Postgraduate Admission

Full Standing

All postgraduate dental education programs at the UTHSC College of Dentistry require that all applicants have a DDS, DMD, or equivalent degree and that they have passed the National Board Dental Examination. Each program may have additional requirements that are listed on that program's individual website or internal documentation. A student admitted to full standing may be required to remedy specific deficiencies in past training or performance as part of their postgraduate training as detailed below or prescribed by the program in which the resident is enrolled.

Provisional Standing

At the discretion of the Dean of the College of Dentistry, in consultation with the Associate Dean of Postgraduate Affairs and the Program Director, provisional standing may be granted to an incoming resident who does not qualify for full standing. A candidate granted provisional standing is expected to fulfill requirements that reflect quality academic and professional performance, as specified by the Associate Dean for Postgraduate Affairs. Additional course work and other measures of academic and professional achievement may be required to remedy past deficiencies.

Upon completion of one semester of residency training, the resident’s performance will be reviewed. At the discretion of the Associate Dean of Postgraduate Affairs and the Program Director, the resident may be required to present documentation that reflects satisfactory performance. If the original conditions set forth by the Associate Dean for Postgraduate Affairs have been satisfied, and the student meets the general quality expectations of the Program Director, and all required documentation indicates satisfactory achievement, then the resident may be granted full standing in the residency program. Otherwise, the offer of acceptance will be withdrawn, or the student will be maintained on provisional standing for a prescribed period.

No candidate accepted for dental residency training will be permitted to register for course work without submitting all credentials required by the UTHSC and the College of Dentistry and having his/her standing reviewed and determined (i.e., provisional standing, full standing, or acceptance withdrawn).

Transfer Credit

Students wishing to transfer credit for postgraduate study from another institution or another college within the University must have the approval of the Program Director, Department Chair in which the program is conducted, and the Associate Dean for Postgraduate Affairs.

Additional Coursework

Individual students enrolled in a postgraduate dental education program may be assigned studies or activities beyond the general requirements set forth by the program director in order to complete the program. In such instances, the student is to be notified in writing by the Program Director, with a copy filed with the Department Chair and the Associate Dean for Postgraduate Affairs.