School of Dentistry

Internationally Educated Dentist Program

The LSUHSC School of Dentistry (LSUSD) Internationally Educated Dentists Program (IEDP), for dentists holding a dental degree from countries outside the United States, employs a mandatory three-year curriculum. Qualified students are enrolled in the predoctoral dental pProgram (DDS) as second-year dental students following successful completion of the IEDP Advanced Placement Skills and Knowledge Assessment curriculum. Once enrolled in the DDS program, each IEDP student must satisfactorily complete the second-, third-, and fourth-year dental curriculum as prescribed. No waiver of classes is granted. LSUSD expects all applicants and students of the program in dentistry to meet all technical standards for the profession as stated in the LSU Health New Orleans Catalog.

LSUHSC School of Dentistry participates in the ADEA Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists (CAAPID) program.

Information for class of 2026 Program year

 

Academic Requirements

The completion of a dental degree from an international school of dentistry is required. Academic credentials will be evaluated by the LSUSD IEDP program director under the Office of Admissions to ensure that the applicant's undergraduate curriculum prerequisites include the equivalent requirements of biology with laboratory, inorganic (general) chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, English, and physics.

While a minimum of a 3.0 GPA is recommended, more competitive GPAs will be given first consideration.

Admission Requirements

Applicants MUST include their full legal name as specified in their passport, address, telephone number and email address with every mailing sent to CAAPID, the Centralized Application for Advanced Placement for International Dentists, or the LSUHSC School of Dentistry Internationally Educated Dentists Program.

Part 1: Early application is highly recommended.

CAAPID Application

ADEA CAAPID: https://caapid.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login

The following materials must be submitted as part of the CAAPID application:

1. Personal Statement. The personal statement should include information about dental education experiences, dental related activities and professional goals.
   
   
2. Transcripts and Evaluations. Submit an official, detailed, course-by-course evaluation of your dental school transcript and any other post-dental degrees obtained outside the U.S as well as a copy of your diploma and dental license, if applicable. All transcripts, diplomas, and dental licenses obtained outside of the U.S must be translated and certified by ECE. Submit an official copy of a transcript for any degree earned in the US. ECE evaluation must be uploaded to CAAPID.
   
   
3. English Language Proficiency Test. Successful completion of the TOEFL internet-based exam with a score of 90 or above is required. TOEFL may be waived if candidate has a degree from a U.S. accredited college or university (High school not considered). Score received at time of application must be less than 2 years old. Original TOEFL scores must be submitted from TOEFL directly to ADEA CAAPID.
   
   TOEFL:  https://www.ets.org/toefl
   
   
4. National Board Dental Examination Requirements. Program requires applicants to must have pass NBDE Part I or the INBDE (Integrated National Board Dental Examination), to be considered for admission. Official scores must be submitted to CAAPID.
   https://www.ada.org/en/jcnde/examinations
   
   
5. Letters of Evaluation. Program requires three Letters of Evaluation. All letters must have a signature and be on the letterhead of the letter writer's affiliated organization, school or dental practice and must be in English. Program requires one Letter of Evaluation to come from faculty of the dental school from which the applicant graduated. The two additional letters can be from other faculty (of the applicant's dental school) or any other reference. Letters of recommendation cannot be more than two years old at the time of application. These letters are non-negotiable and should be uploaded to ADEA CAAPID by the recommending person directly.
   
   Up to two additional letters may be accepted from other sources. These letters should be uploaded to CAAPID.
   
   Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT) will be considered. Results must be uploaded as part of the CAAPID application.
   https://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/advanced-dental-admission-test

Part 2

Supplemental Application (send directly to LSU) - ONLY if requested.

• Supplemental Application Print and fill out
• Application fee $75 (non-refundable) Online payment portal.
• 2 x 2 Photograph
• Copy of passport
• Copy of green card or permanent resident card (if you have one)

After submitting the ADEA CAAPID application and ADEA on-line fee, wait for the school to request the supplemental application. Mail the Supplemental Application along with the other materials (photograph, copy of passport and copy of permanent resident card) to this address:

LSUHSC School of Dentistry
Office of Admissions, Attn:  IEDP
1100 Florida Avenue, Box 28
New Orleans, LA 70119

The $75 non-refundable application fee is paid online following this link:
https://www.lsuhsc.edu/prospectivestudents/feepayment/

Part 3

Interview and Bench Test Process

The interview process is divided into two sections and will take place over two and a half days. During the Calibration Course, all applicants will receive detailed instructions on the bench test, including preparation specifications and expectations. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to practice and receive feedback from faculty members before taking the bench test.

Overview of Interview Day

The interview process includes the following components:

1. Introduction to the IED Program
2. Calibration Course - TBD
3. Personal Interview with members of the IEDP Admissions Committee
4. Bench Test using manikins in the preclinical laboratory

Acceptance Notifications

Acceptance notifications will be sent at the completion of the selection process. For the candidates offered admissions to the program, a non-refundable deposit of $5,000 will be expected within 15 days of acceptance. The deposit will be applied towards the tuition of the Fall semester and D2 program.

Formal letters of non-acceptance will not be sent.

Background Check

Entering students will be required to complete a criminal background check. Offers of admission are not considered final and enrollment is not permitted until completion of the criminal background check with results deemed favorable by LSUSD. The information obtained will remain confidential unless the findings result in an institutional action by the LSU School of Dentistry.

Tuition and Fees

LSU Health New Orleans School of Dentistry
Internationally Educated Dentists Advanced Standing Program

• 1st year (D2 Program in Dentistry) - $92,287
• 2nd year (D3 Program in Dentistry) - $92,287
• 3rd year (D4 Program in Dentistry) - $92,287

 

Contact Information

Shirin Khoynezhad, DDS, DMSc.
Associate Professor of Prosthodontics
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry
Adjunct Faculty, Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Tel:  (504) 941-8290
Email: skhoyn@lsuhsc.edu

Jorge Palavicini, DDS
Associate Professor of Prosthodontics
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Dentistry
Tel:  (504) 941-8291
Email: jpala1@lsuhsc.edu