Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT)
The ADAT is for anyone interested in advanced dental education programs, post-graduate training, or advanced standing in pre-doctoral programs. Learn how to apply and more.
About ADAT
The Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT) is available to hundreds of advanced dental education programs. It is used to assess applicants’ potential for success. The test takes 4.5 hours to complete and is offered at Pearson VUE test centers throughout the U.S., its territories (including Guam, Puerto Rice and the Virgin Islands) and select locations in Canada. Download the ADAT Candidate Guide to learn more about the test.
Apply for the ADAT
Ready to begin? Make sure to review the available resources before you submit your application. Remember to apply between March 1 and August 31. Typically, we recommend taking the ADAT the year before your program begins, but confirm deadlines with your desired program(s).
Available ADAT Resources
Review the provided guides, practice tests, and reference texts to help you prepare for the ADAT. When you’re ready, apply for the exam and schedule your testing appointment.
ADAT Resources
Learn everything about the 2025 test, including fees, scoring and eligibility requirements.
Get familiar with the format and sample questions.
Review key information about the ADAT and ATDH to be presented at the March ADEA conference.
Prepare to take the ADAT with the tutorial. Installation requirements and instructions are provided.
Review the list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations.
See the texts subject matter experts referenced while writing the exam.
See the Pearson VUE test sites near you, review their policies and schedule your test.
Get my score
See your ADAT score report, learn how to interpret the results, or request an audit.
Recent and Forthcoming Updates
Please download and check Recent and Forthcoming Updates to Examinations and Tests (PDF) often as you prepare for your examination.
FAQ - Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT)
Take the ADAT if you are:
- A third- or fourth-year dental student interested in post-graduate training (e.g., in a dental specialty area)
- A practicing dentist interested in post-graduate training (e.g., in a dental specialty area)
- An international dental student applying to advanced dental education programs or advanced standing in pre-doctoral programs
The ADAT consists of multiple-choice test questions presented in English, and includes a battery of three tests:
- Biomedical Sciences (80 items)
- Clinical Sciences (80 stand-alone and case-based items)
- Data, Research Interpretation, and Evidence-Based Dentistry (40 items)
Start by reading the official ADAT Candidate Guide (PDF), which explains:
- How the exam is constructed and scored
- How to prepare for the exam
- Eligibility requirements
- Fees and waivers
- How to schedule, reschedule, or cancel testing
- The ADAT Rules of Conduct
Once you have read the ADAT Candidate Guide (PDF), apply for the examination with your existing DENTPIN (the same DENTPIN you used when you took the DAT and INBDE). If you have forgotten your DENTPIN and or password, get help here.
After your application has been processed, you will receive an eligibility letter that permits you to schedule your testing appointment.
The ADAT is offered at Pearson VUE Test Centers throughout the U.S. and Canada (except the providence of Quebec). It is available within designated testing windows. Please refer to the guide for more details. Once you have received your eligibility letter confirming that your test application has been accepted, you must contact Pearson VUE to secure an appointment. We recommend doing this at least 60 to 90 days before your desired test date, since schedules fill up.
Visit the Pearson VUE website to find a testing site near you and schedule your test.
There are a limited number of partial fee waivers available to ADAT candidates each calendar year. Partial fee waivers are granted on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible candidates who have submitted the required documents. The partial fee waiver covers 50% of the ADAT fee. It cannot be applied to any charges associated with rescheduling/canceling a test date or score reporting after the time of initial application.
An examinee is eligible to request a partial fee waiver if each of the following criteria are met:
- First-time examinee
- Has not previously received a partial fee waiver
- U.S. citizen or resident alien
- Has demonstrated financial hardship
- Received financial aid from their school
You can request a fee waiver by signing in to your DENTPIN.
Once you have signed in, select ‘Submit Request’ and then ‘Waiver Request.’
You will be prompted to select the test for which you are requesting a waiver. Select ‘ADAT.’
The ADAT Program will review all partial fee waiver requests and make the final approval/denial decision. After the partial fee waiver request is reviewed, you will receive an email notification of the decision and instructions for submitting an ADAT application online. Please allow up to 10 business days for review of all partial fee waiver requests.
Hundreds of advanced dental education programs located throughout the United States and Canada accept the Advanced Dental Admission Test. Consult the current ADAT Program List (PDF) to see how each program plans to use ADAT scores. If a program is not listed, they have not shared their intended ADAT use with the ADA. In that case, contact the program directly for more information.
All programs have electronic access to ADAT scores.
All programs have electronic access to ADAT scores.
Programs differ in how they choose to use the ADAT. Some supplement the scores with other information, while others only use ADAT results when required to break a tie between equally qualified candidates. Review the current guide: Using the ADAT for Admission Purposes: A Guide for Advanced Dental Education Programs (PDF) for more information, which includes:
- History of the ADAT.
- Evidence supporting the ADAT.
- Score scales and frequency distributions.
- 2023 Using the ADAT for Admission Purposes: A Guide for Advanced Dental Education Programs (PDF)
- 2022 Using the ADAT for Admission Purposes: A Guide for Advanced Dental Education Programs (PDF)
- 2021 Using the ADAT for Admission Purposes: A Guide for Advanced Dental Education Programs (PDF)
- 2020 Using the ADAT for Admission Purposes: A Guide for Advanced Dental Education Programs (PDF)
- 2019 Using the ADAT for Admission Purposes: A Guide for Advanced Dental Education Programs (PDF)
- 2018 Using the ADAT for Admission Purposes: A Guide for Advanced Dental Education Programs (PDF)
Yes. Fairness in testing is of vital importance, and is in fact fundamental to an examination’s validity. Fairness considerations are embedded throughout the ADAT program, affecting every aspect of how this examination is constructed, administered, scored, and reported. The Fairness document provided below shares additional details of interest:
Review the ADAT Program Use of Personal Information and Privacy Policy, which includes:
- The Biometric Data Privacy Policy
- Personal information used and disclosed in connection with the ADAT
- Uses and Disclosures of Personal Information in Connection with the ADAT
- Privacy and Security
Additional ADAT information
The Updates on the Advanced Dental Admission Test (ADAT) webinar was held on October 30, 2024. Dr. Waldschmidt and Mr. Hussong presented information for examination users, academic programs, and faculty. A recording of this informational webinar is now available. The slide presentation (PDF) is also available for download.
Spring 2022 Webinar: Watch a video about the ADAT program. Content includes scoring and score reporting, examination content, resources and much more.
ADAT Examinee Information Report (PDF): This report is for informational purposes and reflects the most recent data about ADAT examinees. Data includes:
- Self-reported gender
- Ethnicity
- Whether examinees spoke English at home
- Dental school attended, dental school year of graduation, dental school year (if current student)
- Highest degree achieved, dental school grade point average (GPA)
- The number of times examinees took the Dental Admission Test (DAT)
- Reported specialty area of interest
Volunteer as a test constructor
Lend your talents to future applicants. The Department of Testing Services needs volunteer subject matter experts to assist with test construction. Volunteers may also earn CE credit.
