in peru, dentists require five years of post secondary education in a university. there are several universities that provides dental education. the three first study years are similar education to the human medicine schools, then fourth and fifth years are dental studies and practices in the school clinic. in the last year students have to complete evaluated and paid services in a public hospital and in a rural medical post (where there are no hospitals or doctors nearby, they will frequently have to deal with general medicine cases). the students obtain their degree in dentistry ( bachellor in dentistry), if they want to practice in peru the students have to prepare and defend a thesis to obtain the "cirujano dentista" (c.d.) degree (dental surgeon). dentistry is overseen by the colegio odontológico del perú (cop).