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United States · Admission test

How to sign up for the DAT

Signing up takes two steps. First you apply and pay ADA through a DENTPIN account. Then, once ADA emails to confirm you’re eligible, you book your date and test center with Prometric. You have six months to test after your application is processed, and the DAT runs all year.

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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

Step by step

  1. Get a DENTPIN at ADA.org/DENTPIN. It’s your ID for dental testing and for dental school applications. If you’ve had one before, use the same one.
  2. Read the DAT Candidate Guide. You have to confirm you’ve read it and agree to its rules when you apply.
  3. Sign in with your DENTPIN, fill in the application, pick the schools that should get your scores, and pay the $580 fee.
  4. Wait for ADA’s email confirming your eligibility. Applications are processed Monday to Friday during US business hours. Check your spam folder.
  5. Book your appointment with Prometric, online or by phone. Pick a date within your six-month window.

When to take it

ADA suggests taking the DAT in the spring of your junior year or the summer after it, once you’ve finished the courses it covers, especially organic chemistry. Its apply page suggests sending your application 60 to 90 days before the date you want.

Leave time for a retake. You must wait 60 days between attempts, and scores take three to four weeks to reach schools.

Where you can test

The DAT is given at Prometric test centers across the US, in Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, and at some locations in Canada. It’s no longer offered in Quebec.

Applying in Canada? ADA says some Canadian dental schools accept its DAT, and asks you to check with your schools before you apply. Canada also has its own DAT, so make sure you sign up for the one your schools want.

Get your name exactly right

The name on your DENTPIN record and application must match your IDs exactly. If it doesn’t, you won’t be allowed to test and you lose your fee. Use your legal name. For a middle name, use either the full name or just the initial.

Corrections must be made at least two weeks before your appointment, by emailing DENTPIN@ADA.org.

Need testing accommodations?

Request them through your DENTPIN account, before you schedule. You can’t add accommodations to an appointment you’ve already booked. If you book first, you’ll have to cancel and pay a cancellation fee.

Explore

Everything else, in one place

OverviewDAT (Dental Admission Test)CostHow much does the DAT cost?Online testCan you take the DAT online?DAT Candidate GuideThe DAT Candidate Guide and study guidePractice testDAT practice testWhere to learnWhere to study for the DAT
Sources: ADA, Prometric and 3 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.