The Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is required for admission to dental schools in North America. Every student who wishes to pursue dentistry as a career has to complete this test, score competitively and deliver the results to every dental school one wishes to apply to. Being a requirement for professional admissions, there is a limit on the number of attempts an individual is eligible for. One can only take the DAT three times overall. Additional attempts require further documentation and communication with the American Dental Association (ADA). That being said, let’s talk about the financials. The overall cost of the test is $510.00 as of 2022. This fee is non-refundable; therefore, one must be sure of their decision to apply for the test. As hefty as it sounds, there are some helpful resources, so do not panic! Since the DAT is one of the most expensive exams, some students can be eligible for limited fee waivers the ADA grants every year. All the important information, including what the fee waiver is, eligibility requirements and the process of obtaining a DAT fee waiver, is explained in detail below.

🤔 What Is a DAT Fee Waiver?

DAT fee waiver is a financial savior that helps alleviate the expensive price one must pay to take the test. If the fee waiver is granted to an applicant by the ADA, it can cover up to 50% of the cost of taking the test. It is important to note that the fee waiver does not cover rescheduling/cancellation fees or any score reporting for the test after the first application. The partial waiver is granted on a first-come, first-serve basis, so it is important to submit the necessary documents early enough for better chances.

✅ What Are the Eligibility Requirements?

• Students who are taking the DAT for the first time
• Must be a US citizen or resident alien
• Must prove financial hardship

• Documentations Required for Eligibility
  
  • Fee Waiver form (found here)
  • Financial Aid letter from the current educational institution. This document has to be within the last 18 months of attendance. If you have not attended university for the last 18 months, this documentation can be substituted with your latest tax return forms.

✏️ What Is the Process of Obtaining a Fee Waiver?

To obtain a fee waiver, you must follow the steps below:

1. Obtain a DENTPIN. Instructions on how to get one can be found here. Be sure to keep this pin handy as you will need it for future dental related documentations and certifications
2. Fill out the following form found here. An updated form is posted at the beginning of each year, in January.
3. Email the form to datexam@ada.com.
4. It will take up to 10 business days for the application to be verified. Once this happens, instructions will be provided for submitting a DAT test application.

Conclusion

I hope this information helped you save some money! Do not waste your chance to sign up for a fee waiver the first time you take the DAT. Most importantly, be 100% sure to sign up to attempt the test, as the fee waiver will not cover rescheduling fees or cancellations!

Once you’ve registered for the DAT, be sure to check out all of the resources DATBooster has to offer. Fortunately, DATBooster provides everything you need to prepare for the DAT in one place. We recommend exploring the DATBooster site and testing the free content to see if the product is right for you. Lastly, while preparing for the DAT, be sure to utilize various study strategies such as Active Recall and Pomodoro Techniques to help accelerate your learning.

Once you choose your resources, hit the books hard and don’t look back! In case you aren’t quite sure how to begin preparing, be sure to check out our article on how to prepare for the DAT. Good luck studying!