What is the INBDE?
The Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) is a newer exam for dental licensure that has replaced the former National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) Part I and Part II exams.
INBDE vs NBDE
The first INBDE exam was administered in 2020. The last administration of the NBDE Part I Exam was administered a couple months after that in 2020, and the last NBDE Part II Exam was administered on August 1, 2022.
STRUCTURE OF THE INBDE
The INBDE is a two-day exam administered on a computer. INBDE Day 1 consists of 360 test items (3 sets of 100 standalone items, 1 set of 60 case questions). INBDE Day 2 includes 140 test items (2 sets of 70 case questions). The total INBDE exam administration time is 12 hours and 30 minutes, including the tutorial, all 500 total test questions, scheduled breaks, and a survey.
Previously, students had to complete 900 questions between the NBDE Part I and Part II exams. This exam emphasizes synthesis and understanding of clinical concepts through integration of dental and basic sciences, rather than rote memorization and recall. Additional focus will be placed on evaluating examinees’ decision-making skills and preparedness for safe, professional practice of dentistry.
The 500 exam questions will cover the Domain of Dentistry, which is represented through a set of Clinical Content areas and Foundation Knowledge areas that are required for the safe, independent, general practice of dentistry by entry-level practitioners. The Domain of Dentistry serves as the key reference for the INBDE test specifications.
EARNING A PASSING SCORE ON THE INBDE EXAM
The INBDE is scored on a scale of 49-99. A scaled score of 75 or above is considered a passing score. Numeric scores are not expected to be provided to students who pass the examination. Candidates who fail the examination will receive a report of their performance by topic for remediation purposes.
HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE INBDE
To be eligible to take the INBDE, your dental school must certify that you have completed the necessary course requirements. Graduates of international dental schools must have their official dental school transcripts verified by Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc.. For more information, please consult the INBDE Candidate’s Guide.
Candidates should contact Prometric to schedule their testing date.
INBDE STUDY MATERIAL: HOW TO PREP FOR THE EXAM
Reviewing different types of dental charts and working through INBDE practice questions is critical to studying for this exam. This is the best way to be prepared for all case and item types. Kaplan’s INBDE Qbank features high-quality, test-like multiple-choice questions with in-depth answer explanations.