DAT Test Dates 2024: A Complete Summary (Score Release Time Frame Included)
/Learn your options for 2024 DAT test dates, plus score release dates, when to prep, and how to register
learn how to choose the best test date to succeed on your dat exam
Introduction
If you’re applying to dental school in the U.S. or Canada, you’ll have to take the Dental Admission Test (DAT). The DAT is administered by the American Dental Association (ADA) and it is accepted at 66 dental schools in the U.S. and 10 dental schools in Canada. The test is offered year round, with many potential dates to choose from. The DAT is an integral aspect of your dental school application, so you’ll want to plan ahead to make sure you snag your ideal test date.
How long is the DAT?
The DAT’s total administration time is 5 hours and 15 minutes. This includes an optional 15 minute tutorial, an optional 30 minute scheduled break, and an optional 15 minute post-test survey. So, subtracting administrative time, the total active testing time is 4 hours and 15 minutes. Here is a chart detailing the various sections and their corresponding lengths:
| DAT Section | Length | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
(Suggested reading: How Long is the DAT: What to Expect on Test Day)
When is the DAT offered?
The DAT is offered most days throughout the year and you must schedule an individual appointment through Prometric testing in order to take the exam. For the most part, Prometric test centers are open from 8am to 6pm on Monday through Saturday and closed on federal holidays.
You can find information about availability at individual testing centers by clicking “Locate” on the left side of the ADA’s Prometric page. The time of day of the test varies with testing centers, but the majority of tests begin in the morning, between 8am and 9am. There are also occasional options to take the DAT in the afternoon.
While this provides flexibility there is also a chance that the dates, times, or locations you are interested in will be unavailable. In order to be safe, the ADA recommends scheduling your test at least 60-90 days in advance.
You will receive an unofficial score report at the testing center after your testing session ends. If you do not receive an unofficial score report after completing your exam, you should contact the testing program within five days via an email sent to datexam@ada.org. Your official results will be reported electronically to the schools you’ve selected as recipients within three to four weeks of your testing date.
(Suggested reading: When Should You Take the DAT? The Ideal Timeline)
How and when can I register for the DAT?
In order to schedule your DAT test date you must first apply to take the exam. The first step in applying is to obtain a DENTPIN, a unique identifier for the ADA. If you have previously applied to take a dental exam you must use your existing DENTPIN.
Once you obtain a DENTPIN you can use this to sign into the testing section of the ADA website. Next, you will fill in basic information as part of the DAT sign-up process and pay the $540 DAT testing fee.
At this point you will also pick the schools for your official DAT score report to be automatically sent to. At this stage you may pick as many schools as you wish, for the flat price of $540. If you wish to add schools later, there will be a charge of $50 for each additional school. For this reason we recommend selecting every school that you could possibly apply to when completing this initial application.
From the time that you complete this application, you will have 6 months to take the DAT. It is important to note that you should not complete this application if you do not intend to take the DAT within 6 months.
Your application will result in the ADA confirming your eligibility to take the DAT. You should receive this confirmation by email in about two days. This confirmation will include an “Eligibility ID” that you can use to schedule an appointment to take the test through Prometric. At this point you will be able to view testing centers near you and their corresponding test dates.
(Suggested reading: The Ideal DAT Study Schedule)
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Do DAT test dates fill up?
Yes, times and locations fill up, so it behooves you to schedule your DAT test date as early as possible. Otherwise, your preferred time, date, or location may be unavailable. You can schedule your test up to 6 months in advance and the earlier you schedule, the more availability you will find. If you are attempting to schedule your exam for the current month, your options may be quite limited.
How much does it cost to take the DAT?
For 2024, the DAT examination fee is $540. This includes official score reports being sent to all of the schools that you select at the time of your DAT application. Note that if you have to reschedule your test, you will be charged an additional fee. These fees will be higher the closer you are to your scheduled test date.
In documented cases of severe financial hardship, the ADA also offers a limited number of partial fee waivers. These waivers cover 50% of the examination fee. For each testing attempt, you will be required to submit a new application and pay a new examination fee.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to planning your DAT test date, our best advice is to get ahead of things. This will allow you to reduce stress, while preparing to the best of your ability and securing a convenient time and location to take the exam. Once you get these logistics out of the way you can focus on test prep, as well as writing exceptional essays to make your application stand out.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on dental school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into dental school using his exclusive approach.
