California Dental Association-led coalition plans to ask DHS to add dentistry to STEM-designated degree list
Key points
- A CDA-led national coalition has sent a letter to DHS asking that dentistry be added to the STEM-designated degree list
- STEM designation would extend OPT from 12 to 36 months
- Nearly 150 international students graduate from dental programs in California alone
A California Dental Association (CDA)-led national coalition has sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) asking that dentistry be added to the STEM-designated degree list. If granted, STEM designation would extend Optional Practical Training (OPT) from 12 to 36 months. Nearly 150 international students graduate from dental programs in California alone each year. The request stems from a CDA roundtable on student visa experiences held in July 2026. The proposal remains at the proposal stage and has not been approved.
What employers should do
- Monitor follow-up on the STEM-designated degree list for any formal rule
Policy details
- Jurisdiction
- Federal
- Status
- Proposed rule
- Effective date
- —
- Official source
- Official source pending
Original report: California Dental Association (CDA) ↗AI-assisted brief; may contain inaccuracies. Rely on the original reports and official documents. For information only; not legal, immigration or insurance advice.