Dental Handbook

8/10/2019 Dental Handbook

1/30

Dental Boards

& Licensure

Information for the New GraduateA resource to help you through the licensure process

American Student Dental Association


2/30INFORMATION FOR THE NEW GRADUATE

2 Licensure: The Transition

3 The Dental Licensure Process Requirements

3 Clinical Testing Agencies

4 ADEX and ADLEX

4 Preparing for the ExamLocation and Expense

5 Clinical Testing Agency Membership

5 Curriculum Integrated Format

6 Patient Selection

7 Application Process

8 Handling the Details in Advance

9 Time ManagementBefore and During the Exam

10 Board Insurance and Loans

11 Checklist for Licensure Candidates

12 Exam Results Notification

12 Appeals

12 Impact on the Recent Graduate

15 If It Happens to You

16 Remediation

17 Keeping in Touch Through Provisional Membership

17 Advocating for Change

18 Licensure ChangeA Timeline

19 An Agenda for Change in the Clinical Licensure Examination Process

19 License Recognition: Dentists

20 ASDA Support

20 Dental School and Dental Society Support

20 Additional Resources

21 Clinical Testing Agencies Contact Information

21 State Board Contacts

25 State Dental Societies

27 Publication Evaluation Form

Disclaimer: This publication of the American Dental A ssociation is offered as information only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice.

Persons reviewing these materials should consult with their own professional advisors for such advice.

Table of Contents


3/30American Dental Association : DENTAL BOARDS & LICENSURE

Licensure: The Transition

Dental licensure marks the transition between dental schooland dental practice. The licensure process, regulated by state

boards, validates the dental professions self-regulation and

protects the public.

Licensure has been a key issue for both the American Dental

Association (ADA) and the American Student Dental Association

(ASDA). Both organizations are committed to working in

cooperation with the American Association of Dental Examiners

and the clinical testing agencies to facilitate improvements

in the clinical licensure process. These agencies have met to

discuss different licensure topics including a common content

exam, the use of human subjects, remediation programs, and

pre-graduation exams.

This publication highlights the issues surrounding dental licensure

including the purpose and progress of clinical licensure. It also

summarizes the licensure process for students getting ready to

embark on this rite of passage.



REQUIREMENTS

Although specific dental licensure requirements vary among

jurisdictions, nearly all states require that applicants for initial

dental licensure have graduated from an ADA-accredited dental

school, have passed the National Board Exams 1 and 2, and have

passed a clinical exam administered by the state or by a regional

testing agency.

States vary on the eligibility of an internationally trained dentist.

All states, except Minnesota (which has different options) requirethat graduates of non-accredited ADA dental programs obtain

additional education to earn a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree from an

ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation (ADA-CDA) accredited

program, Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC)

accredited program, or a state dental board-approved education

program. The additional education required can be anywhere

from one to four years, depending upon the state.

In an effort to assist state boards in determining the qualifica-

tions of dentists who seek licensure, the Joint Commission on

National Dental Examinations developed the National Board

Dental Examinations. This Commission includes representatives

of dental schools, dental examiners, dental hygiene, dentalstudents, dentists and the public. There are two parts to the

National Boards: Part I, which is taken after the second year of

dental school, and Part II, taken during the final year of dental

school. Both parts are offered in a computerized format.

Although additional examinations may be required at the

state level, all licensing boards use the National Board Dental

Examinations to satisfy a major portion of their licensing

examination requirements. Approximately 90% of dental

students enrolled in accredited dental schools pass each

Part on the first attempt.

In 2007, the Joint Commission for National Dental Examinations

implemented a restructured Part I examination in which the

traditional Part I disciplines are intermingled throughout the

examination. While the restructured examination remains

a 400 multiple-choice examination, approximately 20% of

the items are grouped in interdisciplinary, clinically-focused

testlets and the remaining items continue to be independent

or discipline-based items. With a comprehensive or interdisciplinary

format, a single standard score is reported.

In addition to the National Board Exam, most states, plus the

District of Columbia require a written jurisprudence examination,

which tests the applicants knowledge of that states dental practice

act. The states that do not require a written jurisprudence exam

include: Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, New York Rhode Island,

Tennessee and Utah. (American Association of Dental Examiners

Composite 18th edition, January 2007)

National Board Dental Examination candidates who have not

passed after three attempts are required to wait 12 months

after their third attempt before they can reapply. After a one year

waiting period, a new cycle of three exam attempts will apply.

Once the educational and National Board Dental Examinations

requirements are met, the next step is to take the appropriateclinical dental licensing examination. Clinical exams are developed

and administered by dental clinical testing agencies, and these

testing agencies administer exams at dental schools. Most states

participate in one or more regional examining boards, and a few

administer their own exams. The regional examining boards do

not have authority to license individuals and should not be

confused with the state boards of dentistry, which are the state

licensing authorities. Unlike the written examinations, which are

fairly standard, clinical exams may vary. Most candidates who do

not achieve licensure on their first attempt fail in some aspect of

the clinical exam.

Only four jurisdictions currently administer their own clinicalexams; the remaining boards contract that responsibility to one

of the five regional testing agencies.

CLINICAL TESTING AGENCIES

Until the late 1960s, clinical examinations were administered once

per year by individual state dental licensing boards. By 1967, these

boards began to realize that the clinical examinations could be

improved by increasing and standardizing examiners and by

making the examination available at a number of sites and on a

number of dates throughout the year. The Northeast Regional

Board of Dental Examiners was founded in 1969, and by 1976,

four regional dental examination agencies had been established.

In July 2005, a new testing agency was formed - the Council

of Interstate Testing Agencies (CITA), which currently has five

member states (AL, LA, MS, NC, PR). Presently, all five regional

dental Examination agencies provide clinical examinations for

most states/jurisdictions. Discussions persist between the regional

dental examination agencies and the states that continue to

administer their own clinical examinations regarding the

expansion of the regional concept and the possibility of a

standardized examination.

The Dental Licensure Process

In the United States, each state sets its own requirements for professional licensure. In addition to health professionals such as

dentists, physicians, nurses, and dental hygienists, etc., states also license realtors, attorneys and a myriad of other licensure

categories. Although each state has a dental board, its level of autonomy varies. Even the independent boards, which exercise

all licensing and disciplinary powers, are often functionally housed within other governmental departments. In rare cases board

members may be elected but are most frequently appointed by the states governor. Generally, standards for licensure are setby statute and can be changed only by an action of the state legislature.



STATE/REGION FEES TESTING LOCATION FREQUENCY

CITA $1,400 Dental Schools: Contact CITAwww.citaexam.com Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi,

North Carolina, Puerto Rico

CRDTS $1,400 Dental Schools: February, March, April, June,www.crdts.org Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Creighton, November

Nebraska, Marquette, Southern Illinois, Georgia,South Carolina, Hawaii

NERB $1,400 Dental Schools: April, May, August, September,www.nerb.org Boston, Buffalo, Case Western, Columbia, Connecticut, October, December (7X/year)

Detroit, Harvard, Howard, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland,Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania,

Pittsburgh, SUNY-Stony Brook, Temple, Tufts, Virginia,West Virginia

SRTA Contact SRTA Dental Schools: March, April, May, June, Octoberwww.srta.org Louisville, Virginia, Kentucky, Meharry, South Carolina,

Tennessee, West Virginia

WREB $1,475 - $1,725 Dental Schools: January, February, March, April,www.wreb.org Case Western, Colorado, Virginia, Pacific, Loma Linda, May/June, September, December

Oregon, Baylor, San Antonio, Houston, Oklahoma,Washington, USC, Kentucky, Nova Southeastern,Pittsburgh, Temple, Louisville, Arizona, New York,Nevada, UCSF, Boston, Iowa, UCLA, Tufts, Creighton,UMKC

California $606 Rotates between Los Angeles, San Francisco, Spring, Fall with 1-2 Exams in Junewww.dbc.ca.gov Loma Linda, Pacific, USC

Delaware $300 - $400 Delaware Technical and Community College, January, Junewww.dpr.delaware.gov Wilmington DE

Florida $1195 University of Florida and Nova Southeastern June, August, December, Marchwww.doh.state.fl.us

Nevada $1200 UNLV January, Julywww.nvdentalboard.org

U.S. Virgin Islands $65 St. Thomas June, November

Preparing for the ExamLocation & Expense

Preparing for your state clinical licensing exam needs careful planning. Allowing enough time for the application process and

patient selection is imperative. Plus, exam fees and liability insurance can be costly, and for those who need to travel to the

exam, travel costs for both the candidate and the patients (who may also be paid) need to be considered. Below is an outline

of the various clinical licensing examinations with cost and travel implications. As sites and fees can change, be sure to contact

each state/region for the most up-to-date information.

