The settlement will incorporate the ADA’s goal structured medical examination into the ADEX Dental Examination by August 2026 to modernize licensure.
The American Dental Affiliation (ADA) and the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) have finalized an settlement to license the ADA’s Dental Licensure Goal Structured Scientific Examination (DLOSCE) for incorporation into the ADEX Dental Examination. The combination is scheduled to be accomplished no later than August 1, 2026.
Settlement Goals to Improve Licensure Portability
The combination is meant to simplify licensure pathways and enhance portability for dental candidates. The ADEX Dental Examination is presently accepted or required for licensure in 48 states and jurisdictions together with Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and the US Virgin Islands.
“This settlement represents an essential milestone for the dental career. By aligning pathways to licensure and advancing candidate evaluation, we’re strengthening licensure portability, supporting a extra cell and responsive workforce, and making certain that affected person security stays paramount,” says Richard Rosato, DMD, president of the ADA, in a launch.
Examination Construction and Content material
The up to date ADEX Dental Examination will proceed to judge candidates’ medical hand expertise whereas including the DLOSCE element to evaluate treatment-planning and decision-making talents. The DLOSCE makes use of photos and 3D fashions to check candidates’ medical judgment in eventualities designed to simulate real-world observe.
“ADEX has lengthy served state dental boards to help licensure processes that mirror each public safety and medical competence. This settlement continues that work by strengthening alignment throughout evaluation elements whereas preserving the medical hand-skills analysis that is still central to licensure in most US jurisdictions,” says Dr Mark Armstrong, chair of ADEX, in a launch.
Implementation Timeline
The settlement follows collaboration between the ADA, ADEX, the Joint Fee on Nationwide Dental Examinations, and the ADA Council on Dental Schooling and Licensure that started in 2025.
As a part of the transition, ADEX will finish its DSE OSCE no later than August 1, 2026. After that date, all ADEX Dental Examination administrations will embody the DLOSCE. The DLOSCE will not be provided as a standalone examination to new candidates, with all standalone administrations ceasing after October 9, 2026.
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