Rescheduling your Dental Admission Test (DAT) is sometimes necessary, whether it’s due to academic, personal, or logistical reasons. The American Dental Association (ADA), through its Department of Testing Services, has clear policies and timelines for making changes to your testing appointment. Understanding these procedures can save you stress, money, and ensure you’re fully prepared when you finally sit for your exam.
If you’re preparing to change your scheduled appointment, planning ahead is critical. Having a clear study plan, building in enough time to prepare, and knowing the rules from the DAT Candidate Guide can make the process smoother. For those still building skills, structured dat test prep programs like DATBooster can help keep you on track while you adjust your test date.
Understanding the Dental Admission Test (DAT)
The dental admission test is a comprehensive exam designed to assess your readiness for dental school. The DAT consists of four sections: Natural Sciences, Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning. It’s a timed examination requiring stamina and thorough preparation.
The American Dental Association Department of Testing Services is responsible for managing the DAT program and oversees everything from your eligibility window to administrations permitted. Once you receive your eligibility email, you can schedule your testing appointment with the administration vendor (Prometric) and select your desired test date.
Reasons to Reschedule
Rescheduling is sometimes unavoidable. Common reasons include:
Academic preparation issues
If you haven’t had enough time to prepare, rescheduling might give you the extra weeks you need for review and practice tests. Moving your exam date can prevent a low score and give you a stronger chance to achieve competitive DAT scores.
Personal reasons
Life events such as illness, family emergencies, or other personal reasons may require a change. If an emergency occurs, you’ll often need applicable documentation to avoid additional fees.
Avoiding refused admission
Failure to bring the correct ID, arriving late, or breaking testing rules can result in being refused admission. In such cases, your fee may be forfeited, and you’ll need a subsequent application to take the DAT again.
Official DAT Retest Policy and Eligibility Rules
The DAT retest policy limits the number of testing attempts without special permission. Within your eligibility window or eligibility period, you can move your test date as long as you follow the timelines and procedures. If you reach your limit of administrations permitted or want more attempts, you’ll need ADA approval and may have to submit a subsequent application.
How to Reschedule or Cancel Your Testing Appointment
Changing your scheduled appointment is done through the administration vendor (Prometric). Steps include:
- Log into the Prometric system using details from your eligibility email.
- Choose to reschedule or cancel your current appointment.
- Select a new desired test date within your eligibility window.
- Pay any additional fees if applicable.
- Save your confirmation page and watch for your confirmation notification by email.
Understanding the Fees
The test fee and additional fees apply depending on how far in advance you make changes:
- 30 days or more before the scheduled appointment: lowest fee.
- 5–29 business days before: mid-range fee.
- 1–4 business days before: highest rescheduling fee.
- Less than one business day prior: full fee is lost.
Fees are paid directly to the Prometric site. Always contact the Department of Testing Services promptly if unsure about your costs.
What Happens if You Miss Your Scheduled Appointment
If you fail to appear for your test or arrive too late, you may be marked as refused admission and forfeit your payment. Missing a testing appointment without following the procedures means you’ll need to submit a new application and pay the test fee again.
Preparing for Your New Exam Date
Once you reschedule, use the extra weeks wisely:
- Allocate enough time for targeted review of challenging topics.
- Use practice tests to build stamina for the examination.
- Revisit all sections of the DAT exam, especially Natural Sciences, to strengthen your foundation.
Many programs, including DATBooster, recommend creating a study calendar immediately after rescheduling to avoid procrastination. Even with extra time, stay disciplined to ensure readiness for your new exam date.
Confirming and Following Procedures
Always confirm your new appointment. Save your proof of the change — both the confirmation page and confirmation notification. If errors occur, contact the Department of Testing Services immediately. Keep copies of all submitted forms and applicable documentation until after your examination.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Rescheduling too close to your desired test date and paying high additional fees.
- Forgetting to cancel properly, leading to being refused admission.
- Not reviewing the DAT Candidate Guide before making changes.
- Misunderstanding such administrations rules, which may limit your more attempts.
Final Tips
Rescheduling your testing appointment doesn’t have to derail your recent application timeline if you plan ahead. Follow ADA’s procedures, contact the department when needed, and give yourself enough time to prepare.
A well-timed change can improve your readiness, protect your admission chances, and lead to higher DAT scores. Keep your study schedule active, use trusted program resources, and make the most of your eligibility period.
For more strategies and guidance to maximize your preparation time, visit https://boosterprep.com/dat — a resource designed to help candidates review, stay organized, and succeed on their next DAT attempt.
