ADAT Retake Policy: 45-Day Wait, 2 Attempts, and the August 31 Trap

The ADAT retake policy is not the same as the DAT or INBDE policy. Those exams allow a 60-day wait and up to 4 attempts per 12-month period. The ADAT is stricter, and because the testing window is only March 1 through August 31, a badly timed first attempt can cost you a full year. This is the rule set that should shape your booking strategy.

The 45-Day Rule

You must wait at least 45 days between attempts. There's no appeal. An attempt is defined as sitting down and agreeing to the confidentiality statement. A no-show doesn't count as an attempt, but it does forfeit your fee.

The 2-Attempts-Per-Window Cap

In any single testing window (March 1 through August 31), you may take the ADAT at most twice. This cap is absolute. If your first attempt is in early August, you can't fit a second attempt before the window closes. That's why experienced candidates book early in the window, usually April or May, which preserves a 45-day retake lane in June or July. Most students don't realize this until it's too late and they're staring at an August date with no room to retake.

After 2 Prior Attempts: Proof of Application

For a third or later attempt, the rules tighten further. You're limited to 1 attempt per window, and you must submit evidence that you actively applied to advanced dental education programs within the prior 18 months. Accepted evidence includes a completed ADEA PASS application, a rejection letter from a program, a letter from a program encouraging you to retest, or a letter from an advisor on official letterhead.

Gather this documentation before you apply for the third attempt. The ADA won't accept it after the fact.

Every Attempt Is a New Application and Fee

There's no reduced retake fee. Each attempt requires a new application and the full $465 exam fee. For international graduates of non-accredited schools, the $435 processing fee applies again if it applied to your original application. The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

Full Testing History Is Visible

This is the most important rule. Every score send includes your full ADAT testing history. Programs see all attempts, and scores can't be voided. Programs are advised to use the most recent result, but the earlier attempts remain on the page. A weak retake doesn't replace a weak first attempt; it adds to the record. We see this every cycle: candidates who panic-retake end up with two mediocre scores instead of one strong one.

The August 31 Trap

The testing window closes on August 31. If your first attempt is in late July, your 45-day retake date lands in late August or early September, which is outside the window. You'd have to wait until the next March to test again. The same risk applies to score reporting: results arrive in 3 to 4 weeks, so an August retake may not post in time for ADEA PASS deadlines.

Here's how the math plays out. A first attempt on April 15 gives you an earliest retake of May 30, with the full window still ahead. A first attempt on June 1 pushes your earliest retake to July 16, which is tight but workable. A first attempt on July 20 means your earliest retake is September 3, completely outside the window.

Booking Strategy

Book early in the window. Aim for a first attempt between April and early June. This gives you a retake lane before August 31 and time to receive scores before program deadlines. If your first attempt is late in the window, consider whether a full preparation cycle and next-window test is safer than a rushed retake.

ADAT retake rules are stricter than the DAT's: 45 days, 2 attempts per window, and the window ends August 31. After two attempts, you need proof of active application. Every attempt is permanently visible and costs the full fee. Book early in the window, prepare for a retake lane you may not need, and never retake with the same plan that produced the first score.