Orthodontics
Length of Program: Three (3) years
Number of Positions: Up to four (4) for graduates of non-CODA accredited OR CODA-accredited dental schools who are not US citizens or green card holders. Applicants from US and Canadian international dentist (DDS, DMD) training programs or those who have received formal orthodontic training at recognized international programs are encouraged to apply.
Program Director: Dr. Sunil Kapila
The CODA-accredited Orthodontics Postgraduate Training Program is designed to train clinical specialists at the postgraduate level and includes extensive didactic, clinical, and research experience. Although the major study concentration is in orthodontics, research in any of the allied medical or dental sciences is acceptable. Successful postgraduates must complete the requirements for both the Master's degree in Oral Biology and the Orthodontics Postgraduate Training Program in order to be awarded a certificate of completion for the orthodontic program. Successful completion of this program provides eligibility to sit on the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) examinations toward becoming a Diplomate of the ABO.
The curriculum consists of subject matter that has direct application in orthodontic practice. Examples of such subjects are orthodontic seminars covering etiology, diagnosis, and treatment planning; applied clinical orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics; cephalometrics and other auxiliary imaging methods; biomechanical principles; anatomy; growth, and development; review of orthodontic literature; gnathology and TMJ function and dysfunction; surgical orthodontics; craniofacial anomalies; embryology; biostatistics; metallurgy of orthodontic materials; research design; and research and manuscript preparation.
Selection Factors
Application Due: August 15
Interviews: Late September - Early October
Acceptance Notification: Mid October - Early November
PASS Application: Yes
Selected candidates will be invited to interview. If you have been selected, you will be notified by telephone and/or email.
A letter of acceptance signed by the Program Director and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs will be issued upon acceptance. After being accepted, candidates must apply to the Oral Biology Master's Program before their deadline on December 15.
Program Fees
Program Fees: $80,000 per year starting July 1, 2025 for the Orthodontics program. (subject to change) Please refer to the UCLA Graduate Division fees page for information regarding tuition for the Oral Biology Master's Program.
Certificate Fee: one-time payment of $200 (non-refundable)
One-time Application Fee: $150 (non-refundable)
International Student Fee: $1,300 (only for those requesting I-20s for F-1 student status)
Refund Policy: Application fee, certificate fee, and international fees are non-refundable.
| Initial payment due | April 5, 50% of annual program fee |
| 100% refund | 10 weeks before July 1 |
| 50% refund | 5 weeks before July 1 |
| None | less than 5 weeks before July 1 |
| Second payment due | Dec 15, 50% of annual program fee |
| 100% refund | before the start of Winter quarter |
| 50% refund | within first 5 weeks of Winter quarter |
| None | after 5 weeks into Winter quarter |
| Third payment due | June 15 of following year, 50% of annual program fee |
| 100% refund | 10 weeks before July 1 |
| 50% refund | 5 weeks before July 1 |
| None | less than 5 weeks before July 1 |
| Fourth payment due | Dec 15 of following year, 50% of annual program fee |
| 100% refund | before the start of Winter quarter |
| 50% refund | within first 5 weeks of Winter quarter |
| None | after 5 weeks into Winter quarter |
Contact Us
Postgraduate Programs Officer
Phone: (310) 825-7478
Email: postdds@dentistry.ucla.edu
*Please do not reach out to faculty directly. All inquiries about the program and admissions should be directed to the section administrator or Postgraduate Programs Officer.
Accreditation Statement
The program in Orthodontics is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and has been granted the accreditation status of "Approval without Reporting Requirements”. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653, by visiting www.ada.org/coda, or by mail at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-2678.