Last updated: October 10, 2026
As a predental student, taking the Dental Admission Test (DAT) is an important step in preparing a dental-school application. If illness, a family emergency, or another unexpected situation affects your plans, you may need to move your testing appointment. This guide explains routine appointment changes, rescheduling fees, eligibility extensions, and test-day emergency procedures. Rescheduling an appointment is different from retaking an examination you have already attempted.
If you are looking to get some more preparation before rescheduling your DAT Test, check out our DAT Destroyer!
Understand the DAT Rescheduling Policy
The DAT Program is implemented by the American Dental Association’s Department of Testing Services (DTS), and examinations are administered by Prometric. Moving an existing appointment is not the same as taking the examination again. The current Candidate Guide does not impose the claimed three-reschedule limit or a blanket 60-day wait to move an appointment. The 60-day waiting period and maximum of four administrations in any 12-month period apply to testing attempts. Make sure you read and understand the ADA's policies before you attempt to reschedule.
Rescheduling Fees
The 2026 ADA Candidate Guide lists the following base rescheduling fees in US dollars. The fee depends on the notice provided before the originally scheduled appointment. Saturday and Sunday are not business days. Fees are subject to change, and sales tax may apply to cancellation and rescheduling fees. Check the current guide and the vendor’s scheduling process before making a change.
30 or more business days before the scheduled test date: $50
5 – 29 business days before scheduled test date $70
1 – 4 business days before scheduled test date $150
If you fail to appear for a scheduled testing appointment, or arrive more than 30 minutes after the scheduled start time and are refused admission, your full testing fee will be forfeited.
Consider your Schedule
Choose a new appointment that fits your preparation needs, other commitments, and your target schools’ application deadlines. Confirm that it falls within your eligibility window and is available through Prometric. There is no universal six-week minimum or three-month rescheduling limit stated in the Candidate Guide. After your application is processed, eligibility normally lasts six months, unless retesting rules or other requirements shorten that period.
Contact Prometric for Routine Appointment Changes
For a routine appointment change, use Prometric’s scheduling tools or contact Prometric using the contact information on its website. Do not ask the local test center to schedule, reschedule, or cancel an appointment. Changes must be completed by the business day before the scheduled test and at least 24 hours before the appointment. Applicable fees are paid directly to the administration vendor. Keep the confirmation notice after rescheduling.
For DAT program questions, contact the American Dental Association’s Department of Testing Services at 1.800.232.1694 or datexam@ada.org. These are not the routine appointment-rescheduling channels. For a documented emergency on the examination day, submit a written request for relief with applicable documentation to testingproblems@ada.org within five business days of the scheduled appointment. Relief is not guaranteed; emergencies before the examination day use the vendor’s rescheduling and cancellation process.
Retesting Policy
Candidates are required to submit a new application and fee for each testing attempt. A testing attempt is defined as any test administration where the candidate has been seated at a computer at a test center and electronically agreed to the confidentiality statement to start the test.
The DAT retest policy defines the following guidelines:
- A waiting period of 60 days is required between DAT testing attempts, with a maximum of four administrations in any 12-month period. If you complete four administrations in such a period, a fifth attempt cannot occur until 12 months have passed from the date of the first of those four attempts.
- Candidates with three or more DAT attempts must apply for permission to test again and provide proof of recent application to dental school with each subsequent application to test. Requests for testing beyond three attempts must be submitted in writing to DATexam@ADA.org with one of the accepted forms of evidence of an application effort within the previous 18 months: a completed and submitted ADEA AADSAS application; a dental-school rejection letter; a letter on school letterhead from a dental-school admissions officer encouraging a retest; or a letter on school letterhead from a college or university health-profession advisor or instructor indicating that the candidate is applying to dental school.
- After the fifth DAT attempt, candidates are permitted to retest only once within a 12-month period.
Reschedule or Cancel a Testing Appointment
To reschedule or cancel a testing appointment, use Prometric’s scheduling tools or the vendor contact information on its website. This must be done before the appointment, and applicable fees must be paid directly to the vendor. Local test centers cannot schedule, reschedule, or cancel appointments. Appointments must be canceled or rescheduled by the business day before the scheduled test and at least 24 hours in advance. Retain the confirmation notice when rescheduling.
NO-SHOW POLICY
Candidates who do not appear for a scheduled testing appointment and do not cancel or reschedule their appointment by the required time in advance of the test date will forfeit all testing fees, be required to submit a new application, and must pay the fee to schedule a new appointment. If an emergency occurs on the day of a testing appointment that prevents a candidate from sitting for their examination, a written request for relief must be submitted to DTS. This request should include applicable documentation and be sent to testingproblems@ada.org within five business days of the scheduled appointment.
Examples of emergencies and applicable documentation include, but are not limited to, the following: • Sudden illness on the examination day. Provide a doctor’s note or hospital records confirming that you were treated on the day of the examination. • Death in the family on the examination day. Provide a copy of an obituary, prayer card, funeral service program, or death certificate confirming that the relative passed away or services were held on the day of the examination. Testing appointments affected by emergencies occurring prior to the day of the scheduled appointment should be handled through the Administration Vendor’s rescheduling and cancellation process indicated previously.
Eligibility Extension and Fee
The eligibility-extension fee in the 2026 Candidate Guide is $150. The extension adds 45 days, including weekends and holidays, and is available only once per submitted application.
Request an eligibility extension by signing into your account and selecting “Submit Request,” then “Eligibility Extension Request.” Only one extension is permitted per application. You cannot have an examination appointment scheduled when requesting an extension: cancel any scheduled appointment first, or the request will be denied. The extension does not override other eligibility or retesting rules. The $150 fee must be paid when the request is submitted and is non-refundable and non-transferable. After the application is processed, eligibility normally lasts six months unless retesting rules or other requirements limit it to a shorter period. Last-minute changes may not be approved.
Make a Study Plan
After rescheduling your exam, create a study plan around the content areas you need to review. You can use flashcards, official ADA practice resources, and a study guide such as the DAT Destroyer. You may also consider joining a study group or finding classes for additional support. These are preparation suggestions, not ADA scheduling requirements or an ADA endorsement of a commercial resource.
Take Care of Yourself
Lastly, don't forget to take care of yourself during the rescheduling process. Rescheduling an exam can be stressful and anxiety-provoking, but taking care of yourself can reduce this stress. Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise regularly. Make time for fun and relaxation, too. Remember that your mental and physical health can impact your performance on the exam.
If you are looking for a complete step-by-step guide on how to reschedule your DAT test, see our full DAT rescheduling guide here.
Conclusion:
Rescheduling the DAT can feel stressful, but understanding the difference between an appointment change and a retake can help you plan your next steps. Check your eligibility window, use Prometric for routine appointment changes, meet both notice requirements, and retain your confirmation. Follow the ADA’s documented emergency procedure if an examination-day emergency prevents you from testing. A study plan can support your preparation, but rescheduling does not guarantee a particular DAT score or admission to dental school.