One way an Indian dentist after BDS / MDS can practice in USA is to clear the NBDE Exams and study DDS . The basic pattern of NBDE Exams stay the same but once a while there are always changes in regulations . These changes are made by American Dental Association .
In this article few changes in the regulation related to the scoring pattern are described .
SCORE INFORMATION
Scoring
A candidate’s total score is computed by the total number of correct answers selected by the candidate. The total score is then converted to a scaled score. Because the NBDE Part I is a criterion-referenced examination, the minimum passing score and the score scale are determined by experts through standard setting activities. Once the score scale is determined, the abilities of candidates are estimated and the score conversions are developed to translate the total score to a standard score for all editions of the examinations. Each edition represents different collections of questions. The score scale ranges from 49-99, and 75 is the minimum passing score.
Reporting Effective January 1, 2012, results for the NBDE Part I will be reported as pass/fail only for candidates who pass the test. For remediation purposes, candidates who fail the examination will receive numerical scores for each of the major disciplines covered on the test. Please note that if you tested prior to January 1, 2012, your numerical scores for prior attempts will still be reported. The status of “pass” is reported if you achieved a standard score of 75 or higher. The status of “fail” is reported if you achieved a standard score below 75; if you fail the examination, you are required to repeat the examination.
Effective January 1, 2012, you must successfully complete the NBDE Part I within five years or five attempts, whichever comes first.
Reports
Results are mailed approximately three to four weeks after the examination.
JCNDE regulations prohibit reporting results by phone, fax, e-mail, or in person.
By signing the application, a candidate enrolled in an accredited dental school (or graduated within the last five years) gives expressed permission to provide results to the dean of the dental school.
The results are provided to others only if permission is granted in the form of a report request from the candidate.
If misconduct has occurred in a past administration, your score report may contain information concerning the incident (see the Testing Irregularities and Misconduct section of this Guide).
Few other Pointers
After receiving your score report, you may request that additional reports be sent to other entities.
You may submit your score report request electronically and pay by credit card, or print a request form to submit by mail.
For mail-in forms, all fees are payable by money order/certified check to the American Dental Association. ADA and ASDA members may write personal checks, but your membership number must be recorded on the check.
A score report request form is available at www.ADA.org. The score report fee of $30 applies to each report requested. You should confirm the accuracy of your score report request. Processing of additional requests requires approximately three weeks. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
The JCNDE will provide a history of your results for the NBDE Part I and Part II (recent and previous results) to state boards of dentistry. If you request a score report for advanced dental education programs you are urged to request the score reports at least two months preceding program application deadlines to avoid delays in processing these requests.
Results Audits
As a routine part of the overall validation process, the responses from the NBDE
Part I are audited for accuracy before score reports are distributed. However, you may make a written request via a PDF form available at www.ADA.org, to have your examination responses audited, or re-checked for accuracy. There is a charge of $65 for examination audits. The audit fee is payable to the American Dental Association in the form of a money order/certified check.
The audits may require approximately four to six weeks to complete and must be requested within 30 days of the reporting date on the official score report.
THESE ARE THE LATEST INFO TAKEN FROM THE American Dental Association Official Website WWW.ADA.ORG .Click the link to see the details .
Eligibility for Reexamination
FOR PASSED STUDENTS : Candidates who have passed the NBDE Part I may not retake the examination unless required by a state board or relevant regulatory agency.
FOR FAILED STUDENTS : Candidates who have not passed may apply for reexamination at any time. A minimum of 90 days must separate a candidate’s reexaminations on the NBDE Part I. NBDE Part I candidates who have not passed an examination after three attempts will be required to wait 12 months after their third attempt before they can apply for reexamination.
An examination attempt is defined as any examination administration where the candidate has been seated at a computer examination facility and electronically agreed to the confidentiality statement to start the examination. After the 12-month waiting period has lapsed, a new cycle will apply. Candidates are encouraged to seek formal remediation before reexamination.
Candidates shall be limited to successful completion of the NBDE Part I within five years of testing or five examination attempts, whichever comes first. This policy applies to testing attempts beginning January 1, 2012.
Numerical Scores will not be Disclosed:
- Earlier to 2012 the result was disclosed in the form of Numerical Scores, with above 75 as Pass and below 75 as Fail.
- But from Jan – 2012 The result will be given only in Pass or Fail, the numerical score will not be disclosed to the Student and the University as well.
- The Students who have appeared for NBDE part 1 before Jan – 2012 will retain their Numerical Scores.
These new regulations are effective from January 2012.
All other Rules and Regulations are the same without any change. These rules have been put forward by “Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations”
ASDA – American Student Dental association has justified the change of evaluation into Pass/Fail from numerical scores is to assess the candidates in all round performance rather than just in Academics and IQ aspect. For which it has included2 new assessing Solutions:
- Personal Potential Index (PPI)
- National Postdoctoral Dental Qualifying Examination (NPDQE)
With inclusion of “PPI and NPDQE” ASDA states that:
“The switch to a pass/fail NBDE will make non-cognitive personal dimensions more important. Using the PPI and possibly a national postdoctoral entrance exam, program directors hope to boost their abilities to identify applicants who will be most successful in their specialty. And with these new forms of evaluation, the best candidates may not be those with the highest IQ, but those who are well-rounded, personable and caring, in addition to clinically and scientifically competent.”
N.B . Please remember after DDS there are Licensing Exams that some times vary from state to state . Details about it will be posted in the next article . For example , To practice Dentistry in the state of ILLINOIS , One needs to satisfy the following steps
