Apply for NBDHE®

Important Notice of service disruption: The Pearson VUE website will be unavailable while undergoing system maintenance from Friday, October 11 at 1:00 p.m. US Central Time through Sunday, October 13 at 9:00 a.m. US Central Time. During this time, you will not be able to schedule, reschedule, or cancel test appointments. We apologize for this inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

All candidates will take the NBDHE at a testing center operated by Pearson VUE, an official vendor of the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE) and the Department of Testing Services (DTS). Follow these steps to schedule your examination.

1. Create or manage your personal identification number (DENTPINⓇ). First-time test takers must have a DENTPIN to apply for the NBDHE and complete all steps related to the examination. Use the link below to manage your DENTPIN.

Note that If you have already applied for or taken a different national board dental examination, you may already have a DENTPIN. Log in below to retrieve or edit information linked to your DENTPIN (such as your name).

Manage your DENTPIN

2. Review the NBDHE Candidate Guide, with special focus on eligibility requirements, rules of conduct, examination regulations, and the testing center procedures.

The NBDHE program provides reasonable and appropriate testing accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. These accommodations occur for individuals with documented disabilities or medical conditions who demonstrate a need for accommodation, request an accommodation prior to testing, and who are approved.  All testing accommodation requests must be submitted electronically by signing in with your DENTPIN and password. Please refer to the Candidate Guide below for more information about the procedure for submitting a request for testing accommodations, including acceptable forms of documentation.

View the guide (PDF)

3. Submit your test application to the JCNDE. Your eligibility to apply must be confirmed by your dental hygiene program director. Alternatively, you may submit proof of graduation from an approved dental hygiene education program.

Please note:

• Exam fees are non-refundable and non-transferrable. There are no exceptions. Your credit or debit card will be charged when you submit your application.
• The name on your IDs must match exactly the name on your application or you will be denied admission to the test. If you are denied admission, you will need to submit a new application and your previous fee will be forfeited. If you attended a dental school not accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), please download and complete the form, INBDE Certificate of Eligibility (PDF).

4. After your application is reviewed, you will receive an eligibility email from the JCNDE, confirming that you are ready to schedule your examination and outlining next steps for scheduling your test. If you don’t receive this email, please check your spam folder before contacting the JCNDE.

5. Create a Pearson VUE web account (first-time test-takers only).
    Create your account

6, Use your Pearson VUE credentials to schedule your examination date.


For information about the examinations and how scores are reported, download and review the NBDE Frequently Asked Questions About Scoring (PDF).