[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-316936-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-316936-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","features-of-the-nbdhe-and-the-dhlosce","FEATURES OF THE NBDHE AND THE DHLOSCE","","Explains the roles and key differences between the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) and the Dental Hygiene Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination (DHLOSCE) for state dental boards and dental hygiene program directors. Compares purpose, focus, board requirements, state acceptance, question count, results interpretation, test specifications, administration modality, and measurement methods. Includes example concept areas, validity evidence, and preparation resource links for each exam.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/features-of-the-nbdhe-and-the-dhlosce/316936/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/features-of-the-nbdhe-and-the-dhlosce/316936.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Blaney","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-30","2026-09-20",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",16,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is the purpose of the NBDHE compared with the DHLOSCE?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"The NBDHE helps jurisdictional boards determine qualifications for licensure by evaluating broader cognitive and responsibility-related competencies. The DHLOSCE focuses on whether candidates have the clinical judgment and skills needed for safe dental hygiene practice and readiness for practice.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How do the two exams differ in focus and board requirements?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"The NBDHE assesses cognitive skills and includes biomedical and behavioral underpinnings of clinical decisions. The DHLOSCE assesses clinical skills, with its board requirement stated as clinical skills.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"How are the NBDHE and DHLOSCE administered and how are results interpreted?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"The NBDHE is administered by Pearson VUE across the United States and Canada, in two sessions within one day. The DHLOSCE is administered by Prometric in the United States within a fixed testing window and is offered in a single session within one day; both use a pass/fail criterion-referenced standard.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},316936,1790095078,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,95,100,105,110,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":93,"slug":94},70,"exam",{"id":96,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":33,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":26,"language":140,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":144,"read_time":96,"preview_page_count":4},1236954677761,"https://us-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_994ba38a5ba835b3df7d355c54d3ed8d","FEATURES OF THE N BD HE AND THE DHL OSCE  \nThe National Board Dental Hygiene Examination ( NB DHE) and the Dental Hygiene Li censure Objective Structured Clinical Examination ( DHL OSCE) serve important roles in evaluating the competencies of dental hygiene candidates . Understanding the differences between the two examinations can help state dental boards understand the importance of each examination and help candidates prepare effectively .  \nINFORMATION FOR STATE DENTAL BOARD MEMBERS AND DENTAL HYGIENE PROGRAM DIRECTORS  \n\n| Criteria | NBDHE | DHLOSCE |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Purpose | To assist jurisdictional boards in determining the qualifications of those who seek licensure to practice dentistry or dental hygiene. | To inform licensure decisions.\u003Cbr>Does the candidate have the level of clinical judgement and skills necessary to safely practice dental hygiene?\u003Cbr>Readiness for practice. |\n| Focus | Assesses cognitive skills (broader focus)\u003Cbr> Biomedical and behavioral underpinnings of clinical decisions.\u003Cbr> Professional responsibility considerations, evidence-based practice, being good consumers of research, patient oral health care education, etc. | Assesses clinical skills (a narrower focus) . |\n| Board Requirement | Cognitive skills | Clinical skills |\n| State acceptance | All U.S. Licensing jurisdictions | Kentucky, Arizona, Oregon |\n| Number of questions | 350 questions administered in two sessions within one day. | 150 questions administered in a single session within one day |\n| Results Interpretation | Pass/Fail against criterion-referenced NBDHE standard. | Pass/Fail against criterion-referenced DHLOSCE standard. |\n| Test specifications\u003Cbr>(Overview) | Discipline-Based Component (200 items) Scientific Basis for Dental Hygiene Practice (61 items) Provision of Clinical Dental Hygiene Services (115 items) Community Health/Research Principles (24 items)\u003Cbr>Case-Based Items (150 items) | Assessment, Interpretation, Evaluation, and Reevaluation (45%)\u003Cbr>Dental Hygiene Care Planning and Evidence Based Treatment (55%) |\n| Administration modality | Administered by Pearson VUE in the United States and Canada. | Administered by Prometric in the United\u003Cbr>States.\u003Cbr>Available for administration throughout the year in fixed testing windows. |\n\n| Criteria | NBDHE | DHLOSCE |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Method of Measurement | Candidates are presented with 350 multiple-choice items (200 discipline-based items and 150 case-based items) covering functions that a dental hygienist is expected to be able to perform.\u003Cbr>Only functions that can be delegated to a dental hygienist in a majority of states are included in the examination.\u003Cbr>For case-based items, the patient information is presented by means of patient histories, dental charts, radiographs, and clinical photographs. | Hybrid OSCE. Candidates are presented with clinical situations and patient stimulus materials—including lifelike 3D models of teeth, radiographs, dental charts, and/or clinical photographs—that candidates can use to diagnose a patient and respond to extended multiple-choice clinical questions.\u003Cbr>Uses the Patient Box. |\n| Examples of concepts that\u003Cbr>could be tested | Knowledge of which bacteria is associated with periodontitis.\u003Cbr>Knowledge of the scientific principles behind radiography.\u003Cbr>Assesses understanding of infection control principles and scientific rationale. | Focus on clinical management of a patient with periodontal disease.\u003Cbr>Recognizes when to make radiographs, what errors were made, how to improve clinical radiography techniques.\u003Cbr>Assesses ability to apply infection control in patient care scenarios. |\n| Validity evidence | Face Validity and Content Validity (see relevant information from the NBDHE Technical Report) | Can find the relevant information from the DLOSCE Technical Report. |\n| Resources | Visit JCNDE.ADA.ORG/NBDHE for resources to help you prepare for the NBDHE exam. | Visit JCNDE.ADA.ORG/DHLOSCE for resources to help you prepar","cbCaia1g5Cou6ooy","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaia1g5Cou6ooy","pdf",185797,"English","# Overview\n## Purpose and Focus\n## Board Requirements and State Acceptance\n## Question Count and Results Interpretation\n## Test Specifications\n## Administration Modality\n## Measurement Method and Example Concepts\n## Validity Evidence and Resources","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of the NBDHE compared with the DHLOSCE?\",\"answer\":\"The NBDHE helps jurisdictional boards determine qualifications for licensure by evaluating broader cognitive and responsibility-related competencies. The DHLOSCE focuses on whether candidates have the clinical judgment and skills needed for safe dental hygiene practice and readiness for practice.\"},{\"question\":\"How do the two exams differ in focus and board requirements?\",\"answer\":\"The NBDHE assesses cognitive skills and includes biomedical and behavioral underpinnings of clinical decisions. The DHLOSCE assesses clinical skills, with its board requirement stated as clinical skills.\"},{\"question\":\"How are the NBDHE and DHLOSCE administered and how are results interpreted?\",\"answer\":\"The NBDHE is administered by Pearson VUE across the United States and Canada, in two sessions within one day. The DHLOSCE is administered by Prometric in the United States within a fixed testing window and is offered in a single session within one day; both use a pass/fail criterion-referenced standard.\"}]","FEATURES OF THE NBDHE AND THE DHLOSCE | PDF",1789926425]