 12, 2027.
- **Match registration:** $100 — Needed only for programs in the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program; many foreign-friendly programs are not in it.
- **Money:** Stipend or tuition — Examples: UConn pays foreign-trained residents $48,000; UCLA charges $64,200 a year.

## What AEGD and GPR programs are

Both are CODA-accredited postdoctoral programs in general dentistry for dentists who already hold a dental degree.

| | AEGD | GPR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full name | Advanced Education in General Dentistry | General Practice Residency |
| Setting | Dental schools and clinics; emphasis on clinical dentistry | Sponsored by or affiliated with a hospital; residents join the hospital house staff |
| Length | One year, one year with an optional second, or two years | Same options |
| Typical focus | Comprehensive clinical general dentistry | General dentistry with intensive hospital experience |

CODA notes that "the majority of AEGD programs are one year." That matters, because most states that license through a residency require **two** years.

**Can foreign-trained dentists apply?** Yes, where the program allows it. CODA Standard 4-2 lists three eligible groups, the third being: "Graduates from an international dental school with equivalent educational background and standing as determined by the institution and program." So acceptance is the program's decision, and it varies sharply.

**Stipend or tuition?** Both exist. Washington's AEGD pays first-year residents $87,708; UConn pays $75,000 to US or Canadian citizens and $48,000 to foreign-trained graduates; High Point pays $61,500 to CODA graduates only. Programs open to foreign graduates more often charge tuition: Howard $20,000 (2025–26), Rochester Eastman $32,037 a year, Miami GPR about $55,000, UCLA $64,200 a year (rate set July 2024), and Florida $23,233 a semester. UT Health San Antonio pays no stipend but covers tuition.

## States where a residency can replace a US dental degree

The ADA's summary is the right starting point: "In the majority of states, completing an advanced dental education program does not satisfy the educational requirements for licensure if the initial dental degree was obtained from a non-accredited program." The states below are the exceptions. The length is the most common mistake: a one-year AEGD qualifies in very few of them.

| State | What a foreign-trained dentist needs | Residency length | Details |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Virginia** | A diploma or certificate from a CODA- or CDAC-accredited post-doctoral advanced general dentistry program (or a 24-month clinical specialty program) | 12 months | [Virginia](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/virginia/residency-pathway/index.html.md) |
| **Iowa** | A postgraduate general practice residency "of at least one academic year at an accredited dental college" (other equivalency routes exist) | 1 academic year | [Iowa](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/iowa/residency-pathway/index.html.md) |
| **Ohio** | At least two years of clinical training in general dentistry in an accredited GPR or AEGD, plus other requirements including a basic science and laboratory exam and the TOEFL | 2 years | [Ohio](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/ohio/residency-pathway/index.html.md) |
| **Indiana** | A clinical training program of at least two years, including a GPR or AEGD at an accredited institution | 2 years | [Indiana](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/indiana/residency-pathway/index.html.md) |
| **Kentucky** | Two years of postgraduate training in a CODA-accredited general dentistry program, plus a TOEFL iBT of 116 if English is not your first language (rule effective August 18, 2026). Apply within two years of finishing, or you will need another US license or a board-approved CE plan; the clinical exam must be within 5 years | 2 years | [Kentucky](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/kentucky/residency-pathway/index.html.md) |
| **North Carolina** | A 2-year CODA AEGD or GPR substitutes for the DDS in licensure by credentials, but you also need five years of active practice immediately before applying (G.S. 90-36(c)(1)), the Board's clinical-hours requirement, and ADEX scores under 5 years old | 2-year program + 5 years' practice | [North Carolina](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/north-carolina/residency-pathway/index.html.md) |
| **Washington** | At least two additional CODA-approved predoctoral or postdoctoral academic years with clinical training. A one-year Washington residency serving low-income patients can replace the clinical exam, not the two years | 2 years | [Washington](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/washington/residency-pathway/index.html.md) |
| **Louisiana** | A CODA-approved postgraduate general dentistry program of at least two consecutive years | 2 years | [Louisiana](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/louisiana/residency-pathway/index.html.md) |
| **West Virginia** | A two-year or longer CODA-accredited advanced general dentistry program at a US or Canadian dental school | 2 years | [West Virginia](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/west-virginia/residency-pathway/index.html.md) |
| **Mississippi** | A CODA postdoctoral program of two or more years, through licensure by examination, plus six years of postsecondary study, foreign licensure, and a dean's certification | 2+ years | [Mississippi](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/mississippi/residency-pathway/index.html.md) |
| **Illinois** | An accredited advanced dental education program of at least 2 academic years approved by IDFPR; the rule lists specialty programs, so confirm whether a 2-year AEGD or GPR qualifies | 2 years | [Illinois](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/illinois/residency-pathway/index.html.md) |
| **Vermont** | A foreign dental degree plus a CODA-accredited postgraduate program of at least 1 year that the Board accepts as general-dentistry training (Board Rule 4-2(a)(2)) | 1 year (Board must accept the program) | [Vermont](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/vermont/residency-pathway/index.html.md) |
| **Connecticut** | Two years of CODA residency, then three more years of residency or fellowship in a Connecticut dental school (or three years as full-time faculty) | 5 years total | [Connecticut](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/connecticut/residency-pathway/index.html.md) |
| **Florida** | A two-year CODA supplemental general dentistry program (for example, Florida's two-year AEGD for internationally educated dentists) before the licensure exams | 2 years | [Florida](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-license/florida/residency-pathway/index.html.md) |

