DAT Test Dates and Registration: Fees, DENTPIN, and How to Book (2026–2027)

Unlike the MCAT, the DAT has no fixed test dates — you schedule it like a dentist appointment, picking your own day at a Prometric center. That flexibility is great, but the registration process has several steps and a few traps. This guide walks through the entire process: getting your DENTPIN, applying through the ADA, paying the fee, booking your seat, and what happens if you need to reschedule or retake.

The short version

• The DAT is offered year-round at Prometric test centers — there are no fixed national test dates.
• Registration is a 3-step process: get a DENTPIN → apply through the ADA → schedule at Prometric.
• The 2026 exam fee is $580 USD (non-refundable), paid to the ADA.
• After approval, you have a 6-month eligibility window to take the test.
• Reschedule at least 48 hours before your appointment; a rescheduling fee applies.

DAT test dates: how scheduling actually works

The DAT is administered year-round at Prometric testing centers across the U.S. (and select international locations). There is no published calendar of "DAT test dates" the way there is for the MCAT or LSAT — instead, once your application is approved, you log into Prometric's scheduling system and pick any available date and time.

Practical implications:

• Book early for popular windows. Late spring and summer (May–August) fill up fast as applicants rush to test before submitting their ADEA AADSAS applications. If you want a June date, book it in March or April.
• Weekday mornings tend to have the best availability. If your schedule is flexible, you'll have more options.
• Check multiple centers. Availability varies significantly between Prometric locations — a center 30 minutes further away may have your ideal date when the nearby one doesn't.
• Your eligibility window is 6 months from application approval. Don't apply until you're reasonably close to ready; the clock starts whether you're prepared or not.

Step-by-step registration

Step 1: Get your DENTPIN

Your DENTPIN (Dental Personal Identifier Number) is a unique ID issued by the ADA that follows you through your dental career — you'll use it for the DAT, your ADEA AADSAS application, and beyond.

• Request it at the ADA's DENTPIN registration page (free).
• You'll need it before you can submit a DAT application, so get it early — ideally months before you plan to test.
• Keep it somewhere safe. You'll enter it on every dental-related application for years.

Step 2: Apply through the ADA

Submit your DAT application through the ADA's online portal:

1. Create an account and complete the application (personal information, education history, testing accommodations requests if needed).
2. Select the dental schools that should receive your scores — score reports to schools selected at the time of application are free. Requesting reports later costs extra.
3. Pay the examination fee (see fee table below).
4. Submit and wait for approval — typically processed within a few business days.

List every school you're even considering at the application stage. Additional score reports after the fact cost $55 each, so the free reports at registration are genuinely valuable.

Step 3: Schedule at Prometric

Once approved, you'll receive scheduling instructions:

1. Log into Prometric's scheduling system with the credentials from your approval.
2. Choose your test center, date, and time.
3. Confirm — and save your confirmation. Prometric sends it by email; keep it.

You must test within your 6-month eligibility window. If the window expires before you test, you'll need to submit a new application and pay the fee again (a 45-day extension is available for a $150 fee, once per application).

2026 DAT fees

All fees are in USD and are non-refundable and non-transferable (per the ADA's 2026 Candidate Guide):

Budget note: the $580 covers one attempt. A retake means paying the full fee again — one more reason to prepare thoroughly the first time (see our DAT study schedule 3 month).

Rescheduling and cancellations

Life happens. Here's the policy:

• Reschedule at least 48 hours before your appointment through Prometric's system. A rescheduling fee applies, and the amount varies with how close to the test date you reschedule.
• Within 48 hours, changes may not be approved at all — the ADA explicitly warns that last-minute change requests (for any reason, including medical) may be denied.
• No-shows forfeit the fee. If you miss your appointment without rescheduling, your $580 is gone and you'll need a new application to retest.
• If you need testing accommodations (extra time, separate room), request them during the ADA application — not through Prometric, and well in advance. Accommodation review takes additional time.

Retake policy

You can retake the DAT, but there are rules:

• You must wait at least 90 days between attempts.
• You're limited to three attempts without special permission from the ADA; beyond that requires an approved exception request.
• Each retake requires a new application and the full $580 fee.
• All scores are reported to schools through ADEA AADSAS — schools see every attempt, not just your best.

Our advice: only retake with a concrete improvement plan. A 420 → 460 progression tells a good story; a 450 → 440 regression doesn't. See what is a good DAT score for a retake decision framework.

Timeline: when to register relative to your application

For a traditional applicant targeting fall submission:

Taking the DAT before you submit your primary application is strongly preferable — applying with a known score lets you build a realistic school list, and your application is complete the day you submit instead of waiting on a test date.

Next step: registration is just logistics — the score is what matters. Build your prep plan with our DAT study schedule 3 month, understand what you're aiming for in what is a good DAT score, and compare prep courses on DAT prep.