Impact of the NBDE grading change on postgraduate admissions processes

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of discontinuing the reporting of National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) Part I numerical scores on postgraduate program directors' admissions selection processes. This cross-sectional survey-based study collected information about two admissions cycles (2012-13 and 2013-14) from directors of American Dental Education Association Postdoctoral Application Support Service (ADEA PASS(SM)) programs in all postdoctoral training disciplines; the response rate was 54.5%. According to the 2012-13 cycle results, these program directors rated an NBDE Part I score the third most important part of an application, behind grade point average (GPA) and class rank (ranked first and second, respectively). In the 2013-14 cycle, in the absence of an NBDE Part I score, almost all other parts of the application increased in importance for the responding directors, but the relative rank of factors remained almost unchanged. Significantly, 71% of the directors reported that it was now more difficult to select interview candidates, and 76% said they wanted some form of national, numerically scored exam. No significant change was noted between the two years in the number of applications or interviews offered per resident position, although the standard deviation of the number of interviews offered increased in both pediatric dentistry and postdoctoral general dentistry.