**Specialty only, not AEGD or GPR:** Michigan accepts a CODA specialty master's or certificate of at least two years, and Texas a CODA specialty program of at least two academic years; a general residency does not qualify. Minnesota's route is a board equivalency review, a Limited General License, and three years of supervised practice in Minnesota.

**No residency route:** California, New York, and Massachusetts require a CODA-accredited or board-approved DDS or DMD. New York also requires a one-year residency of every new licensee, US-trained or not.

Rules change, and several of these states amended them in 2025–26. Open the state page, then confirm with the board before you rank programs.

## Programs that accept foreign-trained dentists, and some that do not

From each program's ADEA PASS profile or its own page, November 8, 2026. Requirements change every cycle; open the profile before applying.

**Accept graduates of non-CODA dental schools:**

| Program | Type, length | Status and visa | Tests and evaluation | Cost or stipend |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [UConn AEGD](https://programs.adea.org/PASS/programs/university-of-connecticut-advanced-education-in-general-dentistry) | AEGD, 12 months | Offers J-1 sponsorship to eligible applicants | INBDE or NBDE; TOEFL 5 overall with section minimums, no waivers; **WES only, ECE not accepted**; certified translation of the degree | $48,000 stipend for foreign-trained graduates; $100 supplemental fee |
| [Nova Southeastern AEGD](https://programs.adea.org/PASS/programs/nova-southeastern-university-advanced-education-in-general-dentistry) | AEGD, 12–24 months | Applicant arranges own sponsorship | INBDE or NBDE; TOEFL 4.5 | No stipend |
| [Howard University AEGD](https://programs.adea.org/PASS/programs/howard-university-advanced-education-in-general-dentistry) | AEGD, 12 months | Offers sponsorship | INBDE; **ADAT required** for non-CODA graduates ([ADAT prep](https://dentovio.com/products/adat/index.html.md)); ECE only | Tuition $20,000 (2025–26) |
| [Rochester Eastman AEGD](https://programs.adea.org/PASS/programs/university-of-rochester-eastman-institute-for-oral-health-advanced-education-in-general-dentistry-3) | AEGD, 24 months | Offers sponsorship | TOEFL; **WES only, ECE not accepted** | Tuition $32,037 a year |
| [Temple Kornberg AEGD](https://programs.adea.org/PASS/programs/temple-university-kornberg-school-of-dentistry-advanced-education-in-general-dentistry-2) | AEGD, 12 months | Offers sponsorship | INBDE or NBDE; TOEFL 5 (100 old scale); ECE | Tuition; no stipend |
| [UT Health San Antonio AEGD](https://programs.adea.org/PASS/programs/university-of-texas-health-science-center-at-san-antonio-advanced-education-in-general-dentistry) | AEGD, 12–24 months | Offers sponsorship | INBDE | No stipend; tuition covered |
| [Paris Regional Health AEGD](https://programs.adea.org/PASS/programs/paris-regional-health-advanced-education-in-general-dentistry) | AEGD, 12 months | Applicant arranges own sponsorship | INBDE or NBDE; TOEFL | Stipend; $100 supplemental fee |
| [High Point University AEGD](https://programs.adea.org/PASS/programs/high-point-university-workman-school-of-dental-medicine-advanced-education-in-general-dentistry) | AEGD, 12–24 months | US citizens and permanent residents | INBDE; TOEFL | Stipend for CODA graduates only; tuition for others |
| [University of Mississippi Medical Center AEGD](https://programs.adea.org/PASS/programs/the-university-of-mississippi-medical-center-advanced-education-in-general-dentistry) | AEGD, 12 months | US citizens, permanent residents, Canadians; no visa sponsorship | INBDE or NBDE; proof of equivalent education | Stipend |
| [UCLA AEGD](https://dentistry.ucla.edu/academics-admissions/programs-for-international-dentists/residency-programs/advanced-education-in-general-dentistry) | AEGD, 1 year; one position for non-CODA graduates | F-1 students pay an international fee | NBDE performance considered | Tuition $64,200 a year |
| [University of Florida AEGD for internationally educated dentists](https://admissions.dental.ufl.edu/iedp/programs-application-process/advanced-education-in-general-dentistry/) | AEGD, 24 months | US citizens and permanent residents | INBDE or NBDE; TOEFL | $23,233 a semester; leads to Florida exam eligibility |
| [Columbia postdoctoral AEGD](https://www.dental.columbia.edu/education/postdoctoral-and-residency-programs/advanced-education-general-dentistry-program/admissions-information) | AEGD, postdoctoral track | Foreign-trained visa holders not eligible for the NYP residency position | TOEFL 100; ECE or WES | Tuition |
| [University of Kentucky GPR](https://programs.adea.org/PASS/programs/university-of-kentucky-general-practice-residency) | GPR, 1 year | Applicant arranges own sponsorship | INBDE or NBDE; considered case by case | Stipend |
| [University of Miami Hospital GPR](https://programs.adea.org/PASS/programs/university-of-miami-hospital-general-practice-residency) | GPR, 12–24 months | US citizens and permanent residents; no visas | INBDE or NBDE; TOEFL above 80 | Tuition about $55,000 a year |
| [LSU Health New Orleans GPR](https://programs.adea.org/PASS/programs/louisiana-state-university-school-of-dentistry-general-practice-residency) | GPR, 12–24 months | Applicant arranges own sponsorship | INBDE or NBDE | Stipend |