ADEX and ADLEX

In 2005, the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) was established. ADEX consists of state and U.S. territory licensing

jurisdictions which are responsible for the ongoing development of the American Dental Licensing Examinations (ADLEX). The

ADLEX is available for use by the individual state and regional testing agencies on behalf of their member states. Currently, the

CRDTS and the NERB administer the ADLEX, while CITA, SRTA and WREB administer their own examinations. It is hoped that

ultimately all licensing authorities will accept the examination results from all state and regional testing agencies.


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COUNCIL OF INTERSTATE TESTING AGENCIESwww.citaexam.com

AlabamaLouisianaMississippiNorth CarolinaPuerto Rico

CENTRAL REGIONAL DENTAL TESTINGSERVICES, INC. (CRDTS, ADLEX)www.crdts.org

ColoradoGeorgiaHawaiiIllinois1

IowaKansas

MinnesotaMissouriNebraskaNorth DakotaSouth DakotaWashington2

WisconsinWyoming3

NORTH EAST REGIONAL BOARD OF DENTALEXAMINERS, INC. (NERB, ADLEX)

www.nerb.orgConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaIndianaIllinois1

MaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganNew HampshireNew JerseyNew YorkOhioPennsylvaniaRhode IslandVermont

West Virginia4

SOUTHERN REGIONALTESTING AGENCY, INC. (SRTA)www.srta.org

ArkansasKentuckySouth Carolina7

TennesseeWest Virginia4

Virginia

WESTERN REGIONALEXAMINING BOARD (WREB)

www.wreb.orgAlaskaArizonaCalifornia6

IdahoMontanaNew MexicoOklahomaOregonTexasUtahWashington2

Wyoming3

Missouri8

INDEPENDENT STATES THAT

ADMINISTER THEIR OWN CLINICALLICENSING EXAMINATIONS

DelawareFloridaNevada5

Virgin Islands

Clinical Testing Agency Membership

INFORMATION FOR THE NEW GRADUATE

The CIF process begins in the fall, when candidates take simulated

(manikin) clinical examinations. Due to the timing of this integrated

testing, students often have three more opportunities to pass before

graduation. Additionally, there's the possibility of remediation for

those students who don't pass, while still in school.

Feedback has been positive, with students citing that they are more

relaxed and generally more prepared because of the timeframe.

Students can be eligible for licensure by the time of graduation,

which means that they can begin planning their transition out

of dental school weeks earlier than those whose exams

are near graduation and have to wait eight weeks for scores.

The ADA House of Delegates approved Res. 1H-2007

providing a definition for CIF that provides clarification

for what the Association believes the curriculum

integrated format examination should entail.

Currently, CITA, NERB and CRDTS utilize CIF

in their clinical licensing exams.

Curriculum Integrated Format

Examinations are currently administered in a Traditional Format and the Curriculum Integrated Format (CIF). The Traditional

Format is administered to candidates who have either graduated, or are within forty-five days of graduation of dental school.

All four parts of the examination are administered within a few days under the Traditional Format. The Curriculum Integrated

Format is administered to senior dental students of record beginning with the simulated examinations early in the senior year

and the Restorative and Periodontal examinations early in the second semester of the senior year. It allows dental students to

take their examinations in sections spread out across their last year of dental school, instead of taking all four parts (usually

during the same week) at the very end of senior year. Candidate scores are reported to their dental school administration for

the purpose of student remediation. Students are permitted to take the simulated patient examinations three times and the

patient-based examinations twice prior to the graduation.

The information provided in this chart is subject to change frequently. This information is accurate as of September 2007. For the most up to date information, please contact your state board(contact information included in this guide.)

1 Illinois is a member of both CRDTS and NERB. 2Washington is a member of WREB. Only the dental examination falls under CRDTS. 3Wyoming is a member of both CRDTS and WREB. 4WestVirginia is a member ofboth NERB and SRTA. 5Nevada also accepts results of the WREB examination. 6California legislation to join WREB addresses only the dental examination, not the dental

hygiene examination. Also administers its own examination. 7South Carolina is a member of both CRDTS and SRTA. 8Missouri is a member of both CRDTS and WREB.

NOTE: Some states accept results of examinations administered by testing agencies of which they are not a member. Please check with the individual state boards of dentistry for information about

which examinations are accepted in the state where licensure is sought.



LETS EXAMINE THE FOLLOWING SCENARIO:Candidate X spent all day screening patients for his upcoming

clinical board exam. He found a total of three patientstwo

he felt comfortable treating; one who was questionable. The

candidate asked a faculty member if he thought the questionable

patient met the exam criteria. The faculty member acknowledged

that he did. The candidate was relievedhe had secured three

patients for his clinical board exam. After gaining their consent,

the candidate explained to his patients that he would make their

travel and lodging arrangements for the exam. He provided them

with the address of the exam site and briefed them on when they

should arrive.

On the first day of the exam, Candidate Xs perio patient didntshow up as scheduled, and his amalgam patient was rejected. What

could Candidate X have done differently to prevent this situation?

THE ANSWER:

Taking the time to study the published patient criteria, communi-

cating vital information to patients, and using common sense

are three essential elements when preparing for the boards.

Study the exam patient criteria and make sure your patients meet

all the conditions. If you are not sure whether or not your patient

meets the criteria, its likely that the patient doesnt. Look for

virgin lesions that definitely penetrate to the DEJ. Bewareof lesions that have a significant shadow beyond the DEJ. A

small notch or wedge (only one-third penetration), may not

be acceptable.

Choose patients with conditions you feel comfortable treating.

Meeting only the minimum criteria can result in patients being

rejected. Also, dont rely on others, even faculty members, to

select or qualify your patients. Board examiners will determine

the final acceptability of your patient. Having a back-up patient

who is readily available is a very good idea.

Communicate essential information to your patients to alleviateconfusion. Explain in detail the procedures you will be performing,

what the examiners will be checking and how many examiners

will be reviewing the graded procedure. Be sure to explain that

the examiners are not at liberty to comment on the quality of

treatment, and therefore, may avoid questions or conversation.

Be sure your patients know your name, candidate number, the

name of your assistant and exactly when and where to meet you.

If necessary, arrange transportation for your patients to the school.

Inform your patients of the overall time commitment and clinic

conditions prior to exam day. Suggest that they bring some

reading materials since there are often long waits in the examining

area. Inform them that the clinic floor and examining area canget chilly and they may need to bring a sweater or jacket. Finally,

offer your patients something to eat and/or drink throughout the

day to make sure theyre comfortable.

Before you begin your exam, remember to express your

appreciation and remind your patients that their behavior

is important to your professional future. Let them know that

their participation makes it possible for dentistry to maintain

high standards of competency.

Finally, remember that communicating crucial information to

your patient can be just as critical as the patient selection process.

Patient Selection

Selecting an appropriate patient is a key factor in the clinical licensure examination process. Throughout the exam process,

you will be evaluated on your ability to identify the criteria and recognize conditions in your patient.


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APPLY EARLY.

Exam sites often fill up prior to the application deadline.

To increase your chances of receiving the exam location

and date of your choice, apply early.

OBTAIN AN APPLICATION FORM DIRECTLYFROM THE EXAMINING AGENCY.

Contact the examining agency well in advance of the exam date

to ensure that you have ample time to complete and submit the

application (see page 21 contact list). Most exams have a deadline

for accepting applications - usually a minimum of six weeks prior

to the exam date. Most regional exams now have applicationsonline, so check the agencys Web site.

READ THE ENTIRE APPLICATION PRIORTO COMPLETING IT.

Applications usually specify whether any additional information

is required and how to thoroughly complete the forms. Dont

leave sections of the application unanswered! Be sure to contact

the testing agency if you have questions about the application

form or the information you need to provide.

ALLOCATE TIME FOR COMPLETING

THE APPLICATION FORMS.Schedule enough time to thoroughly read and fill out the

application for your exam. You are less likely to omit sections

or make mistakes if you can focus on your application without

distractions.

SUBMIT THE REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS.

You may be asked to provide supporting documents for your

exam application, such as photographs, proof of graduation and

proof of malpractice insurance. Failure to submit all of the required

documents may delay the processing time needed for your

application. Keep in mind that it often takes six weeks or more

for malpractice insurance providers to issue proof of insurance.

