Checklist for Graduating Dental Students
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FIRST! Set your personal career goals by determining your ideal practice setting and financial needs. Try to plan for the first 2 to 5 years of
your career. Trust me, this plan will look completely different in 1 to 3 years.
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Resume: sample
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Cover Letter: sample
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Proof Book or Look Book
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Contains case presentations, before/after photos, letters of recommendations, testimonials, production date, etc.
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Contains case presentations, before/after photos, letters of recommendations, testimonials, production date, etc.
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References
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Needs to be professional, academic, or any non-family member
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Three is plenty
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Needs to be professional, academic, or any non-family member
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Interview Preparation: complete list of tips
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License Applications
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States vary so make sure to learn what they require, especially what Regional Board exams they recognize
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States vary so make sure to learn what they require, especially what Regional Board exams they recognize
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Other permits: DEA, state controlled substance permit, sedation permits
Other helpful links: http://www.etsdental.com/dentists-specialists/helpful-links/
Timeline: You will need to budget your time and understand factors that may delay your expected start date with a practice. Ideally you need to plan on not starting with a practice for at least six weeks after graduation. Here are some dates or blocks of time to consider.
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Graduation Date
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Late May or Early June
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Late May or Early June
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Board Scores
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Take your regional exams as early as possible in order to have your scores prior to your graduation
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Many employers won’t show interest unless you have passed your regional board
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Take your regional exams as early as possible in order to have your scores prior to your graduation
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Job applications
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Telephone Interview
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Plan for this to take place within one to three weeks after you submit an application or resume
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Plan for this to take place within one to three weeks after you submit an application or resume
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Face to Face Interview
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Plan for this to take place within one to six weeks after your telephone interview
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Plan for this to take place within one to six weeks after your telephone interview
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Licensing process
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Takes 4 to 6 weeks
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Fingerprints: We recommend doing this as early as you can per the state boards’ rules. Sometimes it takes weeks to mail off your
fingerprints and wait for your receipt that must accompany your license application
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Background and credential verification: Some states (notably AK, NM, WY and several others) use a third party service for credentialing
that will add 30 to 60 days to your license processing time.
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It’s very important to learn which states require applicants to submit their licensing applications in conjunction with state board meeting
dates. For example, AK only meets quarterly, and requires applications to be in the office 45 days before that meeting.
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Takes 4 to 6 weeks
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Insurance credentialing
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Once you have the license, the job, and a start date, you may still be delayed on production if you must wait for insurance or medicaid
credentialing processes. This could take a couple of weeks to several months depending on the state and the insurance companies
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Once you have the license, the job, and a start date, you may still be delayed on production if you must wait for insurance or medicaid
credentialing processes. This could take a couple of weeks to several months depending on the state and the insurance companies
Typical Timeline for a New Doctor to Start Employment
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Step
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Dateline
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| Build resume, cover letter |
February 1, 2015
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| Start submitting applications to practices |
February 1, 2015
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| Telephone interviews done |
February 28, 2015
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1 month
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| Face to Face Interviews completed |
April 20, 2015
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| Receive offers |
May 1, 2015
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2 months
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| Accept Offers |
May 9, 2015
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| Graduation |
May 23, 2015
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| License application completed and submitted |
June 1, 2015
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3 months
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| License issued |
July 1, 2015
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| Start employment |
July 6, 2015
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4 months
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| Insurance/Medicaid credentialing completed |
August 17, 2015
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5.5 months
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5 to 6 months from starting your search to reaching full capacity as a newly employed associate |
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Job search is in rural areas or across the country:
Add weeks or months to your search since timing of interviews will likely be determined by your ability to travel and breaks in your school
schedule
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Spouse or significant other’s schedule
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Kids’ schedules
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Delays in your clinical requirements completion
