FAQs

Please provide us with an email that you check regularly. We suggest avoiding school email addresses in the event the address become inaccessible after graduation. At times, our emails are blocked by school firewalls. We also recommend candidates do not use AOL email addresses, as AOL frequently blocks our email. Always check your spam or junk folders for messages. We recommend adding us as a contact or safe sender to best route message delivery into your inbox.

Please do not create a duplicate profile. If you can’t get into your profile, try the “Reset Password” link on the log-in screen. Contact us if the issue is not resolved.

Your profile will say pending until the exam schedule is posted. Schedules are posted approximately 3 weeks prior to the exam start.

You will need to submit both a photo and a qualifiying document. A front-facing head and shoulders, or passport-quality photo is a required part of your candidate profile.  You will also be asked to upload a qualifying document IF you are not a student currently.

• For current students, the school can login and verify your status in our system, or  can provide us with a letter of your good standing.
• Candidates who have graduated from accredited schools can upload their diploma, official transcript, or a letter from their school confirming their graduation. Ensure the document has the following information: name, profession, graduation date, degree, and school name. A valid license to practice that includes an expiration date can also be submitted for this purpose.
• Internationally-trained dentists currently enrolled in a post-graduate residency program can provide a state-only letter, an authorization form from their school, or the school can verify their account in our system.
• Internationally trained dentists not in a post-graduate residency program must provide a letter from the state board saying they are eligible to take the exam.

Verification takes 2-3 business days to process.

Below are a few reasons why your profile may not have been verified yet:

• Have you uploaded a photo?
• If you are still a student, have you selected the correct school and date of graduation?
• If you have graduated, have you uploaded proof of graduation?
• If the name on your diploma is different from the name on your candidate profile, have you uploaded proof of the name change?

No. To ensure that your profile is accurate we ask all candidates to personally create profiles and upload relevant documentation.

A candidate whose name has legally changed after creating a profile but before attempting any part of the ADEX examination series must FIRST ensure that all of their IDs reflect their new name.

Candidates are required to present a photo ID with signature when checking into any exam.

A name change document (marriage certificate, divorce decree, naturalization form or other legal document) must be uploaded in the candidate’s online profile.

In two to three days your new name should be reflected in your profile.

All questions regarding licensure should be directed to the respective State Board for clarification of their licensing requirements.

The CDCA-WREB-CITA is not a licensing body; our role is to administer exams. When your scores are reported to you, they are also reported to all CDCA-WREB-CITA member state boards via an online database. After scores are reported, candidates should personally apply for their license with their state board.

Please note: If you are a graduate from a non-accredited school outside of US or Canada and took exams based on one State Board authorization, your scores will be reported to that State only.

The CDCA-WREB-CITA does not issue Certificates.

We are unable to offer any assistance other than administering exams and reporting your scores. If you have any questions about licensure requirements, you must contact the State Dental Board directly.

No.

Those wishing to practice dentistry or dental hygiene must adhere to the requirements set forth by the state they wish to practice in. The CDCA-WREB-CITA cannot override state requirements.

Dental:

• DSE OSCE (ADEX)
• Florida Laws & Rules

Dental Hygiene:

• CSCE OSCE (ADEX)
• Florida Laws & Rules
• Local Anesthesia
• Nitrous Oxide
• Dental Therapy OSCE
• EFDA (ACE)

Sedation exams:

• Minimal sedation
• Moderate sedation
• Deep sedation
• General Anesthesia
• Pediatric Sedation

Login or Create an Account and complete your profile. Once verified, follow the prompts to access the “Register for an Exam” button of your online Candidate Profile portal to register for an exam. You will only have access to those exams for which you are eligible or authorized.

Scheduling, rescheduling and cancellation of computer-based exam appointments is managed through your online Candidate Profile portal. Login to access the green “Schedule My Exam” button and follow the prompts to select a date, time and test center location to attempt your computer-based exam.

Scheduling, rescheduling and cancellation of computer-based exam appointments is managed through your online Candidate Profile portal. Login to access the “My Registration” button and follow the prompts to reschedule or cancel your exam appointment.