CALL IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

Call your examining agency with any questions while you are

completing the application. Dont assume anything!

CAREFULLY REVIEW THE CANCELLATION POLICY.

Most exams require applicants to forfeit part or all of the exam

fee if the candidate cancels his or her exam. Be sure to thoroughly

investigate the cancellation policy before registering.

REVIEW YOUR COMPLETED APPLICATION.

Once you have filled out your application, put it aside for a few

days and then give it a final review before mailing it. In addition,

you may want to call upon a trusted friend to review your

application. These are more reasons to allow yourself ample

time to complete the application process.

With some planning, effort and time, you can eliminate the

possibility of making mistakes on your clinical licensure exam

application and ensure that the process is a smooth one.

Application Process

Properly completing the application forms takes some time and effort. The key is to plan ahead. Rushing the application

process can result in having your application returned to you, thus slowing down the application processing time. To avoid

making common (and costly) mistakes on your application, follow these guidelines:




Handling the Details...In Advance

Youve studied your way through dental school and the National Board Dental Examinations. Now its time for your clinical exam.

Whats the best way to get ready for this ever-important day? The best advice is, of course: Prepare! Prepare! Prepare! Below are

some suggestions on how to do just that.

Readand rereadthe candidates guide before the exam. This

is your most important avenue to successknow it in your sleep!

Underline important sections; make notes; define areas you

are unsure of; list questions to ask chief examiner at orientations

and/or during the exam; keep your manual with you at all times

during the exam.

Write a flow chart for each procedure. Your candidates guide

will detail what you need for each step of the examuse it to

create a schedule for yourself. Include approximate time guidelines

you hope to keep and a list of instruments that your patient must

bring to the examining area at each check-in. Print a copy for

yourself and your assistant (if you choose to use an assistant).

Make it the duty of the assistant to keep an eye on the flow chartto keep you on time and to double check that your patient is

sent to the examiners at the right times and with the correct

equipment. Take time to practice the routine of the exam.

Details make a difference.

Ask yourself questions about cavity preparation and restoration.

When do I plan to start? How much time should I allow? Based

on the condition of my patient, what possible scenarios might

occur and how would I handle them? What paperwork and

instruments are required for the check-in procedure? What

do I need to submit for the preparation grade? Is my patient

required to wear a rubber dam? What do I need to look for

after the grading (such as the examiners initials)?

List your questions and answers in a step-by-step format to

avoid frantically searching through the candidates guide

during the exam.

Creating a schedule will also help you plan and prepare in quiet

surroundings (rather than putting it all together during the exam)

and allow you to have the information you need at your fingertips.

If the testing agency sends you patient forms prior to the

exam, make copies and practice completing them. On the

copies, complete the patient information and familiarize yourself

with facts the testing agency requires. If the official patient forms

can be completed prior to the exam, take advantage of thisopportunity to save valuable time on exam day. Avoid filling out

any official forms, however, until your patient selection has been

confirmed and youve verified your patients information.

Prepare supplies and equipment in advance. Double-check

which materials the school or examining agency will supply. If

you want or need special materials, plan to bring them along.

(Dont rely on the testing site to have what you need.) If you

are renting school equipment, make your rental arrangements

ahead of time. If you plan to bring your own equipment, verify

that it is functioning properly before exam day.

Before the exam, empty your cart of unnecessary supplies.

Buy or borrow a set-up tray for each procedure you will perform

during the exam. Set up each tray with all the items you will or

may need for each procedure, starting with the one you will

perform first. Make a list of equipment items that need to be

added to each tray. (This will allow your assistant to come in each

day and pull out complete tray set-ups and add missing items

from the list that have been sterilized from previous set-ups.)

If using a commercial lab, confirm the reliability of the lab and

make arrangements early to have your work done. If in doubt

about the labs qualifications, contact another lab or plan to do

your own lab work. If you plan to use a school lab, know its hours

of operation.

If applicable and permitted, pre-punch rubber dams for each

patient and make sure they fit well. Make sure your dam is

centered and free of creases during the exam. If applicable and

you have the option, try to cut your gold early. This allows extra

time to take a new impression and make a new inlay if the first

one does not fit properly.

Thoroughly check your patient before the exam to determine

whether any changes have occurred since your last screening.

Does the patient have more or less calculus than a few weeks

ago? Has the patient developed any medical conditions that

would disqualify him or her? Is the patient still ready and willing

to attend the exam? Make sure you dont have any unexpected

surprises on exam day.

Take care of the logistics ahead of time. Confirm meeting location

and time, hotel, travel and meal arrangements for you and your

patient. Be sure to plan a lunch break for both of you find out

if the school has a cafeteria or if youll need to make other plans.

Bring snacks to eat during the day to maintain your energy.

Plan to eat a good breakfast the morning of the exam. Although

you will be nervous, it is critical that you eat a well-balanced

breakfast to maintain your energy throughout the morning.

Wear comfortable shoes and professional clothing.

If you are allowed to use a chair-side assistant (and you chooseto do so), select a reliable one!

Have a back-up plan in case your assistant is unable to attend

the exam.


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Create a to do list. First decide what needs to be done

between now and the date of your exam. (Be sure to write this

down, so you wont have to rely on memory alone.) Creating a

list with clear, simple tasks helps keep you focused.

Determine your priorities. Identify which items are priorities

based on their deadline for completion. Realistically decide how

much time you will need to devote to each task, and remember:do first things first.

Develop an action plan. Once you have prioritized your tasks,

outline the steps you must take to complete them. This helps you

progress from simply thinking about the test to taking action.

How will you go about recruiting patients? How should you be

spending your time when you are not in class or in the lab? The

action plan will serve as your road map. Creating a plan of action

is one way to manage your time so that it doesnt manage you.

Develop a schedule for exam day. Detail your schedule as much

as possible to avoid unnecessary anxiety on the big day. Find out

how much time is allotted for each portion of the exam and use

any extra time constructively.

If procedures are assigned in timed blocks, plan how you will work

within that time frame. Plan for setting up the unit, checking the

medical history, anesthetizing the patient, etc. Structure your day

so that you arrive at the test site with time to spare.

If your exam is an open block schedule, you will need to allot

time for the different procedures appropriately. Estimate how

long each procedure will take, then plan carefully so you can

begin work on another patient as soon as you finish the first.

Tell your patient when to arrive based on your planned schedule.

Make a check list for each day. What time do you need to be at

the school? What time should your patient arrive? What suppliesand equipment must you bring? What supplies do you need to

obtain from the school supply window before beginning the

procedure? List all the forms and instruments that must be

submitted with your patient.

Bring a watch. Even though there may be a clock in the exam

room, youll appreciate having your own watch as time draws

to a close.

Effectively managing your time will increase your chances of

feeling prepared and bringing you one step closer to receiving

your license.

Time ManagementBefore and During the ExamIts no secretsuccessfully completing dental school requires effective time management skills. These skills can also help make

your clinical board examination a successful experience. Before that ever-important day arrives, take note of the following tips

to optimize your time.


If the examining agency offers a tour of the testing site prior

to the exam, take advantage of this opportunity. You can never

be too familiar with the facilities.

Plan for the unexpected! As the saying goes, Failing to plan

is planning to fail. Before the exam, think through different

scenarios you could encounter and how you would handle each

one. What will you do if your patient fails to show up or if the

weather causes a delay in your travel plans? What if the caries are

deeper than expected, your selected treatment is not accepted by

the examiners, or a cusp fractures while you are performing the

gold restoration? Develop a plan of action for these potential

situations. Realize that even the best planning cannot guarantee

a perfect exam, but anticipating possible situations ahead of time

is a good strategy for tackling the unexpected!

Positive attitude! - Encouraging Words from a Dental Examiner:

Enter the process with a positive attitude. Realize that you

belong there. You have just completed a course of study that

has deemed you competent. Now demonstrate your competence

with confidence!



CITIBANK

The CitiAssist Health Professions Residency Loan is available to

you from your second through final year of study, and up to six

months after graduation. Borrow up to $12,000 to help you coverboard review courses, residency interviewing, and relocations

expenses. Citibank is the only student loan program endorsed

by ADA Member AdvantageSM. For more information, please

contact Citibank at 866-863-6758 or studentloan.com/ada.

ADA Member Advantage is a service mark of the American Dental Association. ADA MemberAdvantage is a program brought to you by ADA B usiness Enterprises, Inc., the for-profit subsidiaryof the American Dental Association.

