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Clinical board examinations: variation found in pass rates
P C Damiano1, D A Shugars, J R Freed
1Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
Journal of the American Dental Association (1939)
|June 1, 1992
Summary
Dental licensing exams show varied pass rates, indicating factors beyond candidate skill impact results. This variability may hinder interstate dental practice mobility due to quality assurance concerns.
Area of Science:
- Dental Education and Licensure
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- State-specific dental licensing examinations have historically governed the practice of dentistry.
- Concerns exist regarding the consistency and fairness of clinical dental board examinations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze pass rate variations in state and regional dental board clinical examinations.
- To explore the implications of these variations on dental professional mobility.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of dental board clinical examination pass rates.
- Data collected from 1979 to 1988 across multiple state and regional boards.
Main Results:
- Significant variations in examination pass rates were observed both within and between different dental licensing jurisdictions.
- These disparities suggest that factors external to candidate competency influence examination outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Variations in dental board exam pass rates raise questions about standardized assessment of dental competency.
- Reluctance to relax interstate practice restrictions may persist until a definitive quality assurance system is established.