How to Become a Dentist in the Air Force

While the military offers educational benefits that can help candidates pay for their schooling, the qualifications for Air Force dentists resemble those needed in the private sector. Here are some helpful guidelines for pursuing a dental profession in the Air Force.

Instructions

1. Obtain a Bachelor's degree. The Air Force will not train recruits to become a doctor or dentist directly out of high school. People interested in become an Air Force dentist must earn a college degree, preferably in a pre-medicine program. Hundreds of colleges offer such programs, and the requirements for admission to those colleges vary greatly. Any pre-med program can prepare a student for medical school, and there is little agreement about which programs are the best. Most state schools offer such programs.

2. Sign up for an Air Force career. The Air Force treats healthcare careers differently than other career paths. Recruits must have either medical experience or a college degree to qualify for these careers. There is no guarantee that the Air Force will accept even qualified candidates. To apply for a healthcare job in the Air Force, visit a recruiting office and see the health professions recruiter or contact a recruiter at the Air Force website. See the Resources section below for a link.

3. Apply for an Air Force dental scholarship. The Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) provides funding for tuition, books and other fees, in addition to a monthly allowance for living expenses. Dental school can be expensive, but the Air Force expects to pay for this education and will make these funds available to recruits who have committed to serving as a dentist. While attending dental school, students will spend 45 days on active duty. After school, students will serve one year of active duty for every year on scholarship.

4. Select a dental school. While some dental schools generate more name recognition and respect than others, qualified candidates willing to put in the work can get a suitable education anywhere. Opinions about which dental schools are the best vary greatly, though common favorites include dental programs at Harvard University, University of Texas at San Antonio, University of North Carolina, University of Maryland at Baltimore, University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania. Not surprisingly, the top schools tend to be very expensive.

5. Apply to dental school. Admissions offices consider a variety of items in assessing candidates' quality. Keys include undergraduate grade point average, Dental Aptitude Test scores, letters of recommendation, interviews and extracurricular activities. Individual dental schools also have their own criteria. To increase your chance of acceptance, apply to several dental schools.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't get hung up on a particular school. Most dental schools are selective and deny many applications. Focus on finding the right school for you rather than worrying about how the school rates. The effort students put in has more effect on their career success than they school they attended, particularly in the military. Talk to the Air Force early. Before you decide to become an Air Force dentist, talk to a recruiter about what the military requires and find out whether Air Force is taking applications for dentistry.

• Don't set your heart on the career. Dentistry, like all medical fields, requires a certain degree of scientific aptitude regardless of how hard a student is willing to work. Not everybody can become a dentist. Be prepared to work hard. In most cases, students must attend four years of undergraduate study, plus four years of dental school before they can begin practice, and Air Force careers are no exception. Do not begin the process unless you intend to finish, as in many cases, military scholarship money must be paid back if students quit the program.

Resources

• Which colleges produce the most pre-med graduates
• Source for contacting an Air Force recruiter
• Brochure about Air Force dental scholarships
• Information on different Air Force dental careers