STUDENT PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY

When you perform clinical services during your dental training

and take your clinical board exams, you should consider the need

to protect yourself financially. Most licensing jurisdictions requireproof of liability/malpractice insurance. ASDA/ADA members are

eligible to purchase the Professional Protector Plan for Students

board exam coverage and dental equipment coverage.

PROFESSIONAL PROTECTOR PLAN FOR STUDENTS

Endorsed by the American Student Dental Association, the

Professional Protector Plan for Students covers you for your legal

obligations arising from the professional services you perform or

fail to perform during your dental training, and from the services

you render during your state or regional board examinations.

You may also wish to protect your professional instruments, dental

textbooks, and equipment from loss anywhere within the United

States including its territories and possessions, Puerto Rico and

Canada. Please call 800-237-2021, extension 4282 or visit

www.protectorplan.com/ppp/students for additional information.

LIST OF INSURERS BY STATE

In addition, since dentists' options for purchasing professional

liability insurance vary by state, the ADA Council on Insurance

maintains lists of all insurers known to be offering policies to

dentists for each state. For a copy of the list for your state,

including the policy recommended by your state dental society,

call the Council on Insurance at 800-621-8099, ext. 2620.

Board Insurance and Loan Availability



Select Patients

Do patients meet all criteria?

Make sure patients are familiar with exam process and

time commitment.

Research where and when you want to take the exam.

Especially important for students whose state accepts more

than one state/regional exam and/or whose school offers a

pre-graduation exam.

What date and location is best for you and your patients?

Make travel and lodging arrangements for you and

your patients.

Obtain malpractice/liability insurance.

Complete and mail application, making sure to include all

supporting documents.

Know your candidates guide!

Research and take advantage of dental school and dental

society programs to help you prepare and study for your exam.

Mock boards, lunch & learns

Confirm patient participation

Be sure patients know all logistics of exam(i.e. location, time, etc.)

Plan to meet with your patients immediately before exam

to ensure promptness.

Prepare supplies and equipment for exam day.

Checklist for Licensure Candidates



Impact on the Recent Graduate

When it comes to licensure, the recent graduate faces a daunting task. Even dentists who plan to practice in the state in which

they received their dental education find that their faculty may not be knowledgeable about the licensure examination. For the

graduates who plan to practice in another state, there is even more uncertainty that being a good student will lead to successful

completion of the exam. It is not uncommon for recent graduates to take the licensure examination for multiple states in order

to enhance the likelihood for success.

This uncertainty also leads to a difficulty in entering professional relationships. For those entering associateships or employment

arrangements, all negotiations are contingent upon the successful completion of the exam. New dentists who are acquiring

practices or launching a new practice know that their financing and future career success hinges on licensure.

Plus, most new graduates are aware that up to one-third of new dentists relocate within their first ten years of practiceso

there is a possibility that they will have to face this all again in the near future! For dual career couples, especially where both

members are dentists, these difficulties are only compounded.

Exam Results Notification

There is a wide variability in the time it takes for a candidate to receive notification of his or her status. It may take as little

as three weeks or as long as eight weeks. The information provided also varies. Candidates who do not pass the exam often

indicate that the notice they receive does not give them enough information to understand what they did wrong or to determine

if an appeal would be appropriate. There is also a wide variation among the pass-fail rates for the various testing agencies.

Clinical exam candidates are provided an opportunity to appeal

their results. Although there are limited data available on

candidates success on appeal, anecdotes from new dentists

who did appeal are not encouraging. The length of time it takes

to complete an appeal can also be problematicit may take

as long as 90 days from the receipt of the appeal request.

Therefore, if the appeal is lengthy or not successful, candidates

have prolonged the time it takes to begin their practice.

Often, candidates cannot pursue a dual strategy of applying for

reexamination and appealing their exam failure concurrently. For

some testing agencies, registering for reexamination terminates

the appeal process. This can serve to further discourage licensure

candidates from filing an appeal.

Appeals

THE IMPACT OF FAILURE

Failure to achieve dental licensure can be devastating. Socially, as

those who make it move on with their lives, those who do not,

are left in limbo. Psychologically, those who fail can begin to feel

like failures. And financially, well-laid plans must be put on hold

and alternative employment options are slim.

As noted earlier on page 4, the cost for taking the exam includes

the application and fees, which range from $50 to over $1,000

plus travel costs for both you and your selected patients. Imagine

having to pay for this expense twice, and without having been

employed. It's important to note the frequency at which your

region or state offers the exam so you can be prepared physically,

psychologically, and f inancially.



Come Spring of 2001, I had all of my requirements completed

for graduation, was working as a dental hygienist and looking

forward to moving on to practicing as a GP.

I had prepared well for the NERB exam. I had all of my patients

lined-up for the day of the exam. I had each patient verified by

multiple members of the dental school faculty as to their validity

for the exam. I was feeling confident.

The day of the live-patient portion of the exam arrived and

thankfully all of my patients showed-up, never a certainty when

it comes to these exams. (I suppose it always helps that dental

students basically have to pay the patients to sit for the exam.)

The day went smoothly. I didnt pulp-out on the restorations.

I had plenty of time to scale and root plane twelve surfaces of

clinical/radiographic calculus. I was done with the NERBs once

and for all. (To be honest I was most concerned with the manikin

portion of the exam. On paper, it seems to be the easiest section

on which the student can lose points toward failure.)

I graduated and moved on to the real world. I had elected to

forego a GPR or AEGD program in lieu of moving on to a private

practice. The dentist-owner of the practice had taken me under

his wing after college and had proven to be an excellent mentor

over my four years in dental school. He was willing to work with

me as I transitioned into becoming his full-time associate. He was

very much looking forward to his summer break where he could

leave a lot of the office responsibilities to his new associate come

July when NERB results came out and I could apply for my license.

It was not to be.

The NERB results came in while I was working full-time for

hygienist compensation in my new office. I was spending some

time as a hygienist (as Massachusetts law allows, I took the NERB

perio section in my 3rd year and was able to obtain a hygiene

license). I was meeting the patients of the practice and learning

all the aspects of running a dental office. As interesting as that

time was, I was ready to practice as a dentist.

I failed the perio portion of the NERB.

What a blow. Here I was, working as a hygienist for the past two

years and I failed the NERB because of incorrect patient selection.

It wasnt really spelled out in the results section of the exam, but

apparently my periodontal patient didnt have the right amount

of calculus. If thats the case, you fail. I had two periodontists anda current NERB examiner look at my patient before the exam.

How could this be? Well, it was. Plans were on hold.

Thankfully, my mentor/boss was, though disappointed, pretty

good about this set-back. He didnt quite understand how

someone who finished requirements early, honored both sections

of the boards and finished in the top 20% of his class could fail,

but we moved-on. Now I had to retake the perio section.

The next NERB exam in our area was in August. But, the problem

was that once you graduated, you couldnt see patients at the

school. There also wasnt a formal program to help to find

patients for the exam. I was on my own.

I had first thought to have a patient from the practice where I

worked sit for the exam. This is tough to do for a couple of reasons.

First, patients in private practice are there for the quality of care

they receive there, and generally wouldnt qualify for the NERB

because the practice is actively working with them to maintain

their periodontal health. Except for perhaps new patients to the

practice, the private practice patients are not going to have

enough calculus to qualify for the NERBs. Second, private

practice patients in the area come for convenience and location

and are not going to make the trip to sit for this exam to have

six of their teeth cleaned. Generally, patients in my practice are

nice, but not that flexible.

My alternate plan was to hangout at the dental school and beg.I had a number of friends in the classes the year behind me who

were very accommodating and agreed to let me exam some of

their periodontally compromised patients. The toughest part,

though, is that our school closes the end of July, so I had a

limited number of clinic days to do my search.

In the end, I was able to find a patient who I thought marginally

fit the qualifications (I had less confidence in her eligibility than

I did in my previous patient). What else was I going to do?

I took the exam and felt pretty good about it. I was amazed to

see how many of my peers were there retaking portions of the

exam with me.peers who I knew had top skills and never would

have expected to see there.

I passed the section the second time around, and have moved on

with my career. I guess looking back on that summer, it wasnt

the end of the world. It helped to have a supportive situation

around me. The toughest part was the temporary blow to my

confidence. It just didnt seem right that all other indications in

my dental school career indicated that I was ready to practice

dentistry, but the variability in the live-patient portion got me.

