How to Register for the DAT?

The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is an important and mandatory component of every applicant’s journey to dental school. Scheduling the DAT at the Prometric Testing Center can be done in a few steps to ensure that you will be able to take it during your desired window in order to apply. 

It is highly recommended for DAT test takers to schedule the DAT at a minimum of 60 to 90 days before you want to take it. This will allow you to secure a spot to take the exam at your preferred time and keep you on the path on which you wish to apply to dental schools. Furthermore, choosing a test date for the DAT ahead of time can provide motivation for preparing for the exam and help create an efficient study schedule within your given timeframe. Let’s get started on how to sign up for the DAT!

I. Scheduling the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) and Creating a DENTPIN

1. You must first go to the American Dental Association website and in the top menu, click the tab under “Education” called “Testing”. After scrolling through the page, click “Dental Admission Test” which takes you to the page shown below. 

2. From here, you must scroll down and select “Apply for the DAT” which will take you to the page seen below. Then, you will scroll to the bottom of the page where you will find an option to “Apply now”. This will take you to a sign-in page for your DENTPIN.

3. When applying to schedule the exam, you must first create a DENTPIN by clicking “Request a DENTPIN” and then “Register” as seen below. Your DENTPIN is an individual code that you will use throughout the cycle, and it is also linked to your AADSAS application to keep track of all DAT attempts. This personalized DENTPIN will be used not only to schedule your exam date but also to help dental schools identify your Dental Admission Test scores after you have taken it.

Pro-Tip: Save your DENTPIN as it is important, and you will need it to register for many dental examinations in your dental career, including your Integrated National Board Dental Examination in your final year of dental school. You will only need to create one DENTPIN for your lifetime. 

4. Once you have created your DENTPIN, sign-in and follow the instructions to complete your DAT application to write the exam. Once you have filled out all the information you must pay for the exam, which is currently $580 USD. Exam fees may change, so be sure to check the ADA’s website for the most up-to-date pricing before submitting your payment. 

Before you pay for your exam, you will be shown a page asking where you would like your scores to be sent. It is recommended that you select “All schools” as it does not cost any extra money and allows you the flexibility to apply to any AADSAS program later. If you wanted to add a school to send your scores at a later date, it would cost $55 USD per additional school.

Then you must wait to receive an eligibility email in order to schedule your testing location, date and time. When scheduling your appointment, it is crucial to indicate your first, middle, and last name exactly as it is written on your passport or driver’s license.

II. Eligibility and Finding a Testing Site  

1. After receiving an eligibility letter with a specific eligibility number from the ADA website, which can take multiple days, you can schedule your testing appointment with the Prometric Testing Center. This can be done using the following link: https://securereg3.prometric.com/ProfessionalHome.aspx.

Pro-Tip: The eligibility is only active for 6 months from the date that it is given and the exam must be scheduled within those 6 months or else payment will not be refunded.

2. On the Prometric website, it will ask you to indicate the program and the region. Here, you will scroll and select “American Dental Association” and indicate the location where you will want to take your exam, as shown below.

3. From the following list of options, select “Schedule an Appointment”. Then proceed to review the Information and Privacy Policy tabs.

4. It will then ask you to provide the eligibility number in the email and the last 4 letters of your last name in order to proceed to be given a calendar with available seats in each location, time and date. The calendar will only show the dates and times of the upcoming 6 months.

III. DAT Availability

While some zip codes have many Prometric locations in the area, others may only have a few. Therefore, it is crucial to book the exam as soon as possible because the seats may get filled up quickly depending on the location. Each testing session is scheduled with windows of 5.5-hour time slots per student. These can be offered both weekdays and weekends, starting from the morning and going into early afternoon times, depending on the location and date.

Once the date and time are chosen, an appointment confirmation is sent via email including the protocols/procedures for the center, policy for identification, methods of rescheduling/cancelation and directions to locate the testing center. The confirmation will also provide the required information about testing services available on the day of the exam.

In addition to understanding the testing process, it is also important to be aware of the DAT requirements for the dental schools you plan to apply to. For instance, many Canadian dental schools accept American DAT (Dental Admission Test) scores, which can be sent to schools through the official ADA testing portal. However, it is important to consider that not all Canadian dental schools accept the American DAT. These Canadian dental schools require you to complete the Canadian Dental Aptitude Test (DAT), which is administered by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA). More information about registering for the Canadian DAT can be found in this article.

IV. What to Do After Registering for the DAT

Having a confirmed DAT test date is an important step in your preparation because it allows you to create a structured study schedule and set clear goals leading up to exam day. Using DATBooster’s custom study schedule builder can help you stay on track by creating a personalized plan based on your test date. This allows you to organize your content review, practice questions, and DAT practice tests, to ensure you are prepared on test day.

To ensure the best preparation for your DAT, consider incorporating practice tests into your study routine to familiarize yourself with the exam format, improve time management skills, identify areas for improvement, and build confidence by becoming comfortable with the timing and structure of the test. With your Dental Admission Test now scheduled, it is time to put all of your hard work and dedication into studying to ultimately achieve great success on the big day and get one step closer to entering dental school!