The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Dental Medicine is one of 66 dental programs in the United States of America. The UNLV Dental School Requirements are categorized here in the priority of what an applicant must submit to be considered:
Academic
- Pre-requisite courses
- Minimum number of years of undergraduate study required
- GPA
Non-Academic
- Dentistry Admission Test (DAT)
- Dental Shadowing
- Letter of References
- Personal Essay
- Interview
UNLV Dental School Requirements: Prerequisite Courses
All students applying to the University of Nevada Dental School must have completed at least a minimum of 4 years of study (120 semester hours / 180 quarter hours). Students must also complete the following prerequisite courses listed below:
| Prerequisite Course | Required | Lab Required | Credits (Semester/Quarter) |
| Biology | ✓ | ✓ | 8/12 |
| General Chemistry | ✓ | ✓ | 8/12 |
| Organic Chemistry | ✓ | ✓ | 8/12 |
| Physics | ✓ | ✓ | 8/12 |
| Anatomy | ✓ | X | 4/6 |
| Biochemistry | ✓ | X | 3/5 |
| English | ✓ | X | 6/12 |
AP and community college credits are accepted at this University. However, only community college coursework can count towards prerequisite courses.
Due to COVID-19, UNLV will accept Pass/Fail grades. However, if there is an option for a letter grade, that is preferred.
University of Nevada Dental School Requirements: GPA Calculation and Requirements
| Minimum Overall GPA to Apply | Average Overall GPA of accepted applicants | Lowest Overall GPA Admitted | Average Science GPA of accepted applicants | Lowest Science GPA Admitted |
| NR | 3.56 | 3.06 | 3.47 | 2.73 |
UNLV Dental School Requirements: Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) and Shadowing
DAT and Shadowing Overview:
UNLV is looking for dental shadowing that shows consistency over a long period of time, approximately 100 hours.
UNLV Dental School Requirements: DAT Admission Score Statistics:
| Mean Academic Average Score | Minimum AA Score Given Admission | Mean Perceptual Ability Test | Minimum PAT Score Given Admission | Mean Total Science | Minimum Total Science Score Given Admission |
| 21.3 | 17 | 21.0 | 17 | 20.7 | 17 |
Applicants are required to take the DAT. If an applicant has completed the DAT more than once the highest score for the two most recent tests will be assessed when calculations are made.
Students looking to test their knowledge in preparation for the DAT can click on this link to access our free practice tests for both the Canadian DAT and American DAT. Additionally, check out our 10 tips to Ace the DAT from a 25+ AA test taker!
University of Nevada Dental School Requirements: Letters of Recomendation
A letter of evaluation from a college’s pre-health professions committee will satisfy the requirement for letters of recommendation.
If the applicant’s university does not have a committee, he or she must submit four individual letters of evaluation. Two of the letters must be from hard science professors, the third letter must be from a dentist with whom the applicant has shadowed or worked, and the fourth may be from a liberal arts professor, employer, pastor, etc.
University of Nevada Dental School Requirements: Supplemental Application
The supplemental application is a required component that along with your AADSAS application will complete your file and allow your application to enter the UNLV SDM Admissions Committee review process. You must also complete the registration pages located on the UNLV Graduate College website.
AADSAS Personal Essays
This University may take into account the AADSAS personal essay you submit to the ADEA. Your personal statement is a one-page essay (not to exceed 4,500 characters, including spaces, carriages, numbers, letters, etc.) that gives dental schools a clear picture of who you are and, most importantly, why you want to pursue a career in dentistry. For more information on the personal essay click on the link above.
UNLV Dental School Requirements: Interview
| Mandatory | By Invitation | Number of Applicants Invited | Entering Class Size |
| ✓ | ✓ | N/A | 84 |
Shortlisted candidates will be required to partake in an interview with the admissions team. The interview process for this dental school is unknown. If you are looking for interview practice check out our posts on both MMI Practice Questions and Standard Interview Practice Questions.
Requirements for other Dental Schools in America:
If you would like an in-depth analysis of the dental school requirements for other dental schools in the United States of America click on this link. Those looking to compare the costs of dental schools can click here.