Education · 1 of 5

The path

Dental school first, not medical school. Then a surgical residency that some programs stretch to six years so you finish with a medical degree too.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 9 to 12

   Biology, chemistry, physics and calculus. Grades matter from the start because dental school admissions read your whole college record.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Any major that covers the science prerequisites. Keep a high GPA and take the dental admission test in your third year.

3. 3

   Dental school

   4 years

   Four years for a doctor of dental surgery or doctor of dental medicine degree. The two are the same qualification under different names.

4. 4

   Oral and maxillofacial surgery residency

   4 to 6 years

   Four to six years, accredited by CODA (the Commission on Dental Accreditation). The six-year programs include medical school coursework and a medical degree, plus general surgery and anesthesia rotations.

5. 5

   Board certification

   1 to 2 years after residency

   A written qualifying examination and then an oral certifying examination from the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, taken after residency.