UCLA's Professional Program for International Dentists is a minimum 25-month advanced-standing DDS pathway for dentists who earned a dental degree abroad. Applicants apply through ADEA CAAPID and submit a UCLA supplemental application. Admission requires the INBDE or both NBDE Parts, TOEFL unless the U.S.-high-school exception applies, and Casper; selected finalists complete an interview and knowledge-and-skills assessment.
- Program
- Professional Program for International Dentists (PPID)
- Credential
- DDS
- Location
- Los Angeles, California, United States
- Casper
- Required
- Interview
- Interview
- Seats
- 30 available slots
- Length
- Minimum 25 consecutive months
Casper Requirement for University of California Los Angeles PPID
University of California Los Angeles PPID requires Casper for the 2027-2028 cycle.
- Languages
- English
- Applicant ID to enter
- CAAPID Number
Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.
All applicants must complete Casper through Acuity Insights before UCLA's application deadline; an exam taken after the deadline is not accepted. Check Acuity Insights for this program's available dates and booking details.
Casper format
Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.
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University of California Los Angeles PPID Application Deadlines 2027-2028
- Apply through
- ADEA CAAPID
- Application fee
- $250 non-refundable UCLA supplemental application fee; $300 non-refundable interview/testing fee if invited. ADEA CAAPID fees are separate.
Complete CAAPID before submitting the emailed UCLA supplemental application; incomplete or late applications are not reviewed.
University of California Los Angeles PPID Admissions Statistics
Period: Class of 2027 profile; program capacity is 30
- Seats / class size: 30 available slots
- Countries represented: 20, Class of 2027
- Women: 60%, Class of 2027
- Men: 40%, Class of 2027
Eligibility Requirements for University of California Los Angeles PPID
- Degree / credits
A completed dental degree earned outside the United States is required when applying; provisional degrees are not accepted. Have post-secondary and dental-school records and the diploma evaluated by ECE for a course-by-course report sent directly to CAAPID. UCLA does not accept WES reports.
- Citizenship
U.S. citizenship or permanent residence is not required.
- Language proficiency
TOEFL is required unless the applicant completed high school in the United States; U.S. citizenship, permanent residence, or a U.S. university degree does not otherwise waive it.
Admission pathways
- Foreign-trained dentists: Exclusively for internationally educated dentists seeking a fully integrated advanced standing pathway to the DDS.
Qualify for Fee Assistance Program (FAP) if eligible.
Other requirements
- ECE course-by-course evaluation: Have ECE send the report directly to CAAPID; WES is not accepted.
- New-student immunizations: Meet UCLA immunization requirements by orientation week.
- F-1 certification of finances: Accepted students needing an F-1 visa submit a confidential financial statement before final admission.
- Medical clearance: Obtain medical clearance before enrollment.
Selection Factors University of California Los Angeles Considers
GPA
- How it is calculated
Dental-school credentials are reviewed through an ECE course-by-course evaluation.
Admissions tests
- INBDE or NBDE Parts I and II (one of several accepted): Pass the INBDE, or pass both NBDE Part I and Part II. Request official results for UCLA by the application deadline.
- TOEFL iBT (required for some applicants): Required unless you completed high school in the U.S. For exams on or after January 21, 2026: overall 5.0, or Reading 4.5, Listening 4.5, Writing 5.0 and Speaking 5.0. Earlier exams: overall 95, or section minimums 21/17/24/25, respectively. Scores are valid for two years; MyBest is accepted. Request a sealed physical ETS report using code 8354; electronic reports and newer Home Edition exams are not accepted.
Supplementary application
Complete ADEA CAAPID and the UCLA PPID supplemental application emailed after CAAPID completion. Email the supplemental application and CV/resume as one PDF of no more than 5 MB, named LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, to ppid_admissions@dentistry.ucla.edu by the published deadline. Submit three recommendation letters through CAAPID: one from a dental-school dean or head, one from a clinical instructor, and one from a person of your choice.
How applicants are ranked
The Admissions Committee reviews complete applications and selects finalists for a three-day interview and knowledge-and-skills assessment. Decisions consider academic record, INBDE/NBDE results, TOEFL, personal statement, recommendations, interview interpersonal skills, and assessment results. Finalists are notified by email; acceptance notices are sent in the fall.
