Leaders in
Orthodontic
Education

First-Year Schedule

• Daily group clinic rotations on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
• Lectures on Thursday and Friday

Second-Year Schedule

• Daily group clinic practical rotations on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
• Lectures on Thursday
• Weekly clinic rotation and allocated research time on Friday

Third-Year Schedule

• Off on Monday & Tuesday
• Lectures on Wednesday morning and research time in the afternoon
• Clinic on Thursday and Friday

Resident Lunch-N-Learns (On campus and off-site)

Resident Mixers

Annual academic breaks plus observed school holidays:

• 2 weeks – Winter break (Dec – Jan)
• 1 week – Spring break (March)
• 1 week – Summer break (August)

• Must collaborate on a research project and complete prior to graduation
• Complete a 3700 hours of program time
• Maintain CPR and HIPPA certifications annually (organized by the institution)
• Take ABO written board examination
• Must attend all virtual and onsite classes unless on “approved leave”
• Tuition Deadlines
  • August 1 and December 1 (spring and summer semesters)
• School uniforms must be GSO issued
  • All residents receive an allowance to cover first sets of uniforms and lab coat

General Inquiries:

1. Do you offer externships/internships? We only offer a Residency Program that certifies residents to become orthodontic specialists and an On-line Fellowship Program for those who want to increase their general knowledge of orthodontics.
2. Do you offer a program for Orthodontic Assistants? Same answer as above.
3. How long is the Residency program? The program lasts 36-months (3 years).
4. Do residents need a dental license to participate in the residency program? You are not required to have a Georgia dental license to be a resident in our program. All residents are allowed to operate in the clinics under GSO’s licensure under supervision.
5. After completing the program, will residents be able to practice orthodontics in Georgia? What about the U.S.? Once you complete the program, you will be certified to practice orthodontics as a specialist. However, you must first obtain a dental license from the state board of dentistry to practice in the U.S. Licensure requirements differ from state to state. Visit the board of dentistry website for the state you want to practice to review licensure requirements and applications.
6. How much time can I expect to designate to the residency program? You will be involved with the program Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM, though there will be variations in the daily schedules. This schedule includes a mixture of clinical and didactic hours. Residents will be given the schedule in advance.
7. How many seats are open each academic year? As the largest orthodontics residency program in the world, we accept up to 45 residents each admissions cycle.
8. Do residents get a stipend? Residents do not receive a stipend; however, we do offer teaching assistantship positions for scholarship recipients.
9. How is tuition billed? We have two hard tuition payment deadlines: August 1st for Fall tuition and December 1st for Spring tuition.
10. Are residents board certified once they graduate? Second-year residents take the American Board of Orthodontics written examination. The Class of 2025 had a 100% pass rate, the fifth year for the program. Once they pass the written portion, residents become board-certified eligible.

Admissions Stats:

1. How many applications do you receive each admissions cycle? Over 400 applications.
2. How many international applicants apply each year? About 33%.
3. What regions do your applicants come from? The top three regions are North America (U.S. & Canada), West Asia, and South America.

Application Process and Requirements:

