The Dental Licensure OSCE: A Modern Licensure Examination for Dentistry

ABSTRACT

Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) have been used to assess clinical skills in the health sciences for over 40 years and have a proven track record when used by boards to determine whether a licensure candidate possesses the necessary level of skills to practice. A dental licensure OSCE is being developed by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. Extensive field testing will be conducted to ensure there is validity evidence supporting use of the dental licensure OSCE. Dental boards will be provided the necessary validity evidence supporting use of the DLOSCE to identify candidates who do and do not possess the level of dental clinical skills that are necessary to safely practice.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anthony J. Ziebert

Anthony J. Ziebert, DDS, MS, received his dental degree from the Georgetown University School of Dentistry and a certificate in general practice from the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Milwaukee and a MS in prosthodontics from Marquette University. He currently is the senior vice president for education and professional affairs at the American Dental Association and maintains a part-time private practice in Milwaukee limited to prosthodontics. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.

David M. Waldschmidt

David M. Waldschmidt, PhD, is the director of testing services for the American Dental Association and the director of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. He holds a PhD in industrial-organizational psychology and has worked in the professional testing industry for over 20 years. Dr. Waldschmidt has authored papers published in the Journal of Dental Education and the journal Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice and presented at many meetings. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.