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ADEA PASS Cycle Updates

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ADEA PASS: 2026-27 Cycle Updates

ADEA PASS opens the second Wednesday of May and closes the second Friday of February.


Cycle Changes

2026-27 ADEA PASS®  Enhancements

  • Upgrade to a new mobile-first applicant platform.
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  • Applicants will have clickable links in the application to your direct Program Finder profile.
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  • Starting Jan. 21, 2026, ETS's TOEFL exam will have a new 1-6 scoring scale for each section and overall total score. To accommodate this, the following changes will be made:

    CAS Applicant Portal: Applicants will be able to report their scores on both the old and new scoring scales in the Standardized Tests section. They can continue to send official TOEFL scores to their programs via the CAS TOEFL code.

    WebAdMIT:      A new set of TOEFL-related fields for this new scoring scale will be available. You must add these fields to anywhere you may already pull in TOEFL fields (e.g., lists, exports, scoring, etc.).
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  • NEW On-demand Transfer of Deferred Applicants function will allow programs more flexibility.
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  • Update to the applicant agreement regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

    Revised text:     You certify that all written content provided to ADEA PASS, including your personal statement, is your own original work. While you may seek feedback from peers, advisors, or AI tools, the final submission must reflect your own writing, ideas and experiences.
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  • ADEA’s CAS will be implementing a new race/ethnicity block. It will include the seven categories: 
    1. American Indian or Alaska Native
    2. Asian
    3. Black or African American
    4. Hispanic or Latino
    5. Middle Eastern or North African
    6. Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
    7. White

    Subcategories and write-in responses will not be included. ADEA has been in contact with the American Dental Association (ADA) and Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) to coordinate the change across organizations.

Making Changes to Your Program in ADEA PASS

Each program has two places that can be updated, the Program Finder and the Configuration Portal. Changes might include extending a deadline, changing interview procedures or updating requirements or expected enrollment.

Changes can be made in following ways:

  • Program Finder – Programs can make changes to all data points in their Program Finder profile at any time.
    For assistance, please email ADEAPASS@adea.org.

    To make these changes:
    1. Log in to the ADEA PASS Program Finder.
    2. Enter your email address and check your email for a link. No password needed.
  • Configuration Portal – Also known as Program Materials, this portal provides program profiles within the ADEA PASS application.

    While questions, document requests and deadlines cannot be changed, a program can update the text on its Home Page.

    To do so:
    1. Log in to WebAdMIT.
    2. Navigate to “CAS Configuration Portal” via the Management Tab

To make changes in the spring before the new application cycle, you will access the Prelaunch Site, to make changes to your home page, questions and/or documents.

Resources for Prelaunch

 

ADEA PASS Application Cycle Timeline

2026-27 ADEA PASS Application Cycle

Feb. 18 - March 6ADEA PASS Program Finder Update
March 11 - April 17ADEA PASS Configuration Portal Updates
April 22ADEA PASS Live Presentation
Wednesday, April 22  |  8:00 p.m. ET
May 13ADEA PASS 2026-27 cycle opens
July  1First deadline available to programs. 
Feb. 12, 2027ADEA PASS 2026-27 cycle closes. 
FAQs

My program is closing or unable to accept residents. How do I close the program in ADEA PASS?

It is important that you notify ADEA PASS as soon as possible.

If your program is inactive, please complete and submit the ADEA PASS Inactive Program Form.


Where should I send applicants who have questions about completing the ADEA PASS application?

Representatives are available Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, by phone at (617) 612-2065 or by email at support@adeapass.myliaison.com.


Where can I network with colleagues to see how others are conducting admissions this year?

All advanced dental education faculty are eligible to join the ADEA Council of Advanced Education Programs (COAEP). ADEA COAEP members can join the online community on ADEA Connect and post discussion topics.

Sign up at connect.adea.org/home. To join this ADEA Connect community, please opt-in to be a part of ADEA Connect.


I have non-ADEA PASS related questions. What resources are available?

Questions

ADEA PASS® Customer Service

Phone: (617) 612-2065
Email: support@adeapass.myliaison.com

Representatives are available M-F, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET (except Fed holidays)

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