For this reason, students who are state residents are admitted to state dental schools before US students who live in other states and foreign nationals. Although anyone is eligible to apply, foreign students rarely gain admission to a school of dentistry in the US without having completed at least two years of pre-dental study in an American university. The Dental Admissions Test, given in April and October, is a multiple choice examination which measures proficiency in mathematics, biology, chemistry, reading, and perceptual motor abilities. Although its scheduled locations are all within the US, applicants who inquire several months in advance can sometimes arrange an overseas administration. After receiving the equivalent of the DDS, dentists may apply for postgraduate training at hospitals or dental schools.
Some programs lead to a master's degree in advanced dentistry.
Others offer specialty training. Upon completion of specialty training programs, licensed dentists may apply for board certification in that specialty. These programs admit foreign dental graduates, particularly in fields such as dental public health, more frequently than do first professional degree programs. Some specialty programs, such as oral surgery and periodontics, require that foreign dentists complete at least the last two years of pre-dental studies in a US university, as well as complete the DDS at an American dental school accredited by the American Dental Association. Some may also require state licensure and national board certification.