JCNDE (Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations), ADA

NBDHE

National Board Dental Hygiene Examination

The national board exam dental hygiene students must pass as a prerequisite for state dental hygiene licensure. It combines discipline-based questions with patient case-based items covering the full scope of dental hygiene practice.

$600Full-day exam (about 9 hours including breaks)Required to practice

What's on the exam

NBDHE Test Specifications (Candidate Guide)

Scientific Basis for Dental Hygiene Practice

~31% of discipline-based items

Anatomic sciences (head/neck, dental anatomy, histology, embryology) · Physiology · Biochemistry and nutrition · Microbiology and immunology · General and oral pathology · Pharmacology

Provision of Clinical Dental Hygiene Services

~58% of discipline-based items

Assessing patient characteristics · Obtaining and interpreting radiographs · Planning and managing dental hygiene care · Periodontal instrumentation and debridement · Prevention and management of emergencies · Patient education and oral health promotion

Community Health and Research Principles

~12% of discipline-based items

Promoting health in the community · Participating in community programs · Biostatistics and research methods · Epidemiology · Evidence-based decision making

Frequently asked questions

How much does the NBDHE cost?

The NBDHE costs $600. Examination fee; additional $435 processing fee for students and non-CODA graduates.

How long is the NBDHE and how many questions does it have?

350 items total (200 discipline-based, 150 case-based) — Full-day exam (about 9 hours including breaks).

What do you need to pass the NBDHE?

Scale score of 75 (pass/fail).

Can you retake the NBDHE?

After a 90-day waiting period; limited attempts per JCNDE policy.

What is the best way to study for the NBDHE?

Study the official blueprint, not random material: the exam is weighted by domain (Scientific Basis for Dental Hygiene Practice ~31% of discipline-based items, Provision of Clinical Dental Hygiene Services ~58% of discipline-based items, Community Health and Research Principles ~12% of discipline-based items). Spaced-repetition flashcards built domain-by-domain against that blueprint are the most time-efficient way to cover everything the exam tests.

Program in development

We're building a blueprint-complete program for this exam. Meanwhile, explore live programs across 11 exam.

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