**Do not accept non-CODA graduates:** Penn AEGD (CODA degree and US citizenship or permanent residency required), University at Buffalo AEGD, UTHealth Houston AEGD, NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia GPR, University of Virginia GPR, Mount Sinai GPR, and NYU Langone Brooklyn GPR.

The pattern in these profiles: well-paid, Match-participating residencies more often limit themselves to US and Canadian graduates, while programs open to foreign graduates more often charge tuition or pay a smaller stipend. For UCLA's and Columbia's international positions, confirm the position is CODA-accredited before relying on it for licensure. Search the [ADEA PASS Program Finder](https://programs.adea.org/PASS/programs) for the field "will consider applicants who graduated … from a non-CODA accredited dental school."

## How to apply: ADEA PASS and the Match

**ADEA PASS** is the application service for postdoctoral dental programs, the residency counterpart to [CAAPID](https://dentovio.com/adea-caapid-application-guide/index.html.md).

| | 2026–27 cycle |
| --- | --- |
| Fee | $199 for the first program, $92 for each additional |
| Opened | May 13, 2026 |
| First program deadline | July 1, 2026 |
| Closes | February 12, 2027 |

- **Do not send foreign transcripts to PASS.** Order a course-by-course evaluation from ECE or WES and have it sent directly to PASS; the Help Center names the BDS among degrees that need one. Check each program: Howard accepts ECE only; UConn and Rochester accept WES only.
- **TOEFL** goes electronically from ETS to PASS; paper copies are not accepted.
- **Program deadlines** run from summer to late fall: Nova Southeastern August 1, Howard and Miami September 1, UConn September 15, Rochester, UT Health San Antonio and Florida October 1, Mississippi and LSU November 1.
- Many programs add a supplemental application or fee (UConn charges $100 to non-US and non-Canadian graduates).

**The Match.** Programs that fill through the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program require a Match registration as well: $100, covering both phases, and you need your DENTPIN to register. Phase I covers AEGD and GPR; for the 2027 Match, Phase I rank lists are due November 16, 2026, and results come out November 23, 2026. Many programs open to foreign graduates (Nova Southeastern, Rochester, Temple, Paris Regional, High Point, UT Health San Antonio, Miami) do **not** use the Match, so you apply through PASS or the school only.

**A realistic sequence:** pass the INBDE, take the TOEFL, order the ECE or WES evaluation, open PASS in May, apply to programs that both accept non-CODA graduates and sit in a state whose rules you have checked, register for the Match only if your programs use it, then interview in the fall.

## Residency or advanced-standing DDS?

| | Residency route (AEGD or GPR) | Advanced-standing DDS or DMD |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time | 1 to 2 years (5 in Connecticut) | 24 to 45 months |
| Cost | Tuition from about $20,000 (Howard, 2025–26) to about $70,000 a year (Florida's two-year AEGD, $23,233 a semester), or a stipend | About $260,000 to $470,000 total cost of attendance |
| Where you can be licensed | Only states that accept your residency, usually as an initial license there | Every state; the degree meets the education requirement everywhere |
| Moving states later | Depends on licensure-by-credentials rules in the new state | Same rules as any US graduate |
| Application | ADEA PASS, sometimes the Match | [ADEA CAAPID](https://dentovio.com/adea-caapid-application-guide/index.html.md) |

Choose the residency route when you are sure of your state and it accepts the length of program you can get into. Choose the DDS when you need flexibility to move, or your state requires it. Many candidates apply to both in the same year.