The following Prometric cancellation/reschedule policies apply:

• <24 hours prior to exam appointment = not permitted; forfeiture of exam attempt and registration fee; no refund
• 1-5 days prior to exam appointment = incurs $100 fee
• 6-30 days prior to exam appointment = incurs $50 fee

After your results have been posted to your online Candidate Profile portal, Login to access the “Register for an Exam” button and follow the prompts to register for an exam.

Once authorized, Login to access the green “Schedule My Exam” button and follow the prompts to select a date, time and test center location to attempt your computer-based exam.

Should you encounter issues with Prometric’s online scheduler, we recommend that you exit, and attempt to schedule at another time. You can send us a Contact Us message and we will assist.

Only in the case of the Local Anesthesia Exam.

For states that require both the LA computer and LA clinical examinations – please be advised that the computer exam must have a passing result no later than 15 days prior to the clinical exam. You may schedule your computer exam as soon as possible but no later than 15 days prior to the clinical examination.

Otherwise, exams do not need to be taken in any particular order. Keep in mind that all portions an ADEX exam must be passed within 18 months of taking the first exam section.

Special accommodation requests and supporting documentation from an appropriate health provider must be submitted, reviewed and approved or denied in advance of scheduling of any computer-based exam appointment. Refer to the Candidate Guide for more information regarding Special Accommodation eligibility.

Submitting an Accommodation Request for Computer-based Exams:

• Login to your Candidate Profile portal
• Click the green “Schedule My Exam” button and follow the “Do you need an Accommodation Request” prompts to submit your request
• Upload supporting documentation (PDF)

Do NOT schedule an appointment until after the testing accommodation request(s) has been approved or denied.

Because of the broad-based approach to test development, no single textbook or publication can be used as a reference. Examinations are based on concepts taught and accepted by CODA-accredited or CDAC-accredited educational institutions. Any current textbook or digital textbook supplement relevant to the subject matter of the examination utilized in such institutions is suitable as a study reference.

CDCA-WREB-CITA does not endorse third-party videos, study guides or resources of any kind. CDCA-WREB-CITA produced videos, manuals, and candidate guides are available within your candidate profile, or, on the Test Prep page.

For most computer-based exams, question or test item types are limited to multiple choice and have only one correct response.

For OSCE exam formats, question or test item types include multiple choice (selected-response), multiple-response, extended match, drop down, fill-in-the-blank, hot spot, and drag & drop.

Refer to the Test Prep for Computerized Examinations section of the ADEXtesting.org website to view a video tutorial of test item types.

Graduates of Canadian dental schools and dental hygiene programs (accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada) have the same eligibility for licensure and regional licensure examinations as United States graduates.

With the exception of certain candidates of Jamaica and Mexico programs, graduates of all other international dental and dental hygiene programs are not eligible to take the regional dental and dental hygiene licensure examinations. This applies even if the candidate has earned a subsequent specialty degree or higher-level certificate at a US school. This is because licensure in the United States is a state-by-state responsibility and the states generally base eligibility on the candidate’s entry-level dental or dental hygiene degree and not on higher-level certificates.

However, each state has the right to authorize an international candidate to take an examination (fully equivalent to the regional examination) for potential licensure in that state alone. As each state has different requirements, any international candidate must apply separately to each state when they wish to obtain a license.

For an international candidate (other than a Canadian graduate) to take a dental or dental hygiene licensure examination, he/she needs to contact the state where they wish to practice and have that state officially notify this agency that this individual is authorized to take the licensure examination for that state. As a result, the grades for the examination will only be sent to that state.

Candidates from Jamaica and Mexico must be approved by the school coordinator directly.

No, the examination was authorized by an individual state as originally given. The candidate would need to take a new examination based on the credentials of a U.S. degree to have these examination results sent to all participating state jurisdictions.

Yes, if the school gives permission.

Contact your state board for licensure requirements in their jurisdiction.

Yes, but you must request a Score Report. The report will indicate that the examination was not the ADEX examination but rather was an examination authorized by a specific state.

