Live-surgery implant courses abroad for international dentists: 8 options compared (2026)

Last updated: 28 October 2026 · By the Digital Implant Association (DIA) team

Disclosure: Implants Academy (DIA Brazil) is our programme, and it is one of the options below. Everything we say about other providers comes from their own public pages, checked on 26 October 2026; course dates were re-checked on 28 October 2026. No provider paid to be included. Details change, so confirm with each provider before you book.

Quick answer

For an international dentist, start with written confirmation of how clinical participation is authorized, the teaching language and the number of implants you personally place. The listed clinical courses run for four to six days, but total course days and days treating patients differ. Provider statements about placements, supervision and CE/CPD are summarized below; check recognition with your own regulator or board.

According to their course pages, ICORI and Nobel Biocare / FOR teach in English; DIA also teaches in English. Check language directly with the other providers. DIA is waitlist only, with its city, venue, dates and clinical participation arrangements still being finalized. A course place alone does not authorise patient treatment.

Option	Format	Days	Implants you place yourself	Group size	City / country	Price	CE/CPD
TCP Implant Marathon	Orientation, model workshop, live surgery	5	30 as main surgeon (per TCP)	Max 2 doctors/chair; total not published	Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, Cuba	See provider	60 CE hours; AGD/PACE, per TCP
High Tech Dental Seminars	Foundational live-patient training	6	30+ (per provider)	not published	Lima, Peru	See provider	60 CE credits, per provider
ITC Seminars	Live-patient course; selectable tracks	4; 3 live surgery	3–5, 10–12, 14–16 or unlimited (per ITC)	Max 4; 1:1 instructor	Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Brazil, Mexico	See provider	40 CE credits, per ITC
GDIA	Fundamental, intermediate, advanced levels	4; 3 live surgery	not published	Max 10 attendees	Tijuana, Mexico	See provider	34 CEUs, per GDIA
ICORI	Beginner live-patient training	5	25; option of 5 more (per ICORI)	2–3	Brazil, about 2 hours from Rio	See provider	not published
Expert Dental Solutions	Live-patient training; individual mentorship	4 on patients	Minimum 20 (per provider)	Max 6	Rio de Janeiro / São Paulo, Brazil	See provider	32 CE credits; AGD code 690, per provider
Nobel Biocare / FOR	Two modules; Module 2 live surgery	4 + 5	not published	not published	Module 2: Santos, Brazil	See provider	not published
DIA Brazil — Implants Academy	Beginner supervised live-patient surgery	5 surgical	Minimum 20 per approved clinical participant	15 founding seats	Brazil (city, venue and dates to be confirmed)	See provider	No accredited CE-hour claim currently made

How we chose

This comparison uses each provider's own public pages, checked on 26 October 2026, with course dates re-checked on 28 October 2026. It compares eight options using an international dentist's checklist: clinical authorisation, teaching language, personal placements, time on patients, supervision, group size, CE/CPD and travel inclusions. The numbering identifies options and does not rank their quality.

Competitor details are attributed to their own pages. Where a provider's page does not state a field, it is marked “not published”. Published CE/CPD statements do not establish recognition by your own regulator. Placement counts distinguish personal surgery from assisting where the provider supplies that distinction.

1. TCP Implant Marathon — Level 1

According to TCP's course pages, Level 1 is a five-day course with Sunday orientation, an evening model workshop and subsequent surgery days. TCP states 30 as main surgeon (per TCP), with a maximum of two doctors per chair; total group size is not published. Prior implant experience is not needed, although basic anatomy and theory are expected.

Listed locations include São Paulo, Phnom Penh, Cartagena and Santa Clara. TCP lists Phnom Penh for November 16–20, 2026; São Paulo's end-of-year date is TBA, and new Santa Clara dates are coming. TCP reports 60 CE hours through AGD/PACE as an AGD-approved PACE provider.

Good for: Dentists seeking a Level 1 format with a stated main-surgeon count.

Watch out: Inclusions: See provider. Confirm teaching language, total group size and clinical authorisation.

2. High Tech Dental Seminars — International Implant Training

According to its course page, High Tech Dental Seminars offers a six-day foundational course at the Colegio Odontológico de Lima in Miraflores, Lima, Peru, on January 24–29, 2027. The page states 30+ implants and one-on-one supervision on every case, alongside 60 CE credits.

The published inclusions cover a five-star hotel, meals, local transport, patients and materials. Group size is not published. For an international dentist, the practical follow-up is to confirm teaching language, how patient treatment is authorized and how the six days divide between clinical work and other teaching.

Good for: Dentists seeking foundational training with individual case supervision and accommodation included.

