DMD Admission Requirements

Table of Contents

Application information and admission requirements

Submit the following to AADSAS by January 1:

  • Complete the AADSAS application: Applicants must submit an application through the American Associated Dental Application Support Service, or AADSAS, prior to our January 1 application deadline. The AADSAS application is exclusively a web-based application.
  • Letters of evaluation: OHSU requires two letters of evaluation from basic science faculty and one from a dental professional, or one pre-professional committee letter. If your pre-professional committee letter does not include an evaluation from a dentist, we ask that you send a supplemental letter of evaluation from a dentist under separate cover. The dental evaluation must be from a dentist you shadowed or worked with. All evaluations must be on letterhead and signed by the evaluators. 
  • Official transcripts: Forward official transcripts from all colleges and universities that you attended as instructed in the AADSAS instructions.
  • Official DAT scores: To order official score reports please visit the American Dental Association or call 800-621-8099. Our priority deadline for DAT scores is January 1. 

Submit the following to OHSU by January 1:

  • $75.00 Non-refundable processing fee: Application fees can be paid online. 

Timeline for students applying to the OHSU School of Dentistry

  • Spring: Contact faculty/advisers to request letters of evaluation (two from basic science faculty and one from a dentist OR one pre-professional committee letter, which should also include a letter from a dentist). Have letters of evaluation sent directly to AADSAS when you submit your application.
  • May–August: Complete your AADSAS application online. Also begin collecting official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended for submission with your AADSAS application. Draft your personal statement and have it reviewed by reliable sources.
  • Summer (June–August): Take the DAT exam early, leaving enough time to retake the exam if necessary.
  • September: The School of Dentistry may request additional information.
  • October–March*: Applicants are invited to interview with the School of Dentistry.
  • December–March*: Acceptance letters are sent to applicants.
  • January 1: OHSU’s AADSAS application deadline and last preferred DAT score date
  • February: Begin applying for financial aid. The priority financial aid deadline is March 1.
  • Mid-August: Begin classes at the OHSU School of Dentistry.

* Dates may vary due to rolling admissions cycle.

Health requirements

All admitted students must meet OHSU’s health and immunization requirements prior to matriculation. OHSU follows the guidelines for required immunizations issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and by the State of Oregon. Matriculating students will be asked to provide the Student Health & Wellness Center with proof of immunizations before Orientation. Students who are not in compliance 30 days after matriculation will have their registration privileges canceled and be removed from school. Students must remain in compliance for the duration of their enrollment at OHSU. For more specific immunization information and other health requirements visit the Student Health & Wellness Center website or call 503-494-8665.

Criminal history reviews

Prospective students are not required to disclose criminal convictions prior to receiving an offer of admission. Following a conditional admission offer, prospective students will undergo a pre-matriculation background check pursuant to policy and procedures available on the OHSU Public Safety website.  However, OHSU is a university of health professions, and it is possible that professional and occupational licensure requirements may prohibit individuals with criminal convictions from ultimately obtaining a professional license. Licensure requirements vary by state and prospective students are encouraged to consult their state licensing agency for more information.

If a prospective student is denied admission due to a criminal conviction, they may appeal the final admissions decision to the Office of the Provost.

Drug screening

All newly admitted students must successfully complete a drug screening within 14 days from the date of matriculation. This requirement is one way OHSU demonstrates its commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for employees, students, patients and visitors. Positive test results may immediately disqualify an admitted student from enrollment. The admitted student has the right to inspect and challenge the results of the inquiry.

OHSU policy indicates that no person shall be under the influence of any unlawful drug, alcohol or misused prescription drug while on OHSU premises. Students suspected of being under the influence in violation of this prohibition may be required to submit to a drug or alcohol test at cause.

Students with disabilities

OHSU is committed to providing equal access to qualified students who experience a disability in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and the ADA Amendments Act (ADA-AA) of 2008.  If you have a disability or think you may have a disability (physical, sensory, chronic health, psychological, learning or other), please contact the Office for Student Access at 503-494-0082 or email student access to discuss eligibility for academic accommodations. Visit the student access website for more Information. Because accommodations may take time to implement and cannot be applied retroactively, it is important to have this discussion as soon as possible. All information regarding a student's disability is kept in accordance with relevant state and federal laws.

OHSU employees as students

It is the responsibility of OHSU employees seeking to pursue individual courses for academic credit or an academic degree or certificate within OHSU to notify the academic program of their employment status prior to registering or accepting admissions to ensure the activity does not impact their work schedule and to minimize potential conflicts of interest.

Current OHSU students intending to accept an employment offer (excluding positions identified as student employment or student work study) from an OHSU department must notify their academic program prior to accepting the position.