1. What are your application Cycles?
   1. Match Cycle is for those who apply to our program and participate in the National Dental Match service. The application cycle runs each year from May to October 1. Applicants MUST register in the National Dental Match and have a Match number, in addition to completing the ADEA PASS Application.
   2. Post-Match Cycle is for those who want to apply to our program outside the National Dental Match Service. This cycle typically takes place from December to February in ADEA PASS. Applicants are only required to complete the application in ADEA PASS. Occasionally, we may extend our Post-Match application cycle through May. We will list the application instructions on our website if we extend the application cycle.
2. Where can I apply for a Match number? Please click here to find the application and more information on the National Matching Services website.
3. What are the steps in the admissions process?
   1. APPLY: Complete your application in ADEA PASS. If the ADEA PASS portal has closed, how to apply instructions will be posted on our website IF we are still accepting applications.
      1. Once you apply, the Office of Admissions will review your initial application and contact you to confirm the application is complete or if we need more information.
   2. INTERVIEW: After the application deadline passes, we will notify the applicants selected to move forward for a virtual interview, which can take place up to two weeks after the deadline.
   3. ADMISSIONS DECISION: Once interviews are complete, we will conduct a thorough reassessment of all applications. The Office of Admissions will then send the Admissions Decisions, typically within one to two weeks after all interviews have been completed.
4. I have started my application but worry that my materials will not arrive on time. What should I do? Email the Office of Admissions at admissions@gaorthodontics.org to notify them of the late materials. The Admissions Coordinator will advise you on how to proceed.
5. Can I apply directly to the school? You must complete the application via ADEA PASS unless we posted instructions on our website to continue the Post-Match application cycle.
6. I am a U.S. Permanent Resident, who attended a non-CODA dental school. Do I have to complete the INBDE Yes. ALL APPLICANTS, including foreign trained dentists, MUST complete the INBDE or the NBDE Part 1 & 2.
7. I am a foreign-trained dentist; can I apply to the program? We welcome all those who have completed a U.S. Dental Degree or foreign equivalent to apply. We also sponsor F-1 students needing a visa to study in the U.S.
8. I am a resident of Canada (my country’s national language includes English), and I attended a 4-year university in the S. Do I have to submit the TOEFL? No, in this case, you do not have to submit a TOEFL.
9. I took the IELTS exam; do I still have to take the TOEFL? We accept both the IELTS and the TOEFL exams. To be considered for admission, you must score 6.5 or above on the IELTS exam and 87 or above on the TOEFL exam.
10. How should applicants with foreign degrees submit their transcripts? International applicants should submit their transcript through the Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES) in the ADEA PASS platform.
11. What is the application fee, and how can I submit it? The application fee is $75 USD. You may pay the fee using this PayPal link.
12. What is the Academic Performance Evaluation, also known as the IEF Evaluation in PASS? It is an evaluation the Dean of your Dental School must complete and submit as it cannot be submitted by the applicant. DO NOT RESCIND YOUR IEF in PASS. IT MUST BE COMPLETED. If necessary, you can access it in the ADEA PASS platform or through the paper application.
13. What are the admissions requirements? A complete application will include the following:
    1. CV/Resume
    2. Personal Essay
    3. $75 Application Fee
    4. INBDE Score Report
    5. Dental School Transcript
       1. Foreign transcripts must be evaluated through ECE or WES
       2. No Provisional Degrees accepted
    6. Three Letters of Recommendation
       1. Two (2) from Dental Faculty
       2. One (1) from a Practicing Dentist
    7. Match Number (Match Participants ONLY)
    8. TOEFL/IELTS Score (International Applicants ONLY)
    9. Declaration of Finances Form (Additional Financial Support)
    10. Academic Performance Evaluation (Completed by the Dean of your Dental School)

Financial Inquiries:

1. What are the tuition and fees for your program? Please review the Declaration of Finances Form in our supplemental application for the tuition ranges and fees found in ADEA PASS or on our website.
2. What is the Declaration of Finances Form? This form includes projected tuition amounts and must be completed and signed by every applicant. The applicant then submits additional supporting financial documentation with the form to complete the financial portion of the application.
3. What counts as supporting financial documents? We require that you submit financial documentation showing coverage for all three years of the residency program. Supporting documentation can include bank statements from checking and savings accounts belonging to you or anyone supporting your education, along with pre-approved loan letters from a private institution. Unfortunately, we do not accept federal financial aid at this time. We accept bank documents from other countries, but it must be translated and include the USD equivalent listed in the banking documentation.
4. Do you offer payment plans or accept Federal Financial Aid? Unfortunately, we do not.
5. Do you have a student loan lender that you work with? The Sallie Mae® Graduate School Loan for Health Professions is now available to our applicants to cover tuition, fees, and living expenses for the first year of the program. Sallie Mae approves loans annually. You must apply every year to be approved for funding. Click here to apply for the loan, and select “Post-Graduate Certificate” on the loan application page. Please contact Sallie Mae directly at 1-800-472-5543 regarding questions about the loan program and eligibility.
6. I have called and applied for loans. Do you have a school code to complete the application? Unfortunately, we do not have a school code at this time as we do not work with any student loan lenders besides Sallie Mae.
7. Do you accept VA Education Benefits? Unfortunately, we do not at this time.
8. Do you have any scholarship opportunities? The Georgia School of Orthodontics is proud to award one minority resident the Doctor Gasper Lazzara Scholarship for Diversity in the Field of Orthodontics during the application cycle. Each year, an incoming first-year resident will receive a full-tuition scholarship for all three program years. The recipient will still be responsible for paying program fees and cost of living expenses. Potential recipients apply by completing a one-page personal statement on how they exhibit the characteristics required of a scholarship recipient and any other relevant information on why they should be selected. The scholarship is awarded based on many factors, including merit, academic credentials, and personal and work experience. This is the only scholarship awarded through the application cycle available to first-year residents.
9. Do you have any TA positions or other positions that applicants can hold to help cover tuition costs? These scholarship opportunities become available during the resident’s 2^nd and 3^rd year.
10. What financial assistance opportunities are available to applicants? We award one scholarship to a minority resident during the admissions process every (See the Doctor Gasper Lazzara Scholarship information referenced above.) Unfortunately, we do not have any other financial assistance opportunities available at this time.