For many internationally trained dentists, the bench test is the most stressful part of the Advanced Standing admissions process. It is natural to ask whether some programs admit students without one.
The short answer is yes. For the 2026–27 admissions cycle, a group of programs report on their official ADEA CAAPID Program Finder profiles that they do not use a bench test. But this list comes with important cautions. “No bench test” does not mean “no evaluation.” These programs still use interviews, academic records, board scores, and English proficiency to select students, and some are among the most competitive programs in the country.
This guide explains which Advanced Standing programs without bench test requirements were listed for 2026–27, how we checked them, and what you should confirm before you apply.
Information reviewed October 2026. Schools can change their admissions procedures from cycle to cycle.
How This List Was Checked
Each program that participates in ADEA CAAPID has a profile on the official ADEA CAAPID Program Finder. Each profile includes a “Bench Test” field marked Yes or No. We reviewed every participating program’s profile for the 2026–27 cycle. Where possible, we also checked the school’s own admissions website.
We sorted programs into three groups:
- No bench exam, confirmed on both ADEA and the school’s own website
- ADEA profile lists “Bench Test: No,” but the school’s own page we reviewed does not address it directly
- Everything else, meaning the ADEA profile lists a bench test, or the format is unclear
Programs Listing No Bench Test for 2026–27
Confirmed by ADEA and the school website
| Program | What the school states | Program start (2026–27 cycle) |
|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (PASS) | Penn states “there is no bench exam” during its interview process. | January 2027 |
| University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry (IDS) | Pacific states it “will not be requiring a technical examination for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle.” Interviews are in person, by invitation. | July 2027 |
Sources: Penn Dental Medicine PASS admissions and Pacific IDS: How and When to Apply.
Listed as “Bench Test: No” on the ADEA Program Finder
The following programs are marked “Bench Test: No” on their 2026–27 ADEA CAAPID profiles. The school pages we reviewed describe interviews and other requirements but do not directly discuss a bench exam. Treat these as strong leads, not final answers.
- Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
- Columbia University College of Dental Medicine
- Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry
- New York University College of Dentistry
- Rutgers School of Dental Medicine
- Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
- University of California, San Francisco School of Dentistry
- University of Florida College of Dentistry (note: its internationally educated pathway is listed at 45 months, longer than most Advanced Standing programs)
- University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry
Requirements can change. Applicants should confirm current requirements directly with the individual dental program.
What “No Bench Test” Does and Does Not Mean
A “No” on the bench-test field means the program does not list a hands-on preparation exam as part of its admissions process for that cycle. It does not mean admission is easier. In practice, these programs often place more weight on other parts of your application:
- Interviews. Several programs on this list interview by invitation only. Tufts, for example, describes virtual interviews through Kira Talent, and UCSF describes one-on-one Zoom interviews with a faculty member.
- Board results. Most programs require a passing INBDE or NBDE Parts I and II.
- TOEFL scores. Minimums and competitive scores vary widely by school.
- Credential evaluation. Many programs require an ECE course-by-course evaluation, and several do not accept WES.
- U.S. clinical exposure and letters of evaluation. Some programs ask for letters from U.S. dentists.
Your hand skills are still tested after admission. Once you enroll, you will complete preclinical and clinical work and be evaluated continuously. Strong manual skills remain important, even if the admissions process does not include a bench test.
Timing: Many 2026–27 Deadlines Have Passed
By October 2026, most programs on this list have closed their 2026–27 applications. According to the ADEA Program Finder, Boston University’s deadline is October 15, 2026, and Meharry’s deadline is November 1, 2026. Other programs closed earlier in the year.
If you are planning for the next cycle, use this list as a starting point. Then check each program’s updated profile when the next ADEA CAAPID cycle opens, because the bench-test field can change.
Should You Only Apply to Programs Without a Bench Test?
Most applicants should not limit themselves this way. There are practical reasons:
- The list is short. Most of the roughly 47 programs on the ADEA CAAPID Program Finder list a bench test for 2026–27.
- Competition is concentrated. When many applicants avoid bench tests, the remaining programs can become even more selective.
- Fit matters more. Program length, cost, location, citizenship requirements, and class size often matter more than the bench-test format.
A balanced plan usually includes programs with and without bench tests, chosen based on your profile and goals.
To understand how these programs fit together, read our explanation of ASPID vs. CAAPID, the ASTRA guide to Advanced Standing dental programs in the U.S., and our overview of what an Advanced Standing dental program is.
How to Verify a Program Yourself
- Open the program’s profile on the ADEA CAAPID Program Finder and check the “Bench Test” field and the “Last updated” date.
- Read the school’s own admissions page for the current cycle.
- Look for related terms such as “technical exam,” “manual dexterity,” “psychomotor assessment,” or “clinical skills assessment.”
- If anything is unclear, email the admissions office and save the reply.
Key Takeaways
- For 2026–27, 11 programs list “Bench Test: No” on the ADEA CAAPID Program Finder.
- Penn and Pacific also state this on their own admissions pages.
- “No bench test” still means a competitive review of interviews, boards, TOEFL, and records.
- Procedures change between cycles, so verify before every application.
Preparing for Programs That Do Use a Bench Test
If some of your target programs include a bench examination and you want to learn more about simulation-based practice and exam-style preparation, you can explore ASTRA Test Prep’s resources and preparation options in Pasadena.
