Eligibility Requirements for NBDE Part 1 Exam – CODA & Non-CODA

The Joint Commission Of National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) is a body responsible for the development of the both parts of the National Board of Dental Examinations (NBDE). In your journey to become a licensed dentist in the United States, Taking the NBDE Part 1 is the first step. You must meet the eligibility requirements for NBDE Part 1 exam to take the exam. In this article, I shall cover the NBDE Part 1 exam requirements in detail.

You can take the NBDE Part 1 while you are a dental student just after you finish the first two years of dental school, after you graduate as a dentist or any time after that. The eligibility requirements for the NBDE Part 1 exam depend on the type of school you are attending or graduated from i.e. CODA/Non-COVDA school (Commission on Dental Accreditation).

To participate in the NBDE Part I, a candidate must qualify through one of the following provisions:

1. Dental Student- Accredited U.S./ Canadian School

The dean of the dental school (or a designee) verifies that the student is prepared in all NBDE Part I disciplines.

Visit CODA’s website for a listing of accredited dental programs on ADA.org/CODA.

2. Dental Student- Non- Accredited U.S./ Canadian School

If the dental school is not CODA accredited, certification must be provided by the school on the Certification of Eligibility Form (PDF) at ADA.org/JCNDE in order to confirm that the candidate is an active student. The completed form must include the seal of the university and the signature of the dean or the registrar. An ECE report must also be provided for the verification of educational credentials obtained from non-accredited dental schools

3. Dentist- Graduate of an Accredited U.S./Canadian School

An affiliate member or a nonmember must submit verification that he or she is a dentist. 

Such verification must be in the form of a letter of recommendation from one of the following:

1. The secretary of a board of dentistry of a United States licensing jurisdiction in which the individual is licensed or eligible for licensure as a dentist.
2. The dean or registrar of an accredited dental school from which the dentist graduated.
3. The dean, director, or registrar of an accredited advanced dental education program in which the dentist studied or is studying at the postgraduate level.
4. The dean of an accredited dental school to which the dentist is applying for admission with advanced standing

4. Dentist Graduated from a Non-Accredited Dental School

If you graduated from a non-CODA-accredited dental school, you must complete the following steps to be eligible for the NBDE Part 1 exam:

Step 1: Register for a DENTPIN®

• The DENTPIN® (DENTal Personal Identifier Number) is a unique identifier required for all dental-related exams, applications, and score reports in the U.S. dental education system.
• If you don’t already have a DENTPIN, register or retrieve yours at ADA.org.

Step 2: Verify Your Educational Credentials

• You must have your official dental school transcripts evaluated by Educational Credential Evaluators Inc. (ECE). ECE provides evaluation reports that identify U.S. equivalents of educational qualifications earned in other countries.
• To request an evaluation report:
  1. Visit www.ece.org.
  2. Select “Evaluation Report.”
  3. Choose either a General Report or a Course-by-Course Report and request that it be sent to the Department of Testing Services.

Step 3: Submit Required Documents

• Required documents vary by country and must be submitted to ECE either by you (the applicant) or directly by the issuing institution. For example, Indian students must provide:
  • Degree, Diploma, or Provisional Certificate: Confirming your earned qualification.
  • Statements of Marks or Official Transcript: For all examination attempts, issued by the university or autonomous college.
  • Internship Completion Certificate: Proof of completed internship.
• Ensure all documents are original or attested copies in a sealed envelope.

Step 4: Register for the Exam

• Once ECE prepares your evaluation report, you can request it to be linked to your DENTPIN account.
• After completing the above steps, you are eligible to register for the NBDE Part 1 exam.

5. Dentist Graduated from a Non-Accredited School Currently Enrolled in an Accredited Program

A graduate of a non-accredited dental school who is enrolled in an accredited dental education program is eligible for examination when the dean of the accredited U.S. or Canadian dental school (or a designee) certifies that the candidate is eligible for the examination.

The eligibility requirements and the process for registering for the NBDE Part 1 are usually pretty smooth. Do let us know if you need help with a specific point! Good luck!

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• Pass the NBDE Exam: International Students
• NBDE Part 1 Pass Rate for International Students
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