A CANDIDATE'S STORY: FAILING THE CLINICAL EXAM Robert Leland, DMD - Tufts, Class of 2001

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14


15/30



In the interim, you will probably have two concerns: first, achievinglicensure; and second; making a living now that your entry to

dental practice has been delayed.

Your first task in achieving licensure is to review the information

provided by the testing agency regarding your areas of failure.

Think about your experience during the exam. If you had a problem

with a patient, or were aware that the section did not go well,

your score probably did not surprise you. Decide if you need

further work in that aspect of clinical care. If so, you may wish to

consult with a clinical instructor. Or, if your dental school offers a

remediation program, it could be wise to take advantage of it.

For new graduates who planned to relocate in order to practice,

or for those whose dental school does not offer a remediationprogram, it may be possible to participate in a remediation

program at an appropriate dental school. Many remediation

programs are open to non-alumni. See the Dental Schools

with Remediation Programs listing on page 16.

You must also make a decision regarding the appeal. In many

cases, you can request that your test be re-scored to make sure

that there was no error. However, you should be aware that the

testing agencies are not likely to over-ride the evaluation of the

examiners. Occasionally, new graduates report that the testing

process was not according to the approved procedure. This may

be an effective ground for appeal. For more information regardingthe appeals process, please contact the testing agency or your

state dental board.

Retaking the exam or filing an appeal may not be your only

option. Some jurisdictions accept more than one regional exam.

For scheduling convenience or a new experience, you may wish

to travel, if necessary, to take a different exam.

In addition, you may wish to contact the state dental society for the

name of your state new dentist committee chairman. Often, new

dentist committees set a goal of assisting recent graduates with

the state licensure process, and may have practical advice to offer.

The state or local dental society can also be helpful regardingyour options for employment during the interim. Volunteers or

staff may know of dentists in your area who may be willing to

have you assist them in their office. Although you can't practice

dentistry, you could still learn much from the practice environment.

The state Dental Practice Act may allow you to serve in a hygiene,

dental assistant or dental lab capacity. Your state dental society

should have more information.

If It Happens to You

Failing your licensing exam may seem like the end of the world, but noting the failure rates shows you that you are not alone.

You may need to wait three months, six months, or even one year to retake the exam, depending upon your licensing jurisdiction.



The Office of Student Affairs conducted a short survey of program directors at the 56 dental schools regarding the availability of remediation.Of the 44 dental schools that responded to the survey, 19 indicated that some type of remediation is offered through the dental school.

Outlined below are the responses. Availability of remediation programs is not widely publicized. It is not unusual for faculty at a

particular school to be unaware of the program, and the most common way students/recent graduates find out about the program

is to inquire.

Remediation

Although most candidates who fail their licensure examination on the first try are eventually successful (usually within the

first year), the vast majority pass on their next attempt without assistance. Few resources for preparing for re-examination

are available through the state boards, and remediation is seen to be the purview of the dental school.

CLINICAL PART PART NON-EXAM I II WRITTEN OTHER ALUMNI ALUMNI

Arizona School of Dentistry

Baylor College of Dentistry Creighton University

Howard University

Loma Linda University

Louisiana State University

Marquette University

Medical College of Georgia

Medical University of South Carolina

Ohio State University sit in classes

Southern Illinois University

University of California at Los Angeles

University of Illinois

University of Kentucky

University of Missouri-Kansas City University of Nebraska

University of North Carolina

University of Texas San Antonio

West Virginia University meet informally

DENTAL SCHOOLS WITH REMEDIATION PROGRAMS

Source: 2007 Remediation Programs in Dental Schools Update


18/30



pathway to licensure. Washington has a PGY-1, but it is unique

in that the residency must be completed in a low income clinic.

PGY-1 is welcomed by most, unless a dentist is considering moving

to another state. At that point, the dentist will have to seek licensure

from a different state before gaining the eligibility to practice

there. For this reason, the PGY-1 may not work for everyone.

Although mutual recognition the concept that various exams

all do a good job of evaluating a candidates suitability for dental

licensure has become well-accepted, especially from a practical

standpoint, many have advocated for the development of a

single clinical licensure examination that would be accepted by

all dental boards across the country. In April 2004, the ADA

Council on Dental Education and Licensure endorsed the concept

that a dental student who has graduated from an accredited

program, should be able to take a single clinical examination that

would have national acceptance. At its June 2004 meeting, the

American Association of Dental Examiners passed a resolution

calling for the development of a national uniform dental clinical

examination administered by state and regional testing agencies.The ADA House of Delegates in 2004 took action to support the

development of a single exam and to monitor the process.

AADE convened the American Dental Licensing Examination

Committee (ADLEC) to develop the exam, subsequently incorpo-

rating as the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX). ADEX

is now an independent agency responsible for the development

of a clinical licensure examination that will be administered by

the existing state and regional testing agencies. As of November

2005, 42 states agreed to participate, and the ADEX exam wasadministered by CRDTS and NERB. Independent states are

evaluating the exams available and making decisions on which

exam(s) will be accepted in their states. SRTA, WREB and CITA

continue to administer their existing examinations.

To date, there is still a move toward one common exam,

making mobility easier for dentists and their families seeking

new opportunities in different states.

ADVOCATING FOR CHANGECONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

DENTAL LICENSURE CHANGE A TIMELINE

1994 JADA: Many new graduates were having difficulty making a successful transition to dental practice because of high levels of failure ofthe licensure exams. Failures ranging from 50% to more than 80% were noted at certain exam sites.

1995 JADA: more than 1,000 of 1995 dental graduates failed their initial licensing test.

1996-2000 ADA hosted a series of meetings on the subject of dental licensure.

March 1997 12-point Agenda for Change was developed and accepted by the ADA, ADEA, AADE and ASDA

2003 New York PGY-1. The state of New York adopts law to allow the option of completing a residency program of at least one year inlength (PGY-1) in an accredited postdoctoral program in lieu of the clinical licensure examination as a pathway to licensure in the state.

2003 ADA HOD amended its Policy on Dental Licensure and Guidelines on Dental Licensure to state that the clinical examination requirementfor initial licensure could be met by successful completion of a postdoctoral program in general dentistry or in an ADA recognizedspeciality, at least one year in length.

April 2004 ADA Council on Dental Education and Licensure endorsed the concept that a dental student who has graduated from an accreditedprogram should be able to take a single clinical examination that would have national acceptance.

June 2004 American Association of Dental Examiners passed a resolution calling for the development of a national uniform dental clinicalexamination administered by state and regional testing agencies.

October 2004 ADA HOD approved Res. 23H-2004, directing the appointment of a National Clinical Licensing Examination Consensus Committee toadvance the development of a common national examination.

2005 American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) was established, which is responsible for the ongoing development of the AmericanDental Licensing Examinations (ADLEX), a national exam that is available for use by individual state and regional testing agencieson behalf of their member states.

July 2005 The Council of Interstate Testing Agencies (CITA) was formed making it the first testing agency to be formed since the original fourregional dental examination agencies were founded between 1969-1976.

2007 Completion of residency program mandated in NY. The state of New York no longer accepts clinical examinations as a pathway to licensure.

2007 California (advanced general dentistry only), Connecticut and Minnesota also offer the option of PGY-1. Washington is in the processof conducting a pilot program on PGY-1.

October 2007 ADA House of Delegates passed Res. 1H 2007 providing a definition for Curriculum Integrated Format (CIF).



1) Promote the interaction of all testing agencies and boards of

examiners to explore the concept of more uniform content

and methodology in licensure examinations.

2) Develop and promote the acceptance of guidelines for

administration of a common content clinical examination

and standardized examiner calibration.3) Encourage testing agencies to work with dental school

faculties to help and participate in calibration activities.

4) Minimize the use of human subjects in clinical licensure

examinations, but where human subjects are used, ensure

that the safety and protection of the patient is of paramount

importance and that patients are procured in an ethical

manner.

5) Develop and promote policies and procedures to make clinical

licensure examinations more candidate-friendly

6) Encourage the development of publications, orientation

sessions and other methods to better communicate tocandidates information regarding clinical examination

logistics.

7) Minimize the time needed to notify candidates of

examination results.

8) Improve and standardize to the extent possible the testing

agencies' appeals process.

9) Urge the American Association of Dental Schools to

encourage all dental schools to offer remediation programsfor candidates who fail the clinical licensure examinations.

