International dental students trained in the U.S. will have more time to continue their education or find a job after graduation, thanks to the efforts of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA).
The ASDA submitted a formal request to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding the addition of dentistry to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) designated degree program. On May 19, ASDA was informed that the DHS approved the addition of dentistry to the list of currently suggested codes they maintain.
Currently, international dental students have 12 months to seek additional technical training postgraduation. Individuals with STEM degrees have a 17-month extension of their student visa to seek additional technical training. Adding dentistry to STEM gives international students 29 months to obtain a job.