Reapplication

Applicants who have submitted applications in previous years and are seeking to reapply must submit an entirely new application and supporting documentation. No materials from previous applications will be used to complete your application documentation requirements.

Deferred admissions

OHSU does not offer an option to defer admissions. Accepted applicants who wish to postpone enrollment must reapply through AADSAS during a subsequent application cycle.

Transfer applications

OHSU does not accept applications from students seeking to transfer from other dental schools.

Advanced standing

OHSU does not offer an advanced standing program for dentists trained outside of the U.S. or Canada.

Academic requirements

Pre-dental education

A minimum of three years (90 semester or 135 quarter credit hours) completed at the time of application from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States or Canada is suggested. Full-time enrollment is recommended with an emphasis in the basic sciences.

International course work

Course work outside of the U.S. or Canada will not be accepted.

Pass/no pass

Admissions requirements taken for P/NP credit will not fulfill our requirements. The only exception to this policy applies to students attending a very limited number of schools that solely offer P/NP grades for lab courses. If you are given the option to take a lab course P/NP or for a grade, you must take it for a grade.

Advanced placement and international baccalaureate

While actual course work is preferred, applicants may use AP or IB credit toward the fulfillment of prerequisite course requirements. AP and IB courses may be accepted only if AP/IB credit is assigned to a specific course. The course must also fulfill our prerequisite requirement and must appear on an official transcript. AP and IB credit assigned to a general subject area will not fulfill this requirement.  No other document, such as a transfer credit report, an unofficial transcript or a letter from an academic adviser, will fulfill this requirement.

Grade point average (GPA)

It is recommended that you have a minimum of 3.0 in both your cumulative overall GPA and required science/BCP (biology, chemistry and physics) GPA.

Degree requirement

Although OHSU does not require a baccalaureate (B.A., B.S.) degree for admission, it is highly recommended that you plan to complete a bachelor's degree prior to matriculation.

Required Prerequisite Courses

All courses must be completed for a grade of C or higher.

  • General biology with labs1
    Three quarters or two semesters
  • General chemistry with labs1
    Three quarters or two semesters
  • Organic chemistry with labs1
    Two quarters or two semesters
  • Physics with labs1
    Three quarters or two semesters
  • Biochemistry with lab2
    One quarter or one semester
  • English composition3
    Three quarters or two semesters
  • Math/statistics4
    One quarter or one semester

1Courses must be completed as part of a sequence (for example, 201/202/203 or 201a/201b/201c).

2Biochemistry lab is highly recommended, but not required.

3One year or the minimum number of credit hours required to meet your institution’s bachelor’s degree requirement.

4 Met with courses that satisfy your institution's B.S., B.A. requirement.

Highly Recommended Courses

Completion of additional upper-division (300–400 level) courses at a four-year college or university is highly recommended. Such courses will prepare you for graduate-level coursework and are favorable for a strong application. Completion of three or four upper-division level courses is the recommended minimum to demonstrate readiness for the rigors of the dental school curriculum.

  • Anatomy—human, vertebrate or mammalian: One year
  • Physiology: One year
  • Cell/molecular biology: One course
  • Microbiology: One course
  • Genetics: One course
  • Neuroanatomy: One course
  • Histology: One course
  • Pathology: One course

Suggested additional preparation: Study of the social and behavioral sciences, and humanities as well as the courses in the fine arts such as sculpture and 3-D drawing will enhance the student's ability to practice dentistry.

OHSU dental hygiene graduates: OHSU dental hygiene graduates are held to the same pre-dental admissions requirements as all other applicants to the DMD program. Please consult with your pre-dental adviser or an OHSU admissions officer as many of the admissions requirements used to gain entrance into the dental hygiene program will not fulfill our dental school prerequisite requirements.

Dental Admission Test (DAT): The Dental Admission Test is a standardized exam designed to assess general academic ability, knowledge of scientific information and perceptual ability. Canadian DAT scores are not accepted. Our priority deadline for receipt of official DAT scores is January 1. It is recommended, however, that the DAT be taken far enough in advance to allow for retake if needed. Only the most recent scores are considered.

Dental observation: Prior to application, applicants must have a minimum of 50 clinical observation hours in a dental setting. Of the 50 hours, we require a minimum of 25 hours in a general practice setting. The remaining 25 hours can continue to come from a general practice or a dental specialty office, a public health clinic, or any other clinical setting.

Covid-19 vaccinations

OHSU strongly recommends that all OHSU members, regardless of their work location or job function, remain up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Under the revised policy as of June 12, 2023, all students must be fully vaccinated or up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations or they must submit a declination form via Enterprise Health and adhere to Student Health’s current requirements designed to minimize COVID-19 transmission. New students wishing to submit a declination should do so when they receive their network login credentials (usually about 30 days before the start of the program).