10) Promote further study of the pre-graduation examinations

by the clinical testing agencies and encourage the testing

agencies and dental schools to work together to offer the

pre-graduation examinations to the extent possible.

11) Promote the acceptance by all licensing jurisdictions of the

National Board Dental Examination in lieu of a separate

written examination on oral diagnosis and treatment planning.

12) Address the profession's concerns regarding the failure rates

on clinical examinations, by collecting statistical data on

examination results within the limits imposed by the needto protect confidentiality.

An Agenda for Change in the Clinical Licensure Examination Process

AN AGENDA FOR CHANGE IN THE CLINICAL LICENSURE EXAMINATION PROCESSObjectives developed at the invitational conference for dental clinical testing agencies, March 4, 1997

The American Dental Association should work in cooperation with the clinical testing agencies, the licensing jurisdictions,

the American Association of Dental Examiners, the American Association of Dental Schools and the American Student

Dental Association to facilitate improvements in the clinical licensure process. It is recognized that testing agencies or their

constituencies may have statutory limitations that preclude their adoption of some changes, but all agencies are urged to

address these objectives to the extent possible within such limitations. In pursuing these objectives, the Association should

ensure that each testing agency retains its independent right to make changes to its examination to meet the needs of its

constituents. These communities should address the following objectives:

License Recognition: Dentists

Dental boards in 46 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico grant licenses to dentists, currently licensed and in

active, continuous practice for a specified period of time (typically 5 years) in another jurisdiction, without further theoretical

and clinical examination. 1The license recognition system, often referred to as licensure by credentials, may also be referred to

as licensure by reciprocity, endorsement, or criteria.

In granting licensure by credentials, the Board of Dentistry makes

a determination that the applicant is currently licensed in a state

that has equivalent licensure standards. Technically, licensure by

reciprocity refers to a situation in which a jurisdiction has statutory

authority to grant licensure recognition only to licensees of states

that grant similar recognition to licensees from the receiving

jurisdiction. Such decisions may be based on agreements between

state boards. These states are indicated by an asterisk (*).

The dental boards in the jurisdictions listed below will grant

license recognition to dentists.

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado,

Connecticut, DC*, Georgia6, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,

Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine5, Maryland, Massachusetts*,

Michigan, Minnesota3, Mississippi*, Missouri, Montana,

Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey*, New Mexico, New

York, North Carolina6, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Oklahoma,

Pennsylvania*, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina,

South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia,

Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.




Dental School and Dental Society Support

Many dental schools and dental societies offer support before, during, and after the clinical boards. In addition to the remediation

programs available at many of the dental schools, some schools offer pre-graduation exams and mock boards to help in your

preparation. The University of Minnesota even guarantees support and clinical facilities to their students who fail clinical boards.

Some dental societies offer programs to help you prepare for your exam such as seminars, which give tips on taking the boards

and board review luncheons. In addition, to help make the examination process as pleasant as possible, many dental societies

offer lunch/refreshments at the boards, survival kits at the boards, as well as massages. The New York State Dental Association

even offers FREE malpractice insurance for New York senior dental students. Contact your dental school and/or state dental

society for programs and services in your area. State society contact information can be found in the appendix.

ASDA Support

In 2007, ASDAs Council on Licensure developed a document that contains a listing of each exam accepted by each state. Because

of the rapidly changing licensure reform environment, the council will periodically update this document, which is posted on the

ASDA Web site, but it is advised that students also check directly with their state for the most up-to-date information. In 2007,

ASDA also added a licensure section on the ASDA Web site that contains resources and links dedicated to the subject of licensure.

Visit www.asdanet.org for more information.

Additional Resources

ADA.orgwww.ADA.org/goto/licensure

ADA Council on Dental Education and Licensure800-621-8099, ext. 2698

ADA Office of Student Affairs800-621-8099, ext. 7470www.ADA.org/goto/student

ADA Committee on the New Dentist800-621-8099, ext. 2779www.ADA.org/goto/newdent

American Student Dental Association (ASDA)800-621-8099, ext. 2795www.asdanet.org

American Association of Dental Examinerswww.aadexam.org

Four states and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not currently grant

licensure by credentials: Delaware, Florida, Hawaii2, Nevada7.

For information concerning a states current practices and

specific criteria for license recognition, dentists are strongly

urged to contact the dental board of the state in which license

recognition is sought.

1 This licensure by credentials requirement of active, continuous practice for a specified period of

time, should not be confused with the authority that state dental boards possess in granting initial

licensure. For initial licensure, state law permits boards to accept the examination results of a

regional dental clinical testing agency for a period of time (again generally 5 years) whether or

not the applicant is licensed or has practiced in another state. The only requirement is that the

state will accept the results of that regional exam.

2 Hawaii in 2004 passed a community service license law which allows dentists with proper

credentials to come to Hawaii to work in federally qualified health centers, native Hawaiian

health centers and post-secondary dental training programs ONLY.

3 Minnesota in addition to the traditional licensure by credential law, a "guest licensure" law

was enacted in 2002 that allows the dental board to expedite the issuance of a limited license

to dentists from adjoining states to facilitate access to care.

4 Maryland requires applicants for licensure by credentials to successfully complete the Northeast

Regional Examining Board's Dental Simulated Clinical Exercise (DSCE).

5 Maine has authority to license Canadian Dentists by Credentials as of 2004.

6 Georgia & North Carolina require credentialed dentists to establish active practices within a

certain time period.

7Nevada passed a licensure by credential law in 2001 that sunset at the end of June 2006. NV will

only issue a license after the applicant for dental or dental hygiene licensure passes the NV clinical

board exam or has passed the WREB exam within the past 5 years.

American Dental Association; Department of State Government Affairs; 07-licensure by

credentials-dentists; September 27, 2007

The ADA House of Delegates strongly supports freedom of

movement through licensure by credentials. A 2002 resolution

amended the ADA Guidelines for Licensure to eliminate the

requirement for a minimum of five years in practice in order to be

eligible for licensure by credentials, simply stating that a dentist

should be in active practice or dental education immediately prior

to applying for licensure by credentials. A second resolution

addressed the issue of specialty licensure, specifying that specialists

who move to another state and wish to practice their specialty

should be waived from taking that state's general dental practice

examination. The number of licensing jurisdictions that offer

licensure by credentials has increased dramatically in the last

few years.

LICENSE RECOGNITION: DENTISTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19



ALABAMABoard AdministratorMs. Mary Ann WilkinsonAdministrative SecretaryState Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama5346 Stadium Trace Pky, Ste, 112Hoover, AL 35035205/985-7267FAX: 205/985-0674E-Mail: [email protected]

www.dentalboard.org

ALASKABoard AdministratorMs. Brenda DonohueLicensing ExaminerState of Alaska Board of Dental ExaminersP.O. Box 110806

Juneau, AK 99811-0806907/465-2542907/465-2974 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]/occ/pden.htm

ARIZONA

Board AdministratorMs. Julie N. ChapkoExecutive DirectorArizona State Board of Dental Examiners5060 N. 19th Ave. #406Phoenix, AZ 85015602/242-1492 ext.23602/242-1445 FAXwww.azdentalboard.org

ARKANSASBoard AdministratorMs. Donna CobbExecutive DirectorArkansas State Board of Dental Examiners101 East Capitol, Ste. 111Little Rock, AR 72201501/682-2085501/682-3543 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]

www.asbde.org

CALIFORNIABoard AdministratorMr. Richard L. Wallinder, Jr.Executive OfficerThe Dental Board of California1432 Howe Ave., #85Sacramento, CA 95825916/263-2317916/263-2140 FAXwww.dca.ca.gov

COLORADOBoard Administrator

Mr. Matt AzerProgram AdministratorColorado State Board of Dental Examiners1560 Broadway, Ste. 1310Denver, CO 80202303/894-7761303/894-7764 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]/DENTAL

CONNECTICUTBoard AdministratorMr. Jeff KardysBoard LiaisonConnecticut State Dental Commission410 Capitol Ave.P.O. Box 340308Hartford, CT 06134-0308860/509-7648860/509-7553 FAX

www.dph.state.ct.us

DELAWAREBoard AdministratorMs. Jennifer MyerAdministrative AssistantDelaware State Board of Dental Examiners861 Silver Lake BlvdCannon Bldg, Ste 203Dover, DE 19904302/744-4533302/739-2711 FAXe-mail: Jennifer.myer@state.de.uswww.professionallicensing.state.de.us.org

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIABoard AdministratorMs. Bonnie RampersaudExecutive Director, Department of HealthDistrict of Columbia Board of Dentistry717 14th Street, NW, Ste. 600Washington, DC 20005202/724-7332202/727-8471 FAXwww.dchealth.dc.gov

Clinical Testing Agencies Contact Information

As contact information can change, please be sure to confirm contact information with appropriate testing agency.