Watch out: Total group size and the number of days on patients are not published.

3. ITC Seminars — Dental Implant Live Patient Course

According to ITC's course page, this four-day programme includes three live-surgery days, a 1:1 instructor arrangement and a maximum of four participants. Placement tracks are 3–5, 10–12, 14–16 or unlimited. Its university partner sites are in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Brazil and Mexico; the next listed course is November 16–19, 2026, at UPANA in Guatemala.

ITC states that participants receive a temporary dental licence issued through the host university and government health authorities. It reports 40 CE credits, citing ADA, AGD and the Dental Boards of California and Florida. Confirm how the licensing process applies to your documents and selected site.

Good for: Dentists comparing small groups and different placement tracks.

Watch out: Teaching language and inclusions are not published; check CE recognition at home.

4. GDIA — Live Patient Implant Surgery Course

According to GDIA's course page, its Tijuana, Mexico course lasts four days, including three live-surgery days, with a maximum of 10 attendees and 5 (+2) instructors. It lists Fundamental 101, Intermediate 201 and Advanced 301 levels and 34 CEUs. No upcoming course dates were published when we checked; ask GDIA for its next date.

GDIA states that the course takes responsibility for each patient through to the final prosthesis and shares the final result with participants. The number of implants each dentist personally places is not published on this page.

Good for: Dentists comparing different course levels and a stated patient follow-through process.

Watch out: Confirm personal placement numbers, teaching language, inclusions and clinical authorisation before booking.

5. ICORI — Beginner level

According to ICORI's programme and FAQ pages, beginner training comprises five weekdays after a weekend in Rio, at a centre in a city about two hours away. Groups have two to three participants, and the official language is English. ICORI states that beginners place 25 implants, assist on 25–50 more and have an option of five additional placements.

Requirements include a dental degree, registration number and general dentistry experience. Inclusions cover eight nights in an individual room, breakfast, clinic lunches on training days, transfers, implants, materials and post-training learning support. Its diploma records 50 hours of surgery on patients and the case count; CE/CPD credits are not published.

Good for: Dentists seeking English teaching and a small group.

Watch out: Dates are on request; confirm clinical authorisation and transfer coverage.

6. Expert Dental Solutions — Intensive Dental Implant Training

According to its course page, Expert Dental Solutions offers four days on real patients, with a minimum of 20 implant placements per doctor, a maximum of six participants and one-on-one mentorship. It welcomes dentists worldwide and lists sites in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Published Rio dates for 2027 are February 24–27, April 22–25 and May 19–22.

The page states 32 CE credits under AGD code 690. Inclusions are five nights in a four-star hotel with breakfast, mentorship for first cases after the course and a final-day dinner. Teaching language and arrangements authorising foreign dentists to treat patients are not published on the course page.

Good for: Dentists seeking a limited group and support for first cases.

Watch out: Confirm language, clinical eligibility and remaining travel or meal arrangements.

7. Nobel Biocare / FOR — 2-part course

According to the FOR course page, this programme combines a four-day theoretical-practical first module (listed in Sassuolo, Italy, with a date that has already passed) with a five-day implant surgery second module on real patients. Module 2 takes place in Santos, Brazil, on November 16–20, 2026, covering planning through execution. The stated teaching language is English.

The curriculum includes grafting and augmentation topics, making prior implant experience a relevant consideration when assessing fit. Personal implant placements, group size and CE/CPD are not published on this page. Confirm those fields, the first module's arrangements and the requirements for treating patients before committing to the two-part format.

Good for: Dentists with some implant experience considering grafting and augmentation topics.

Watch out: A five-day surgery module does not establish a personal placement count; that count is not published.

8. DIA Brazil — Implants Academy

Our English-taught beginner programme offers five supervised surgical days, committing to at least 20 implants personally placed per approved clinical participant; patient needs and safety take priority. There are 15 founding seats. Included are materials, instruments, six accommodation nights, meals on training days, clinic transfers, daily debriefs and a placement log, plus 12 months of mentorship with review of the first 15 suitable home-case plans, an equipment/workflow blueprint and six months of membership without automatic renewal.

Good for: Qualified dentists starting implant surgery who want ongoing case-plan review.

Watch out: This is the first cohort; 15 seats exceed several smaller groups listed. Brazil (city, venue and dates to be confirmed). Enrollment is closed; joining the waitlist involves no payment and reserves no seat. Questions: courses@implantsacademy.com. Clinical participation depends on documents, Brazilian requirements, host-clinic approval and appropriate insurance; these arrangements are still being finalized. No accredited CE-hour claim is currently made for this programme. Flights, airport transfers, visas, insurance and personal expenses are excluded.

