FAQs

This school is planning an exam, but the date for this exam has not been finalized yet. Once a date is confirmed, it will be posted on the calendar.

No – your registration will automatically be moved to the new date.

Exam registration deadlines are the last possible day for candidates to register for that exam. Please consult the exam calendar to determine specific exam registration deadlines.

We will do our best to accommodate late registrations based on availability, timing, and materials, but cannot guarantee your request. An additional fee will apply. Please send us a Contact Us message with the following information:

1. Your name
2. Exam location(s) you want to register for
3. Exam dates
4. The sessions that you need (e.g. Prosth, Dental Hygiene, Full Dental Exam)

We will do our best to accommodate your transfer request based on availability, timing, and materials, but cannot guarantee your request will be granted. An additional fee may apply. To make a transfer request, please send us a Contact Us message with the following information:

• Your name
• Exam locations you want to transfer to and from
• Exam dates
• The sessions that you need (e.g. Prosth, Dental Hygiene, Full Dental Exam)

Some exams only allow current or former students.

Schools labeled “Outside candidates accepted” will allow non-students to register.

Please do not contact the school directly, contact us with questions instead.

There may be various reasons that an exam is not appearing in your registration portal, including:

• The registration deadline for that exam has passed (see above for FAQ on registering after deadline has passed)
• The exam site is at full capacity
• The exam does not permit “Outside candidates” to test.
• There are no sites that are open for registration at this time

Please consult our Exam Calendars for the latest information.

No, we do not offer waitlists for full exams.

You can make a scheduling request in your online candidate profile under the “Exams” section after completing registration. A scheduling request must be made prior to the registration deadline.

Candidates must submit required documents indicating that they are qualified to participate in the ADEX exam series. Depending on your status—still in school, graduated, in a post-graduate program, internationally trained, already practicing, or any other status—there are required documents that must be verified as part of the online profile creation process. Please read through the following requirements carefully to ensure that you upload the correct documents.

A. Internationally-trained Candidates:

1. Currently NOT enrolled in a CODA or CDAC post-graduate program: Candidates with an undergraduate dental degree from a non-U.S. or Canadian educational program must be authorized to take the examination by at least one state or jurisdiction that accepts the results of the ADEX examination as an initial licensure exam in that jurisdiction. Therefore, graduates of international dental programs must contact the jurisdiction in which they are seeking licensure and have that state draft a letter (on its official letterhead) in writing to indicate that the candidate is authorized to attempt the licensure exam in order to apply for licensure in that state only. Results are sent to that individual state only.

2. Currently enrolled in a CODA or CDAC post-graduate program: There are special protocols that the CDCA-WREB-CITA will assist you with. Please contact the CDCA-WREB-CITA once your profile has been verified (https://www.cdcaexams.org/contact).

Internationally trained candidates do NOT receive ADEX Status.

B. Proof of Graduation/Letter of Authorization:

1. Candidates who have graduated from a CODA or CDAC school: a copy of your diploma, transcripts, or current non-expired license is required. If neither a copy of your diploma or a copy of your transcript is available, a letter from your school (on official school letterhead) confirming graduation is required.

2. Candidates who have not yet graduated: If the CDCA-WREB-CITA does not currently administer an exam at your school of record, a letter from the school on official letterhead confirming that you are authorized to participate in a clinical exam, as well as your expected graduation date, is required.

Candidate Profile

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.

Licensure 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.

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.

Computerized OSCE Exams

Dental:

• DSE OSCE (ADEX)
• Florida Laws & Rules.

Dental Hygiene:

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

Sedation exams:

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

To register for computerized exams, you must create a candidate account through our candidate portal. Then, follow the prompts to complete your account and select the examinations you wish to take. Once any required documentation is received and approved, you will see a green button at the top of your account dashboard to schedule your appointment with Prometric.

To cancel or reschedule your appointment you must log in to your candidate portal and select My Registration. Select the exam you wish to change and select either “Cancel” or “Reschedule.” Then simply follow the prompts. Cancelations are not accepted within less than 24 hours from the appointment time. Note, that candidates who do not cancel an appointment within at least 1 business day prior to their scheduled exam time will have a no-show result and the fees will be forfeited.

Prometric charges the following:

• Prometric charges a $50 fee to reschedule or cancel an appointment 6 to 30 days before your scheduled test date.
• Prometric charges a $100 fee to reschedule or cancel an appointment 1 to 5 days before your scheduled test date.

As soon as you get a notification that your scores have been posted to your account, you can register for a retake through your online profile.

Follow the same steps to register for the examination then, look for a green button to schedule your retake.

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.

Items include multiple-choice (traditional/single response); multiple choice (multiple response), extended match, drop down, fill in the blank, hot spot, and drag and drop.

Hot Spot Question

• In this item format, you will be presented with an image or a figure. You will then be asked to select a region on the image or figure that corresponds to the prompt in the question stem. To select the region, click the correct region with the mouse. To change the answer, click on the existing marker and drag it to a different location. You will not get to highlight an entire area on an image, so be as precise as possible when making your selection. You may move the cursor around and select another part of the image at any time before moving on with a final selection. An example of a hotspot question is shown below. In this example, a correct answer would be selected by clicking the pupil

Drag and Drop Question

• These item types will ask you to sort, order, or group like items. In the example below, a diagram is shown without labels or some missing parts. Examinees will be expected to refer to the image and use the cursor to click and pick up, then drop the labels. This type of question could also be used to sort, order, or express relationships

Extended Match Question

• In an extended match question, you will be asked to click and then match one column of questions to another. Directions are provided in the question. Question tasks include matching responses to targets or placing responses in a specified order.
  The example below is an extended match item. It asks the test taker to match the couples in literature. The test taker is supposed to click on a name in one column and match it with another.

Multiple Response Question

• This item format is similar to a multiple-choice item; however, the multiple response item consists of a
  question with more than one correct response. The question will always indicate how many responses
  are correct. The candidate is asked to indicate correct responses.
  The example below shows a multiple response question.

In the scheduling process, you will be asked if you require documented special accommodations. Select yes and upload your supporting accommodation document. Do not schedule an appointment before you receive a final response regarding your accommodation request.

All requests must be managed through your Candidate Portal.

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.

International Student

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.

If I took the exam as an international candidate (with permission from an individual state), and I have since obtained a US DDS/DMD or dental hygiene degree, can the state-only exam be changed to the ADEX exam?

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.

If I'm enrolled in a residency or graduate program, can I take the CIF exam if my school approves it?

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.