L-1 Initial Licensure Pathways (revised 1998, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2013, 2016, 2023)
Policy Number:
L-1
Policy Category:
Licensure
The American Student Dental Association believes the ideal requirements for initial dental licensure for predoctoral students include the following:
- Graduation from a Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)-accredited predoctoral dental education program.
- Passing score on the National Board Dental Examination of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations.
- Successful completion of a clinical assessment that addresses the following criteria and methodology.
- Criteria:
- Does not use human subjects in a live clinical testing scenario
- Is psychometrically valid and reliable in its assessment
- Is reflective of the scope of current dental practice
- Is universally accepted
- Methodology: ASDA believes demonstration of both kinesthetic and clinical decision-making competence is necessary to obtain initial dental licensure. ASDA believes this should be demonstrated through the following:
- Manikin-based kinesthetic assessment, and
- A non-patient based Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).