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Preceptorship Programs

Program Overview

The UCSF School of Dentistry offers a preceptorship program for international dental school graduates and practitioners through its Continuing Dental Education Department. The objective of the preceptorship program is to provide additional educational experiences to dentists in a specific area of subspecialty interest. The preceptors attend school on a full-time basis. The curriculum includes classes with postgraduate and undergraduate dental students and residents. It involves observation and participation in the clinics and operating rooms. The programs are structured to allow for personalized instruction. Upon completion of all program requirements, students receive a certificate of completion.

The dental school currently accepts applications for preceptees and fellows in the following areas:

Please note, these programs are not intended to prepare individuals to practice a specialty. It is expected that the individuals will return to their practice or country after gaining insights and improving their experience in a specialized area for practice, teaching, and patient benefit.

Requirements/Prerequisites for Admission

The application deadlines for each academic quarter are as follows:

Fall Quarter (October-December) - June 1.
Winter Quarter (January-March) - September 15.
Spring Quarter (April-June) - December 15.
Summer Quarter (July-September) - March 15.

The admissions committee considers the following criteria in its decisions:

1) Successful completion of dental degree education
2)English language proficiency
3) Reason for seeking education in periodontics 
4) Content of confidential reports

If the applicant requires a visa to be issued, this will normally be an F1 visa, and we encourage all applicants to complete their preceptorship application at the earliest possible opportunity.

Applicants will be considered only after all the following materials are submitted:

  1. A completed application for admission to the preceptorship program.
  2. A transcript of the applicant's dental education records (if necessary transcribed into English).
  3. Three confidential reports from persons with knowledge of the applicant's skills and potential.
  4. Evidence of English language proficiency or a TOEFL score of 550 or computer based score of 213 or internet based score of 79-80 is required of students from non-English-speaking countries. An interview in English may be required.
  5. A one-time nonrefundable application fee of $200 in the form of traveler's checks or a check drawn on a U.S. bank.
     

All application materials must be mailed to:

UCSF School of Dentistry
Office of Continuing Dental Education
Attention: Carol Pierotti, Preceptorship Program Representative
Box 0636
San Francisco, CA 94143-0636.
U. S. A.

Limits of Enrollment

Applicants may participate in any of the 10-week quarters with the option of enrolling in anything from 1-4 quarters. Thus, the program can be anything from 10 weeks to 1 year in length.

Tuition

Tuition fees are $4800 per quarter to be paid in the form of a check drawn from a U.S.-affiliated bank, cashier's check, money order, or cash. The tuition fee is paid to the UCSF Continuing Dental Education Department at the beginning of each quarter. Tuition fees, medical insurance, and costs for housing and living expenses are the responsibility of the preceptee. No financial assistance is available or provided by the University for a preceptee. All preceptees must show evidence of health insurance to the limits required by the University of California San Francisco prior to admission (see below).

Certificate

A certificate of attendance is presented by the UCSF Continuing Dental Education Department upon completion of the preceptor program. The certificate of completion is not recognized in the Unites states as advanced study nor recognition of specialty training.

Immigration Requirements

For non-U.S. citizens, preceptees must enter the United States on an F1 visa which is processed by the UCSF Services to International Students and Scholars (SISS). This is a non-immigrant visa which presumes you are in the United States for the purpose of studying for a limited time. The visa application paperwork will be sent to you after acceptance into the program.

Health Insurance

All preceptor students attending UCSF are required to be insured under an adequate medical insurance plan during all periods of registration. Medical insurance is not provided by UCSF for preceptorship students, and preceptorship students cannot be seen at the student health service. The School of Dentistry also requires that you obtain a health clearance prior to enrollment in the program, for individual and community health reasons. The health clearance must include a completed physical examination and demonstration of immunity to certain communicable diseases. A TB test (a PPD or Mantoux if the applicant has not received BCG immunization) will also be necessary.

Cost of Living Allowance

The cost of living in San Francisco is higher than many areas of the country. Below is the monthly cost of living allowance for 2012:

Food: $510
Housing (plus utilities): $1075
Transportation:  $135
Personal/Miscellaneous: $320
Total: $2040

It is important to remember that while rents can be painfully high in San Francisco, other necessities such as food, transportation, and entertainment are often less expensive than in many comparable cities.

Useful Links to help you find housing:

craigslist.org
SFGate.com