Studies & Degrees in Pre-Dentistry
Pre-dentistry is the undergraduate preparation for dental school in the United States. It is not a dental qualification and, at most universities, not a degree of its own. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), dentists typically need a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from an accredited dental programme, and most programmes require applicants to have at least a bachelor's degree and to have completed certain science courses, such as biology or chemistry.
A pre-dental student therefore does two things at once: completes a first degree and builds the record that dental schools ask for, with science courses, the Dental Admission Test (DAT), advising and time spent shadowing a dentist. In Spain and in most of Latin America, by contrast, dentistry is a first degree entered directly after secondary school, so there is no separate pre-dental stage.
Qualifications and levels
The BLS notes that no specific undergraduate major is required for dental school, although programmes may prefer applicants with a bachelor's degree in a science. Universities organise pre-dentistry in different ways.
- A career track next to a major: at Tennessee Tech University, students on the Pre-Dental career track typically major in Biology, Chemistry or Interdisciplinary Studies. The university adds that dental schools accept any major and encourages students to choose according to their interests and strengths.
- Pre-health advising: Arcadia University offers several routes to complete the requirements for dental school. Its pre-dentistry students usually major in Biology or Chemistry, and advisers help with course choices, the application process and the choice of schools.
- Dental school (DDS or DMD): the professional degree that follows. At Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, for example, the DMD programme lasts 4 years and is accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation.
Together, a four-year bachelor's degree and a four-year dental programme make the usual route about eight years long.
Getting into dental school
The DAT is the common entrance test. The American Dental Association, which runs it, states that it is accepted by all U.S. dental schools and by select dental schools in Canada. It is a multiple-choice exam in English with four tests: Survey of the Natural Sciences, Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension and Quantitative Reasoning. Total administration time is five hours and 15 minutes. Students should take it after they have studied the subjects it covers, especially organic chemistry; Arcadia University notes that it is normally taken in the spring of the third year or the summer before the final year.
Applications are sent through ADEA AADSAS, the centralised service of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), which allows applicants to apply to several schools with one online application. Students apply one year before they wish to enter a dental programme. For the 2026-27 cycle, the first day to submit was 2 June 2026, and processing usually takes about four to six weeks once the application, fee and transcripts have been received. Dental schools weigh the DAT together with grade point average, interviews and recommendations; the majority require an interview.
International students
The ADEA distinguishes two cases. An international student, who has completed or is completing undergraduate studies and needs a student visa, is qualified to apply to most dental schools in the United States and Canada. Many schools ask for proof of English, such as the TOEFL, and financial aid is more difficult to obtain for those who are not U.S. or Canadian citizens. Policies differ by school, so they should be checked one by one.
A foreign-educated dentist, who already holds a dental degree from another country, follows a different route and should look at the advanced standing programmes that some U.S. dental schools offer, rather than at pre-dentistry.
Where to study pre-dentistry
SpainExchange lists 32 active schools for pre-dentistry, all of them in the United States. They range from community colleges to universities such as Arcadia University, Tennessee Tech University and Boston University, which also has its own dental school. Teaching is in English.
When comparing schools, look at the pre-health advising, the science laboratories, help with finding shadowing opportunities, and support with letters of recommendation and the application.
Careers
Pre-dentistry alone does not qualify anyone to practise. Dentists diagnose and treat problems with patients' teeth, gums and related parts of the mouth, and all states require them to be licensed; requirements vary by state and usually include a degree from an accredited programme, a written exam and a state or regional clinical examination. General dentists do not need additional training after dental school, while specialties usually require a residency of 2 to 4 years.
The BLS counted 161,400 jobs for dentists in the United States in 2025 and projects employment growth of 6 percent from 2025 to 2035.
Frequently asked questions
Is pre-dentistry a degree?
Usually not. It is a track of courses and advising taken alongside a major, most often biology or chemistry. Dental schools accept other majors if the science prerequisites are completed.
When should a pre-dental student take the DAT?
After completing the subjects the test covers, especially organic chemistry. It is normally taken in the spring of the third year of the bachelor's degree or in the following summer.
Can international students apply to US dental schools?
Yes. According to the ADEA, international students are qualified to apply to most dental schools in the United States and Canada, but many schools ask for proof of English and financial aid is harder to obtain.
I am already a dentist in my country. Do I need pre-dentistry?
No. Foreign-educated dentists follow a separate route and should look at the advanced standing programmes offered by U.S. dental schools.