Interview Format at University of California Los Angeles
Format: Interview
Finalists complete an interview and knowledge-and-skills assessment over three days; an invited finalist pays a $300 non-refundable interview/testing fee.
- Who is invited
- Finalists selected after review of complete applications.
- When
- Dates for the next application cycle have not been published.
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Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at University of California Los Angeles PPID
- Program length
- Minimum 25 consecutive months
- Structure
An intensive summer of didactic, preclinical and clinical preparation precedes integration into the third-year DDS class in the following fall quarter. The curriculum includes a required eight-week community-based clinical rotation.
- Campuses
- Los Angeles
Graduates earn a DDS; clinical competency requirements apply.
Campus and facilities
Located in Los Angeles. School clinics provide affordable dental care. Facilities support the lab-intensive early phase and clinical training, with affiliations enhancing hands-on experience. Diverse environment mirroring a cohort from about 20 countries.
Tuition and Funding at University of California Los Angeles
- 2026-27 annual PPID program fee, Class of 2028: $120,968
This published fee applies to the listed class, not a fee quote for a later entering cohort. PPID tuition is the same for California residents and nonresidents; fees may change.
University of California Los Angeles's Mission and Values
The UCLA School of Dentistry PPID emphasizes innovative educational programs and professional development for international dentists, integrating foreign-trained professionals into a rigorous DDS pathway and fostering competency-based assessment through didactic, lab, and clinical training. It provides affordable dental care access while delivering cutting-edge research opportunities in a diverse learning environment.
The UCLA School of Dentistry requires that trainees obtain a medical clearance prior to enrollment in the program for individual and community health reasons.
What Applicants Are Saying
Matriculated students describe a program culture that integrates foreign-trained professionals into a rigorous DDS pathway. Students report abundant professional development opportunities, including research and field initiatives through UCLA Premed Organizations. Student Doctor Network forums note that strong narratives addressing limited research exposure, as shared by alumni like Dr. Aishwarya, enhance holistic review. Applicants report positive interview experiences via SDN's Interview Experience Score (SIES).
Shared by applicants and students on forums and communities. It is anecdotal, not official program information.
How to Prepare Your University of California Los Angeles PPID Application
- Arrange an ECE course-by-course evaluation for CAAPID; UCLA does not accept WES.
- Pass the INBDE or both NBDE Parts and request official results for UCLA.
- Check whether the U.S.-high-school TOEFL exception applies; otherwise arrange the required physical score report.
- Complete CAAPID, then prepare UCLA's supplemental application and CV as one PDF.
- Check Acuity Insights for UCLA's Casper booking dates and requirements.
- Prepare for an interview and knowledge-and-skills assessment if selected as a finalist.
More About University of California Los Angeles PPID
- PPID-specific sessions
Competitive candidates review PPID-specific sessions, like those presented by Dr. Ishita Masand and Dr. Amna Hussain on November 3, 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions About University of California Los Angeles PPID
Is Casper required for UCLA PPID?
Yes. All applicants must complete Casper through Acuity Insights before UCLA's published deadline.
What GPA does UCLA PPID require?
UCLA's published PPID requirements do not specify a minimum or competitive GPA; applicants provide an ECE course-by-course evaluation.
Is the DAT required for UCLA PPID?
UCLA instead requires a passing INBDE or both NBDE Parts I and II; its PPID requirements do not list the DAT.
Does UCLA PPID interview applicants?
Yes. Selected finalists complete a three-day interview and knowledge-and-skills assessment; UCLA does not specify a panel or MMI format.
What is UCLA PPID's acceptance rate?
UCLA lists 30 available places but does not publish an acceptance rate on its PPID program page.
How long is UCLA PPID?
At least 25 consecutive months, leading to a DDS.
Can international dentists apply to UCLA PPID?
Yes. Applicants need a completed dental degree from outside the United States; U.S. citizenship or permanent residence is not required.
When can I take Casper for UCLA PPID?
Check Acuity Insights for available UCLA PPID sittings and complete the assessment before UCLA's published application deadline.
Sources
- UCLA PPID
- UCLA PPID Admissions and Applying
- UCLA PPID Selection Process
- UCLA PPID FAQs
- UCLA PPID Tuition & Costs
- ADEA CAAPID UCLA Program
- UCLA Requirements for International Dentists
- Acuity Insights Dates and Fees
Last updated: September 26, 2026