When it comes to license requirements or application to international or advanced standing programs for foreign trained dentists, NBDE(National Board Dental Examination) is by far considered the common denominator and the first step in this long process.
To be eligibile to apply for licensure in the United States, You have to be a DDS. America is the only country in the world which doesnt recognize dentistry of anywhere else for licensure. To practice as a dentist, YOU HAVE TO COMPLETE DDS. That essentially means that you have to repeat the last two/three years of dental school at an University in America recognized by the ADA ( American Dental Association ).
This program for us to be admitted into a university as a second or third year dental student is called ADVANCED STANDING PROGRAM.
To get into an Advanced Standing program you have to clear the national dental board examinations. Some universities require that you have completed just part 1 of NBDE, while some want you to be done with both parts.
Part I of NBDE covers most aspects of the biomedical sciences while part II deals mostly with clinical dentistry issues.