Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination (DLOSCE) FAQ

The Joint Commission on National Dental Examination’s (JCNDE's) Dental Licensure OSCE (DLOSCE) is a high-stakes examination consisting of multiple questions will require candidates to use their clinical skills to successfully complete one or more dental problem solving tasks. The DLOSCE is designed to provide information to US dental boards, concerning whether a candidate for dental licensure possesses the necessary level of clinical skills to safely practice entry-level dentistry. This will be accomplished through the use of a valid and reliable examination that has been professionally developed.

The OSCE format often includes stimulus materials, such as radiographs, photographs, models, and prescription writing. Standardized patients (actors) have been used in medical OSCEs.  The National Dental Examining Board (NDEB) of Canada’s OSCE is presented as a written, multiple-choice examination that presents stimulus materials in multiple stations. Advances in simulated patient and haptic technologies suggest that simulations may be incorporated in a dental OSCE sooner rather than later.

OSCEs were developed to help accurately assess the complex notion of clinical competence in the medical field.  More specifically, Harden, Stevenson, Wilson Downie, and Wilson (1975) indicated that they introduced the OSCE format to avoid many of the weaknesses and disadvantages of traditional clinical examinations. 

OSCEs are widely used in the health sciences, including: optometry, medicine, physical therapy, radiography, rehabilitation medicine, nursing, pharmacy, podiatry, and veterinary medicine. Since their inception in the 1970s, OSCEs are now part of the US Medical Licensing Examination for all US medical graduates. 

The NDEB Canada OSCE is used for dental licensure in Canada. 

Candidates may register for this examination on the DLOSCE website.

The examination is offered during testing windows; the next testing window is November 9 – 27, 2020. Applications are now open for candidates to register for an appointment during this testing window.

The following states have adopted regulations which permit the acceptance of the DLOSCE:

• Alaska
• Colorado
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Oregon
• Washington

Please refer to each state board's website for specific details, clarifications, and updated policies. Other states are currently considering the DLOSCE for initial licensure and information will be provided as dental boards approve the examination for use in each state. 

There are many reasons why the JCNDE  developed a DLOSCE and why the JCNDE feels it is uniquely positioned to build a high quality clinical licensure examination:

• The JCNDE has a long and successful track record of delivering high quality, high stakes examinations for licensure purposes, that help protect the public.
• As the governing body that oversees both the NBDE and DLOSCE Programs, the JCNDE is positioned to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the skills necessary to safely practice dentistry. 
• The JCNDE is a Commission with mechanisms in place to reduce conflicts of interest and help ensure that no single community of interest has an undue influence on governance decisions related to the DLOSCE.  
• The JCNDE possesses the in-house expertise to develop an OSCE through the Department of Testing Services (DTS), which is staffed by testing professionals with advanced degrees in psychological measurement and related fields.
• Lastly and most importantly, the JCNDE feels that a DLOSCE can protect the public health more effectively than existing clinical licensure solutions.

The DLOSCE is available nationally, to all state dental boards. Exam content will remain the same regardless of the region of the country where it is administered, and regardless of the curriculum implemented at different dental schools. 

Consistent with the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing established by the American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, and the National Council on Measurement in Education (2014), the content of the DLOSCE is based on a practice analysis involving entry level general dentists.  The DLOSCE practice analysis would involve collecting information on the tasks performed by entry-level practicing dentists, with regard to their frequency and criticality for patient care.  This information will be used to identify the clinical areas to be tested, and the numbers of items and OSCE stations devoted to these areas.