You can find our current exam fees on their respective pages. From the Exams page, choose the examination that you’re interested in taking.

Exam sites charge for the use of their facility or may require a refundable deposit. Site usage fees must be paid to the school before you take the exam. The “Site Info Sheet” will provide detailed information about the facility fee and instruments provided by the school. You can download this information from the calendar page.

* Please note: Some schools request that CDCA-WREB-CITA collect the facility fee payment on their behalf. For those schools, the facility fees will be automatically added to the candidate account upon registration.

No, payment must be completed in full.

No, be sure that the cardholder’s name and billing address are accurate.

Payment by check must be received by the registration deadline. Please send the check to the following address:

Payable to: CDCA-WREB-CITA
Address: 1304 Concourse Drive, Suite 100
Linthicum, Maryland 21090
Note: Add your CDCA-WREB-CITA candidate # and the exam you are registering for
Attn: Jean Parker

No, your exam fee covers malpractice insurance for the exam.

All score release estimates are listed below. You will receive an email when your scores have been posted and they can be viewed in your profile.

• Dental Hygiene Simulated Patient Treatment Clinical Exam: January – May, approximately 2-3 business days. June – December, approximately 1-3 weeks
• Dental Hygiene Local Anesthesia: Preliminary results are available on-site, official results will take approximately 2-3 business days
• Dental Hygiene Restorative: Preliminary results are available on-site, official results will take approximately 2-3 business days

• Dental Restorative Exam & EFDA: approximately 2-3 business days
• Dental Prosth/Endo/Perio Exam: approximately 3-4 weeks
• Computer-Based Exams: Preliminary results at completion, official results approximately 5 business days

Candidates are notified via email once examination results are available in their online candidate portal. Results are reported as Pass/Fail only, not numerical values.

Refer to the Candidate Guide and respective Candidate Manual for performance expectations, grading criteria, remediations requirements, and additional information.

Visit the Scores page to submit your fee-based Candidate Score Report Request.

Official results reports are a cumulative record of all historical CDCA-WREB-CITA clinical and computer-based examination attempts available at the time of the request. Do not submit a request in advance of results release.

Provide the following information to ensure accurate reporting:

• License application number, if known (Required for Wisconsin)
• For emailed reports, specify the recipient email address (i.e. agency or state licensing specialist) in the “Special Requests” text box
• Exam type and year for each exam attempted
• Your name at the time of testing if different from your current name.
• Submit score request only after all results are posted

If a non-failure or non-attempt letter is required for licensure application, indicate the state board name in the “Special Requests” section of your fee-based Candidate Score Report Request.

Although most state dental boards and licensing jurisdictions have direct access to examination results through our secure portal, additional reporting by the Candidate may be required. Refer to the license application of the state board from which you are seeking licensure for their reporting requirements.

If an official results report is required for licensure application, visit the Scores page to submit your fee-based Candidate Score Report Request.

Changes or cancellations must be submitted via Contact Us. Note changes or cancellations are not eligible for a refund if submitted after score request processing is complete.

The fee-based Appeals process is a review of extraordinary conditions reported and documented during the examination, which may have adversely affected the final outcome of the candidate’s examination; it is not a re-evaluation of candidate performance (i.e. preparations, restorations, treatment teeth). Candidate opinions or allegations regarding the examiners’ judgment are not a basis for an appeal.

Refer to the Appeals section of the Scores page of the ADEXtesting.org website for criteria and procedural information.

Candidates are required a 10-day waiting period between the date of failure notification and the retake or re-attempt of any part of the following clinical examinations. See Candidate Manual for additional information.

• ADEX Dental Examination
• ADEX Dental Hygiene Examination
• Dental Therapy Examination
• EFDA Auxiliary Examination

Note that some state boards may impose additional restrictions on candidates unsuccessful in their initial or subsequent attempt of exam. Candidates are strongly encouraged to contact the state board or jurisdiction from which licensure is sought for clarification of their testing requirements prior to a reattempt of any exam. The onus is on the Candidate to ensure that all requirements for licensure in a given state are met.

