Applicants who wish to register for the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program for positions beginning in 2011 should follow the procedures outlined below.

Prior to Registering

• Review the terms of the Applicant Agreement. As part of the process to register for the Match, you must agree to comply with and be bound by the terms of the Applicant Agreement. You should print that page for future reference.
  
  
• Review the Schedule of Dates provided on this web site. All applicants and programs that register for the Match must abide by the dates noted on the Schedule of Dates. You should print that page for future reference.
  
  
• Review the other information provided on this web site that describes how the Match works. In particular, review the Overview section, including the Rules of participation, as well as the section describing the Match Process, including the Example and Discussion. You may wish to print those pages for future reference.
  
  
• To register for the Match, you will need to identify yourself by providing your DENTPIN®. The DENTPIN (DENTal Personal Identifier Number) is a unique personal identifier assigned by the American Dental Association to each applicant or student who is involved, or wishes to become involved, with the U.S. dental education system and/or standardized dental testing programs. If you do not know your DENTPIN, you must retrieve it (or register to obtain it) from the ADA web site at www.ada.org (select the options for Education & Careers -> Testing -> DENTPIN, or click here). Note: While you will need your DENTPIN to register for the Match, it will not be your primary identifier for purposes of the Match. You will be assigned an Applicant Code Number for the Match when you register, as described below.

Procedure for Registering

• You must register for the Match online using the shared PASS/Match registration web site, as described below in the last section of this page. You should register for the Match only once.
  
  
• You must pay a fee of $80 U.S. to register for the Match. The registration fee is non-refundable, non-transferrable and irrevocable.
  
  
• It is recommended that applicants register for the Match before October 1, 2010, although registrations can be accepted after that date. Applicants must register for the Match before they can submit a Rank Order List of programs for the Match. The final deadlines for submitting Rank Order Lists are: November 19, 2010 for orthodontic and dental anesthesiology programs; and, January 14, 2011 for the other types of programs that participate in the Match.
  
  
• When the registration process is completed, you will be assigned a 5-digit Applicant Code Number, which will be used to identify you in the Match. (Your DENTPIN will not be used in the Match.) You should record your Applicant Code Number for future reference. You will need your Applicant Code Number and the password you provide when you register in order to submit your Rank Order List and obtain your Match results from this web site.
  
  
• Two applicants who are participating in the same Phase of the Match and who wish to coordinate their matches (e.g., obtain positions in the same geographic location) may participate in the Match as a "Couple". Each applicant must first register to participate in the Match as an individual; applicants identify themselves as a couple when they submit their Rank Order Lists for the Match. Click here to obtain further instructions for participating in the Match as a couple.

Applications to Programs

• Registration for the Match does NOT constitute an application to any of the programs participating in the Match. You must still apply directly to any and all programs in which you are interested prior to the application deadline date established by each program. For information on applying directly to programs click here.
  
  
• Programs require the Applicant Code Number that is assigned to you when you register for the Match (not your DENTPIN) in order to rank you on their Rank Order List for the Match. Therefore, you should provide your Applicant Code Number to the programs participating in the Match to which you apply. However, you should keep your password confidential; do not provide your password to any programs.

Accessing the Shared PASS/Match Registration Web Site

• Many (but not all) programs that participate in the Match also participate in the Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS), which is a central application service run by the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). PASS and Match are two separate services operated by separate entities. PASS distributes applicants' background information to programs to initiate the application process, while the Match is used by applicants and programs at the end of the application process to determine the final placement of applicants with programs.
  
  National Matching Services Inc. (NMS) and ADEA have collaborated to implement a shared PASS/Match registration web site in order to simplify the process for applicants, by providing a single access point for applicants who want to use the services of either the Match or PASS, or both. You must use the shared PASS/Match web site to register for the Match.
  
  
• To access the PASS/Match web site to register for the Match, click on the link provided below:

  Register for the Match

• After the registration process is completed, your registration information will be transmitted from the PASS/Match web site to NMS overnight, and will be reflected in the records maintained by NMS within 24 hours. You should receive a confirmation and additional information from NMS by e-mail within 3 business days following completion of your Match registration.
  
  
• After registering, you can update the information you submitted to register for the Match if necessary by returning to the PASS/Match registration web site at https://portal.passweb.org
  
  
• For purposes of the Match, the PASS/Match web site is used only to register and maintain your profile information. You will submit your Rank Order List and obtain Match results directly from this Match web site (not the shared registration web site).

If you have any questions concerning registering for the Match, please contact National Matching Services Inc. directly.

© 2010 NMS