How to Apply to the Dental Public Health Residency (DPHR) Program

The application period for the academic year 2020–2021 Dental Public Health Residency is now open. Please follow the steps outlined below to ensure that your complete application is emailed as one Zip File pdf icon[PDF – 466KB] containing all required forms. Only complete application submissions will be reviewed. The application period will close on September 27, 2019. Please read the instructions carefully as the application process has changed.

Step 1: Compile all required application materials

Applicants must submit the following materials as one complete package in a Zip File:

• Admission Requirements Checklist pdf icon[PDF – 135KB].
• Application Form pdf icon[PDF – 256KB].
• Curriculum vitae.
• Copies of unofficial transcripts:
  • Copies of unofficial transcripts from both dental school and graduate education in public health. Transcripts must state your degree of study, courses taken, grades earned, and graduation date.
  • Transcripts from institutions where English is not the official language of instruction must be accompanied by certified translations.
  • Do not send high school transcripts or copies of National Board Examination scores.
  • If you are accepted into the program, CDC must receive your official transcripts by January 31 of the fellowship year or your acceptance will be withdrawn.

Letters of recommendation should be submitted directly from references to the program via email but are considered part of the full application package and must be received by the application deadline:

Three letters of recommendation from people who have agreed to serve as references are required.

• References may not be a relative to the applicant.
• Letters of recommendation should be written in English.
• References should print letters of recommendation on letterhead and sign and date them.
• References should attach their letter of recommendation to an email and send it directly to DPHResidency@cdc.gov.
• Letters of recommendation must be submitted by the application deadline or the application will be deemed incomplete and therefore will not be reviewed.

International Applicants must also submit the following application components, if applicable:

• Course-by-course evaluation by a credentialing organization is required for transcripts from educational institutions outside the United States or Canada. This requirement applies to any dental or public health degree obtained abroad. For information on credentialing organizations, see the International Applicants section below.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are required only from applicants whose dental and public health degrees both were earned at institutions with a language of instruction other than English. You can submit a copy of unofficial TOEFL scores in your application, but you still will need to provide official TOEFL scores within the last two years in order to be accepted into the program. For information on required TOEFL scores, see the International Applicants section below.

Step 2: Package your application materials into one complete Zip File

Save all the completed application materials in one Zip File. Refer to the Zip File Instructions pdf icon[[PDF – 466KB]] for step-by-step directions on how to save your materials as a Zip File. All application materials must be submitted via email as a full package contained in one Zip File, saved with the file name “[First Name_Last Name] [Application Year]”.

Step 3: Email your complete Zip File by September 27, 2019

Attach the completed Zip File to an email and send it to DPHResidency@cdc.gov with the subject line: “[First Name_Last Name] [Application Year]”. You will receive a confirmation email when your materials have been received.

For academic year 2020–2021, all components of the application, including the three letters of recommendation, must be submitted by email no later than September 27, 2019 to be eligible for consideration.

Selection is based on academic achievement, prior experience, and alignment of CDC’s Residency Program with your stated goals. Applicants are considered equally, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or age. As outlined by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, all accepted residents must meet the eligibility criteria.

Additional Information for International Applicants

Dentists who completed their dental training outside the United States or Canada can apply for the CDC Dental Public Health Residency Program. However, all education and degrees must be evaluated by a credentialing organization to determine equivalency to the DDS or DMD degree awarded by a US dental school.

The information for three credentialing organizations is provided below. When you send your documents to one of these agencies, ask for a course-by-course evaluation.

American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 520
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: 202-293-9161
Website: https://aacrao.org/external icon

Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE)
P.O. Box 514070
Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470
Telephone: 414-289-3400
Website: http://www.ece.org/external icon

World Education Services (WES)
Bowling Green Station
P.O. Box 5087
New York, NY 10274-5087
Telephone: 212-966-6311
Website: http://www.wes.org/external icon

TOEFL Score
TOEFL scores are required for applicants who received both their dental and public health degrees from institutions with a language of instruction other than English. The Computer Based Test (CBT), Internet Based Test (iBT), or Paper Based Test (PBT) will be accepted. The following are the minimum required scores based on test type:
• CBT: minimum total score of 250.
• iBT: minimum total score of 100.
• PBT: minimum total score of 600.

Contact Information

Division of Oral Health, DPH Residency Director

Email: DPHResidency@cdc.gov