State Board Contacts


Central Regional Testing Agency (CRDTS)1725 SW Gage Boulevard

Topeka, KS 66604-3333785-273-0380e-mail: [email protected]

Council of Interstate Testing Agencies (CITA)15300 Weston Parkway, Suite 106Cary, NC 27513919-678-9792fax: 919-678-9795e-mail: [email protected]

Northeast Regional Board ofDental Examiners (NERB)

8484 Georgia Avenue, Suite 900Silver Spring, MD 20910301-563-3300fax: 301-563-3307e-mail: [email protected]

Southern Regional Testing Agency (SRTA)4698 Honeygrove Road, Suite #2Virginia Beach, VA 23455-5934757-318-9082fax: 757-437-4507e-mail: [email protected]

Western Regional Examining Board (WREB)9201 N 25 th Ave, Suite #185

Phoenix, AZ 85021602-944-3315fax: [email protected]

Jurisdictions that administer their ownclinical dental exams: Delaware, Florida,Nevada, Virgin Islands



FLORIDABoard AdministratorMs. Sue FosterExecutive DirectorFlorida Board of Dentistry4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C08Tallahassee, FL 32399-3256

850/245-4474850/922-5189 FAXwww.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/dentistry

GEORGIABoard AdministratorMs. Anita MartinExecutive DirectorGeorgia Board of Dentistry237 Coliseum Dr.Macon, GA 31217-3858478/207-1686478/207-1699 FAXwww.sos.state.ga.us/plb/dentistry

HAWAIIBoard AdministratorMr. James KobashigawaExecutive OfficerHawaii State Board of Dental ExaminersP.O. Box 3469Honolulu, HI 96801808/586-2702808/586-2689 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]/dcca/areas/pvl

IDAHOBoard AdministratorMr. Michael SheeleyAdministratorIdaho State Board of DentistryP.O. Box 83720Boise, ID 83720-0021208/334-2369208/334-3247 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]/isbd

ILLINOISBoard AdministratorMs. Alicia PurchaseAdministratorDept. of Professional Reg. & Education320 W. Washington, 3rd Fl.Springfield, IL 62786

217/782-8556217/782-7645 FAXwww.idfpr.com

INDIANABoard AdministratorMs. Cindy VaughtBoard DirectorIndiana Professional Licensing Agency402 W. Washington, Rm. WO66Indianapolis, IN 46204

317/234-2057317/233-4236 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]

IOWABoard AdministratorMrs. Constance L. PriceExecutive DirectorIowa Board of Dental Examiners400 SW 8th St., Ste. DDes Moines, IA 50309-4687515/281-5157515/281-7969 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]

www.state.ia.us/dentalboard

KANSASBoard AdministratorMs. Betty WrightExecutive DirectorKansas Dental Board3601 SW 29th Street, Ste. 134Topeka, KS 66614-2062785/273-0780785/273-7545 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]/kdb

KENTUCKYBoard AdministratorMr. Eric ClarkExecutive DirectorKentucky Board of Dentistry10101 Linn Station Rd. #540Louisville, KY 40223502/423-0573502/423-1239 FAXE-mail: [email protected]

LOUISIANABoard AdministratorC. Barry Ogden, Esq.Executive DirectorLouisiana State Board of Dentistry

One Canal Pl.365 Canal St., Ste. 2680New Orleans, LA 70130504/568-8574504/568-8598 FAXE-mail: [email protected]

MAINEBoard AdministratorMs. Anita MerrowExecutive SecretaryMaine Board of Dental Examiners143 State House StationAugusta, ME 04333

207/287-3333207/287-8140 FAXE-mail: [email protected]

MARYLANDBoard AdministratorMr. H. Robert Hergenroeder, Jr., ExecutiveDirectorMaryland State Board of Dental ExaminersBenjamin Rush Bldg.Spring Grove Hospital CenterWade Ave./Tulip DriveBaltimore, MD 21228410/402-8518

410/402-8505 FAXwww.dhmh.state.md.us/dental

MASSACHUSETTSBoard AdministratorMs. Marcia MillerExecutive DirectorMassachusetts Board of Dentistry239 Causeway St, 2nd Fl., Ste 200Boston, MA 02114617/973-0973617/973-0982 FAXE-mail: [email protected]/dph/boards.dn

MICHIGANBoard AdministratorMs. Rae RamsdellLicensing DirectorDepartment of Community HealthP.O. Box 30670Lansing, MI 48909-8170517/335-0918517/373-2179 FAXwww.michigan.gov/healthlicense

MINNESOTABoard AdministratorMr. Marshall ShraggExecutive DirectorMinnesota Board of Dentistry

2829 University Ave., SE, Ste. 450Minneapolis, MN 55414612/617-2257612/617-2260 FAXwww.dentalboard.state.mn.us

STATE BOARD CONTACTSCONTINUED FROM PAGE 21



MISSISSIPPIBoard AdministratorMs. Leah Diane HowellExecutive DirectorMississippi State Board of Dental Examiners600 East Amite St., Ste. 100

Jackson, MS 39201-2801


MISSOURIBoard AdministratorMs. Sharlene RimillerExecutive DirectorMissouri Dental BoardP.O. Box 1367

Jefferson City, MO 65102-1367573/751-0040573/751-8216 FAXE-mail: [email protected]

www.pr.mo.gov/dental.asp

MONTANABoard AdministratorMs. Sharon McCulloughAdministratorMontana Board of Dentistry301 South ParkPO Box 200513Helena, MT 59620-0513406/841-2390406/841-2305 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]/dli/bsd

NEBRASKABoard AdministratorMs. Becky WisellSection AdministratorNebraska Board of DentistryP.O. Box 94986Lincoln, NE 68509-4986402/471-4915402/471-3577 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]

NEVADABoard AdministratorMs. Kathleen J. KellyExecutive Director

Nevada Board of Dental Examiners6010 S. Rainbow Blvd., Ste. A-1Las Vegas, NV 89118702/486-7044702/486-7046 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]

NEW HAMPSHIREBoard AdministratorDr. Raymond J. JarvisExecutive SecretaryNew Hampshire Board of Dental Examiners2 Industrial Park Dr.Concord, NH 03301-8520

603/271-4561603/271-6702 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]/dental

NEW JERSEYBoard AdministratorMr. Kevin B. EarleExecutive DirectorNew Jersey State Board of Dentistry124 Halsey St., 6th FloorP.O. Box 45005Newark, NJ 07101973/504-6405973/273-8075 FAX

www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/medical.htm

NEW MEXICOBoard AdministratorMs. Liz MontoyaAdministratorNew Mexico Board of Dental Health Care2550 Cerrillos Rd., 2nd FloorSanta Fe, NM 87505-5101505/476-4680505/476-4545FAXE-Mail: [email protected]/dental/index.html

NEW YORKBoard AdministratorDr. Milton L. LawneyExecutive SecretaryNew York State Board of Dentistry89 Washington Avenue2nd Floor - West WingAlbany, NY 12234-1000518/474-3817 ext. 550518/473-6995 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]/proflist.htm

NORTH CAROLINABoard AdministratorMr. Bobby White, Esq.Chief Operations Officer

North Carolina State Board of DentalExaminers15100 Weston Parkway, Ste 101Cary, NC 27513-2129919/678-8223 ext. 101919/678-8472 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]

NORTH DAKOTABoard AdministratorMs. Rita SommersExecutive DirectorNorth Dakota Board of DentistryP.O. Box 7246Bismarck, ND 58507-7246

701/258-8600701/223-3079 FAXE-mail: [email protected]

OHIOBoard AdministratorLili C. Reitz, Esq.Executive DirectorOhio State Dental Board77 S. High St., 18th Fl.Columbus, OH 43215-6135614/466-2580614/752-8995 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]

www.dental.dental.gov

OKLAHOMABoard AdministratorMs. Linda CampbellExecutive DirectorOklahoma Board of Dentistry201 NE 38th Terrace #2Oklahoma City, OK 73105405/524-9037405/524-2223 FAXwww.dentist.state.ok.us