Before you book: an international dentist's checklist

Ask in writing how patient treatment is authorized for foreign dentists and which professional documents are required.
Confirm how many implants you personally place as main surgeon, separately from observing or assisting.
Ask for the instructor-to-participant ratio and total group size.
Check CE/CPD recognition with your own regulator or board; we cannot establish recognition for you.
Check inclusions and exclusions, including flights, accommodation, meals, transfers, insurance and visas.
Ask what support is available after you return home.
Confirm the language of instruction.
Read the cancellation and refund terms before booking.

The ITI offers a structured online curriculum with 15 CPD hours and an ITI Curriculum Certificate for theory before or after clinical training; it is not a live-patient course.

Full comparison

Option	Days	Implants you place yourself	Group size	Location	CE/CPD	What is included	Next published date
TCP Implant Marathon	5	30 as main surgeon (per TCP)	Max 2 doctors/chair; total not published	São Paulo; Phnom Penh; Cartagena; Santa Clara	60 CE hours; AGD/PACE, per TCP	See provider	November 16–20, 2026; Phnom Penh
High Tech Dental Seminars	6	30+ (per provider)	not published	Miraflores, Lima, Peru	60 CE credits, per provider	Hotel, meals, local transport, patients, materials	January 24–29, 2027
ITC Seminars	4; 3 live surgery	3–5, 10–12, 14–16 or unlimited (per ITC)	Max 4; 1:1 instructor	Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Brazil, Mexico	40 CE credits, per ITC	not published	November 16–19, 2026; UPANA, Guatemala
GDIA	4; 3 live surgery	not published	Max 10; 5 (+2) instructors	Tijuana, Mexico	34 CEUs, per GDIA	not published	No upcoming date published
ICORI	5	25; option of 5 more (per ICORI)	2–3	Brazil, about 2 hours from Rio	not published	Accommodation, breakfast, clinic lunches, transfers, materials, learning support	not published; dates on request
Expert Dental Solutions	4 on patients	Minimum 20 (per provider)	Max 6	Rio de Janeiro / São Paulo, Brazil	32 CE credits; AGD code 690, per provider	Hotel, breakfast, mentorship, final-day dinner	February 24–27, 2027; Rio
Nobel Biocare / FOR	4 + 5	not published	not published	Module 2: Santos, Brazil	not published	not published	November 16–20, 2026; Module 2
DIA Brazil — Implants Academy	5 surgical	Minimum 20 per approved clinical participant	15 founding seats	Brazil (city, venue and dates to be confirmed)	No accredited CE-hour claim currently made	Materials, accommodation, training-day meals, clinic transfers, mentorship, membership	To be confirmed (waitlist open)

FAQ

Can a foreign dentist legally place implants on patients during a course abroad?

Ask the provider for written details of the authorisation process for your circumstances. According to ITC's page, participants receive a temporary dental licence through the host university and government health authorities. For DIA, a place alone does not authorise treatment: professional documents, applicable Brazilian requirements, host-clinic approval and appropriate insurance are required, and arrangements are still being finalized. Training does not confer a licence to practise.

Will my CE/CPD hours count at home?

Ask your own regulator or board before booking. According to their pages, TCP lists 60 CE hours through AGD/PACE; High Tech lists 60 CE credits; ITC lists 40 CE credits; GDIA lists 34 CEUs; and Expert Dental Solutions lists 32 CE credits under AGD code 690. These statements do not establish recognition at home. ICORI and Nobel Biocare / FOR credits are not published; DIA makes no accredited CE-hour claim.

Is English teaching standard across these courses?

English is stated by ICORI and Nobel Biocare / FOR on their pages, and DIA's beginner programme is taught in English. For TCP, High Tech Dental Seminars, ITC, GDIA and Expert Dental Solutions, teaching language is not published on the pages we checked. Confirm the language directly before booking, including the language used during clinical supervision and case discussions.

How long should a live-surgery course be?

The listed courses run for four to six days, with Nobel Biocare / FOR combining a four-day first module and a five-day surgical second module. Total duration does not tell you how many days involve patient treatment: ITC and GDIA each list three live-surgery days within four days. DIA lists five surgical days, while Expert Dental Solutions lists four days on real patients. Compare clinical time, personal placements, supervision and follow-up support together.

Why are no prices listed here?

This comparison directs fee enquiries to each provider, so the summary table says “See provider”. DIA fees are provided in the enrollment information. Ask providers to confirm inclusions, exclusions and cancellation terms alongside the course details. For DIA, completing the clinical programme below 20 placements allows one further available cohort without an additional course fee; this covers tuition only, with repeat travel, accommodation, meals and transfers separate.