Full program comparison: [international dentist programs](https://dentovio.com/international-dentist-programs/index.html.md). Working while you wait: [foreign-trained dentist to dental hygienist](https://dentovio.com/foreign-trained-dentist-to-dental-hygienist/index.html.md).

## Frequently asked questions

### Do AEGD programs accept international dentists?

Some do. CODA lets programs admit international graduates with equivalent education as the program determines. UConn, Nova Southeastern, Howard, Rochester Eastman, Temple, UT Health San Antonio, Paris Regional, UCLA, and Florida's two-year AEGD accept non-CODA graduates; Penn, Buffalo, and UTHealth Houston do not.

### Which states give a dental license after a residency to foreign-trained dentists?

Virginia (12-month program), Vermont (1-year program the Board accepts), and Iowa (one-academic-year GPR at an accredited dental college) have the shortest routes. Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Washington, Louisiana, West Virginia, and Mississippi require two years, and Connecticut five. North Carolina accepts a two-year program only with five years of practice, through licensure by credentials. Michigan and Texas accept only specialty programs.

### Is a one-year AEGD enough to get licensed?

Only in a few states. Virginia accepts a 12-month advanced general dentistry program, and Vermont a 1-year general-dentistry postgraduate program the Board accepts. Iowa accepts a one-year GPR (not an AEGD) at an accredited dental college. Most residency states require two years.

### How much does ADEA PASS cost?

For 2026–27, **$199 for the first program and $92 for each additional**. Some programs add a supplemental fee, and Match registration is a separate $100.

### Do AEGD programs pay international residents?

Some pay a stipend (UConn pays foreign-trained residents $48,000; Kentucky and LSU GPRs offer stipends), but many programs open to foreign graduates charge tuition, from about $20,000 at Howard to about $70,000 a year for Florida's two-year AEGD.

### Can I do a GPR in California or New York instead of a DDS?

No. California, New York, and Massachusetts require a CODA-accredited or board-approved DDS or DMD for foreign-trained dentists. New York additionally requires a one-year residency of every new licensee.

## 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)
- [ADEA CAAPID application guide](https://dentovio.com/adea-caapid-application-guide/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

- [CODA — Accreditation Standards for Advanced Education in General Dentistry (Standard 4-2)](https://coda.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/coda/files/advanced_education_general_dentistry_standards.pdf)
- [CODA — Accreditation Standards for General Practice Residency](https://coda.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/coda/files/general_practice_residency_standards.pdf)
- [CODA — find a program (AEGD and GPR descriptions)](https://coda.ada.org/find-a-program)
- [ADA — licensure for international dentists](https://www.ada.org/resources/careers/licensure/licensure-for-the-international-dentists)
- [ADEA PASS — applying, fees and 2026–27 dates](https://www.adea.org/passapp/applying/)
- [ADEA PASS Help Center — foreign transcripts](https://help.liaisonedu.com/ADEA_PASS_Applicant_Help_Center/Sending_Your_Official_Transcripts_and_Test_Scores_to_ADEA_PASS/Sending_Official_Dental_School_Transcripts_to_ADEA_PASS/2_Foreign_and_French-Canadian_Transcripts)
- [National Matching Services — Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program](https://natmatch.com/dentres/)
- [National Matching Services — applicant registration](https://natmatch.com/dentres/applicants/register.html)
- [Virginia Administrative Code 18VAC60-21-200](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency60/chapter21/section200/)
- [Iowa Administrative Code 481-572](https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/iac/chapter/481.572.pdf)
- [Ohio Administrative Code 4715-18-01](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-administrative-code/rule-4715-18-01)
- [Indiana Professional Licensing Agency — dentistry licensing information](https://www.in.gov/pla/professions/dentistry-home/dentistry-licensing-information/)
- [Kentucky 201 KAR 8:533](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/201/008/533/)
- [N.C. Gen. Stat. 90-36 — licensure by credentials](https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_90/GS_90-36.html)
- [North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners — options for international dentists](https://www.ncdentalboard.org/PDF/Options%20for%20International%20Dentists.pdf)
- [Washington WAC 246-817-160](https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=246-817-160)
- [Connecticut DPH — graduates of foreign dental schools](https://portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/dentist/licensure-eligibility-requirements-of-graduate-of-foreign-dental-schools)
- [Michigan Admin. Code R 338.11202](https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/michigan/Mich-Admin-Code-R-338-11202)
- [Minnesota Statutes 150A.06](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/150A.06)

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.