Admissions Information

How to Apply

Students must apply to the program through the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS), via the PASS website. Application deadline is September 15th. Applicants are required to submit all materials to PASS by the application deadline. PASS is only able to forward applications when all requirements have been met. Applications submitted after the deadline or not completed by the deadline will not be processed by the Admissions Office.

The Orthodontics program accepts applicants from US/Canadian accredited schools as well as foreign-trained applicants. All candidates must possess a DDS/DMD degree or foreign equivalent prior to the start of the program.

You will get an email within several weeks of submitting your online application advising you of the status of your application. Please allow ample time to request documentation to be sent via the ADEA-PASS portal, such as transcripts, GRE results, etc.

Requirements

National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) and the Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE)

Applicants who have completed a program (US/Canadian or International) prior to spring 2020 must have taken and passed Part I and Part II at the time of the application. Candidates who have completed testing must request an official score report be submitted via the ADEA-PASS application portal by the application deadline of September 15th.
Applicants that are in the process of completing their dental program (US/Canadian or International) and have not taken the NBDE Part I or II must have taken and passed the INBDE by October 1. Candidates who have completed testing must request an official score report be submitted via the ADEA-PASS application portal by the application deadline.

Advanced Dental Admissions Test (ADAT)

Advanced Dental Admissions Test (ADAT) is optional. Candidates who have completed testing must request an official score report be submitted via the ADEA-PASS application portal by the application deadline.

GRE

All candidates must submit an official GRE score report. The GRE institution code for Columbia University College of Dental Medicine is 2094. Candidates who have completed testing must request from ETS that an official score report be sent to Columbia University College of Dental Medicine.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Submission of an official score report of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 100 is required. Applicants must be able to demonstrate adequate command of the English language in the following areas: reading, writing, speaking and listening. Official score reports are to be submitted via the ADEA-PASS application portal at the time you are applying. Applications completed in PASS without submitting an official score report must have an official report requested via the Educational Testing Service (ETS) portal. The institution code for Columbia University College of Dental Medicine is 2094. "My Best" TOEFL scores are accepted. The test must have been taken no more than two years prior to the application deadline.

Additional Requirements

Applicants are required to submit a minimum of four (4) recommendation letters: One (1) of the four letters must be an Institutional Evaluation letter and three (3) of the letters must be professional evaluation letters from dental faculty. PASS allows up to five (5) recommendation letters: one (1) Institutional Evaluation letter and four (4) professional evaluation letters from dental faculty. All letters must be uploaded into the PASS application. Please do not send letters directly to the Admissions Office.
If there are special circumstances regarding acceptable letters of recommendation, please send inquiries to cdm-pgadmissions@cumc.columbia.edu.
Applicants wishing to submit updated CVs or personal statements must contact the PASS helpdesk for assistance. These documents are not to be sent to the admissions office.
An application fee of $125 must be submitted when you submit your application. For more information and credit card payment options, please visit our Postdoctoral Application Fee page. All application fees are non-refundable. No other method of payment will be accepted.
Submit a 2x2 passport size photograph in jpeg format to cdm-pgadmissions@cumc.columbia.edu.
Official dental school transcripts are to be submitted via the ADEA-PASS portal.

Interview

Some applicants will be chosen for admission interviews, which are required before acceptance.

Dental Matching Program

The Postdoctoral Orthodontics Program participates in the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program. The school’s match program number is 767474.

International Applicants

Besides the application requirements described above, international students must provide the following information:

Official evaluation of all documents from foreign institutions that are presented as part of the application process is required and should be submitted via the ADEA-PASS application portal. We will accept evaluations from the organizations listed below. Please address any questions about services directly to the organization. Evaluations must contain course-by-course assessments.

World Education Services
P.O. Box 745
Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY
(212) 966-6311
www.wes.org

Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.
P.O. Box 92970
Milwaukee, WI 53202-0970
(414) 289-3400
www.ece.org

Licensing

Attending an orthodontic program in New York does not necessarily allow students without a DDS/DMD from an ADA accredited program to practice dentistry in the US. For more information about licensing issues, please contact the responsible State Department of Education or the American Dental Association.

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine does not and will not provide a letter certifying that an international student who has completed the Masters of Science in Orthodontics is qualified for a US DDS.

Application Questions

Please review the Postdoctoral Program FAQs. If you still have questions, please address them to cdm-pgadmissions@cumc.columbia.edu.