OREGONBoard AdministratorMr. Patrick D. BraatzExecutive DirectorOregon Board of Dentistry1600 S.W. 4th Avenue, Ste. 770Portland, OR 97201971-676-3200971-673-3202 FAXwww.oregon.gov/dentistry

PENNSYLVANIABoard AdministratorMs. Lisa BurnsBoard AdministratorPennsylvania State Board of DentistryP.O. Box 2649Harrisburg, PA 17105

717/783-7162717/787-7769 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]/dent




PUERTO RICOBoard AdministratorMs. Magda BouetDirector, Examining BoardsPuerto Rico Board of Dental ExaminersP.O. Box 10200San Juan, PR 00908

787/725-7904 or 8161787/725-7903 FAX

RHODE ISLANDBoard AdministratorMs. Gail GuilianoAdministrative OfficerRhode Island State BoardThree Capitol Hill, Rm. 205Providence, RI 02908401/222-2827401/222-1272 FAXwww.health.ri.gov

SOUTH CAROLINA

Board AdministratorMr. H. Rion AlveyAdministratorSouth Carolina State Board of DentistryP.O. Box 11329Columbia, SC 29211-1329803/896-4599803/896-4596 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]/pol/dentistry

SOUTH DAKOTABoard AdministratorMr. Steve WillardExecutive SecretarySouth Dakota State Board of Dentistry

P.O. Box 1037106 W. CapitolPierre, SD 57501605/224-1282605/224-7426 FAXwww.state.sd.us/dcr/dentistry

TENNESSEEBoard AdministratorMs. Dea SmithBoard ManagerTennessee Board of Dentistry425 5th Ave. North1st Fl., Cordell Hull Bldg.Nashville, TN 37247-1010

800/778-4123 ext. 25073615/532-5369 FAXwww.tennessee.gov/health

TEXASBoard AdministratorDr. James ZukowskiExecutive DirectorTexas State Board of Dental Examiners333 Guadalupe Twr. 3, Ste. 800Austin, TX 78701

512/463-6400512/463-7452 FAXE-Mail: jzukowski@tsbde/state.tx.uswww.tsbde.state.tx.us

UTAHBoard AdministratorMr. Daniel T. JonesBureau ManagerUtah Board of Dentists and Dental HygienistsDiv. of Occup. & Prof. Lic.P.O. Box 146741Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6741801/530-6767801/530-6511 FAX

www.dopl.utah.gov

VERMONTBoard AdministratorMs. Diane W. LafailleExecutive SecretaryVermont Board of Dental ExaminersOffice of the Secretary of State26 Terrace St., Drawer 09Montpelier, VT 05609-1106802/828-2390802/828-2465 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]

VIRGINIA

Board AdministratorMs. Sandra K. ReenExecutive DirectorVirginia Board of Dentistry6603 W. Broad St., 5th Fl.Richmond, VA 23230-1712804/662-9906804/662-7246 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]

VIRGIN ISLANDSBoard AdministratorMs. Lydia ScottExecutive Assistant

Virgin Islands Board of Dental Examiners48 Sugar EstateSt. Thomas, VI 00802340/774-0117340/777-4001 FAX

WASHINGTONBoard AdministratorMs. Lisa R. AndersonProgram Manager310 Isreal Road, SEPO Box 47867Tumwater, WA 98504


WEST VIRGINIABoard AdministratorMr. Marc L. HarmanExecutive SecretaryPO Box 1447Crab Orchard WV 25827-1447304/252-8266304/253-9454 FAXE-Mail: [email protected]

WISCONSINBoard AdministratorMr. Thomas RyanBureau DirectorWisconsin Dentistry Examining BoardP.O. Box 89351400 E. Washington Ave.Madison, WI 53708608/266-8098608/267-3816 FAXwww.drl.state.wi.us

WYOMINGBoard AdministratorMs. Debra Bridges

Executive DirectorOccupational Licensing OfficerWyoming Board of Dental Examiners2020 Carey Ave., Ste. 201Cheyenne, WY 82002307/777-6529307/777-3508 FAXwww.boards.state.wy.us/dental

STATE BOARD CONTACTSCONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

Source: Clinical testing agency information from the American Association of Dental Examiners web site (www.aadexam.org), as of October 2007.

Contact information may change. Please visit the Web site for the most up-to-date information.



Alabama Dental Association836 Washington Ave.Montgomery, AL 36104(334) 265-1684(800) 489-2532

Fax: (334) [email protected]

Alaska Dental Society9170 Jewel Lake Rd, #203Anchorage, AK 99502(907) 563-3003(800) 478-4675*Fax: (907) [email protected]

Arizona Dental Association3193 N. Drinkwater Blvd.Scottsdale, AZ 85251-6491(480) 344-5777(800) 866-2732Fax: (480) 344-1442

[email protected]

Arkansas State Dental Association7480 Hwy 107Sherwood, AR 72120(501) 834-7650(800) 501-2732Fax: (501) [email protected]

California Dental Association1201 K StreetSacramento, CA 95814(800) 232-7645*Fax: (916) [email protected]

Colorado Dental Association3690 S. Yosemite, #100Denver, CO 80237-1808(303) 740-6900(800) 343-3010Fax: (303) [email protected]

Connecticut State Dental Association835 W. Queen StreetSouthington, CT 06489(860) 378-1800Fax: (860) [email protected]

Delaware State Dental Society

The Christiana Executive Campus200 Continental Drive, Ste. 111Newark, DE 19713(302) 368-7634Fax: (302) [email protected]

District of Columbia Dental Society502 C Street N.E.Washington, DC 20002-5810(202) 547-7613Fax: (202) [email protected]

Florida Dental Association1111 E. Tennessee St., #102Tallahassee, FL 32308-6913(850) 681-3629(800) 877-9922


Georgia Dental Association7000 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd., NEBuilding 17, Suite 200Atlanta, GA 30328(404) 636-7553(800) 432-4357*Fax: (404) [email protected]

Hawaii Dental Association1345 S. Beretania St., #301Honolulu, HI 96814(808) 593-7956(800) 359-6725

Fax: (808) 593-7636hda@hawaiidentalassociation.netwww.hawaiidentalassociation.net

Idaho State Dental Association1220 W. Hays StreetBoise,ID 83702(208) 343-7543(800) 932-8153*Fax: (208) [email protected]

Illinois State Dental Society1010 S. Second streetSpringfield, IL 62704(217) 525-1406(800) 475-4737*Fax: (217) 525-8872

[email protected]

Indiana Dental AssociationP. O. Box 2467Indianapolis, IN 46206(317) 634-2610(800) 562-5646Fax: (317) [email protected]

Iowa Dental Association5530 W. ParkwaySuite 100Johnston, IA 50131(515) 986-5605(800) 828-2181Fax: (515) 986-5626

[email protected]

Kansas Dental Association5200 S.W. Huntoon St.Topeka, KS 66604-2398(785) 272-7360(800) 432-3583Fax: (785) [email protected]

Kentucky Dental Association1920 Nelson Miller PkwyLouisville, KY 40223-2164(502) 489-9121(800) 292-1855


Louisiana Dental Association7833 Office Park Blvd.Baton Rouge, LA 70809(225) 926-1986(800) 388-6642Fax: (225) [email protected]

Maine Dental AssociationP. O. Box 215Manchester, ME 04351-0215(207) 622-7900(800) 369-8217Fax: (207) 622-6210

[email protected]

Maryland State Dental Association6410 Dobbin Road, Suite FColumbia, MD 21045(410) 964-2880(800) 766-2880*Fax: (410) [email protected]

Massachusetts Dental Society2 Willow St., #200South Borough, MA 01745(508) 480-9797(800) 342-8747Fax: (508) [email protected]

www.massdental.org

Michigan Dental Association230 Washington Square North, #208Lansing, MI 48933(517) 372-9070(800) 589-2632*Fax: (517) [email protected]

Minnesota Dental Association1335 Industrial Blvd, #200Minneapolis, MN 55413(612) 767-8400(800) 950-3368Fax: (612) [email protected]

Mississippi Dental Association2630 Ridgewood RoadJackson, MS 39216(601) 982-0442Fax: (601) [email protected]

State Dental Societies



27/30



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2) Did you take advantage of any services offered by your

state/local dental society?

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3) How did you prepare for the licensure exam?

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schools, state/local society

Publication Evaluation Form

Since licensure is a key concern for dental students and recent graduates, the American Student Dental Association (ASDA)

and the ADA Committee on the New Dentist (CND) are committed to providing resources and to serve as your advocate.

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Dental Handbook

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