Some state boards may require remediation after one unsuccessful attempt, while others require remediation after three unsuccessful attempts. Candidates are strongly encouraged to contact the state board or jurisdiction from which licensure is sought for clarification regarding acceptable programs or additional requirements prior to reattempting any examination. The onus is on the Candidate to ensure that all requirements for licensure in a given state are met.

Candidates are permitted up to three (3) unsuccessful attempts of the following exams before additional requirements must be met. See Candidate Guide for additional information.

• ADEX Dental Examination
• ADEX Dental Hygiene Examination
• Dental Therapy Examination
• EFDA Auxiliary Examination

Candidates are permitted up to two (2) unsuccessful attempts at two (2) separate exam locations before additional requirements must be met. See Candidate Manual for additional information.

• Local Anesthesia Clinical
• Dental Hygiene Restorative Clinical

Full registration for the following exams includes one complimentary retake per clinical examination procedure. Candidate is financially responsible for $150 typodont fee per procedure, and any applicable Facility Fees (varies by location). Individual registration fees higher for subsequent attempts. See Exams for additional information.

• ADEX Dental Examination
• ADEX Dental Hygiene Examination
• Dental Therapy
• EFDA Auxiliary

Complimentary retake not applicable to Local Anesthesia Clinical, Dental Hygiene Restorative Clinical, computer-based exams, or registration for Individual exam components. See Exams for additional information.

Please contact a team member. Include documentation, such as a doctor’s note, accident report, family member’s death certificate, etc. If not available before the exam takes place, please send documentation as soon as possible after the exam. We will review your documentation and inform you of a final decision.

Exam-related topics (e.g. exam availability, registration, eligibility documentation, exam content, required instruments, Candidate Manuals? CONTACT US

School-related topics, such as information listed within the Site Info Sheet (e.g. any host-provided rental equipment, hand piece connections)? Contact site host only for the topics noted. When in doubt, CONTACT US.

These are formats of the Dental exam; they cover identical material but are administered at different times. Traditional exams have all clinical portions taken over a two-day period. CIF exams have the clinical portions of the exam taken over a period of months and are open only to current students at their school (or residents, graduate students, and faculty at those schools who have received authorization from the school).

Curriculum integrated format (CIF) exams are designed exclusively for current dental students. Refer to the Candidate Guide for more information regarding CIF exam eligibility.

CDCA-WREB-CITA is the name of our organization. ADEX refers to the core Dental and Dental Hygiene exams we administer.

Once you take any portion of an ADEX exam, either Dental or Dental Hygiene, you have 18 months from that date to pass all portions. If you do not pass all portions within that period, or fail a section three times, you have to take the entire exam over.

Please contact your state board for specific licensure requirements.

The National Board Examinations (NBDE or NBDHE) are not prerequisites for the ADEX/CDCA-WREB-CITA exams. However, you should contact your state board to see if they have any specific requirements for licensure.

CDCA-WREB-CITA welcomes examiners in two ways, through boards or an application process. Members of participating States’ Boards of Dentistry in either dental or dental hygiene become CDCA-WREB-CITA members and can onboard upon appointment to their respective seats.

Non-board members wishing to become examiners can apply to become Consultant Members through an application process.  Applications are currently available on the About  of the ADEXtesting.org website. (Scroll to Examiners section to access Application button.)

Because of the broad-based approach to test development, no single textbook or publication can be used as a reference. Examinations are based on concepts taught and accepted by educational institutions accredited by the American Dental Association or Canadian Commission on Dental Accreditation. Any current textbook or digital textbook supplement relevant to the subject matter of the examination utilized in such institutions is suitable as a study reference.

CDCA-WREB-CITA does not endorse third-party videos, study guides or resources of any kind. CDCA-WREB-CITA produced videos, manuals, and candidate guides are available within your candidate profile, or, on the Test Prep page.

Fingernails—natural, polished or artificial (gel, acrylic)—should be clean and maintained (not chipped or broken), without impeding treatment processes or damaging gloves. Proper hand hygiene and infection control are essential and imperative in a clinical setting—with or without nail polish.