
how to apply for inbde - STARTING AUG 20 2020
Congrats on deciding to go for the INBDE! Here is the American Dental Association’s (ADA) guide for INBDE -
https://www.ada.org/~/media/JCNDE/pdfs/INBDE_Guide.pdf?la=en
To be eligible for INBDE, the JCNDE (Joint Committee of National Dental Examinations –a part of the American Dental Association) requires the following -
IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN INTERNSHIP/ PURSUING DENTISTRY IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY
To be eligible for INBDE, the JCNDE (Joint Committee of National Dental Examinations –a part of the American Dental Association) requires the following -
1) Create a Dentpin and register for INBDE on the ADA website. Make sure that you are entering all extremely correct details while making your dentpin and cross check before confirming. Website links for creating dentpin and registering for inbde -
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For requesting dentpin: http://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/dentpin
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Then you can register for INBDE here: https://www.ada.org/en/jcnde/inbde/apply-to-take-the-inbde.
2)Certificate of eligibility for INBDE – Fill the form, get your dean’s signature and send it via mail/post to JCNDE. You can download the certificate of eligibility here –
https://www.ada.org/~/media/JCNDE/pdfs/INBDE_eligibility_certification.pdf?la=en
The address to where the document must be shipped will be given in the above link. JCNDE will email you once they receive your documents.
3) Course evaluation from ECE – Make a profile on the Educational Credential Evaluators website (ECE). Enter all the correct details in your profile and double check it. In the end, select for a ‘General report with GPA average’ and pay for it. Request the copy to be sent to American Dental Association ADA (JCNDE) on the ECE website itself while making your application.
Once you finish payment for ECE you have to send them VERY specific documents so that they can convert your marks into an American grade (GPA). They will email you regarding the documents that you need to submit.
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You can check the document requirements for your country here –https://www.ece.org/ECE/Individuals/Documentation-Requirements.
(special note regarding ECE for current dental students – you will need to order a ‘course by course’ ECE evaluation when you will be applying to dental schools in the U.S after clearing your boards. You will be eligible for that only once you graduate from your current dental school because ECE requests for your internship completion certificate for ‘course by course’ evaluation.).
4)Once JCNDE/ADA receive your certificate of eligibility and your ECE evaluation, they will send you a confirmation email stating that they have received your documents and you are now eligible to take the INBDE.
5)Login with your dentpin and pay for the INBDE. You will get a confirmation email in 1-3 business days after payment and you can schedule your exam on prometric (instructions will be given on the email)! All the best!
IF YOU ARE ALREADY A GRADUATE
You do not have to send a certificate of eligibility. You have to create a dentpin and send your ECE evaluation to JCNDE.
1) Create a Dentpin and register for INBDE on the ADA website. Make sure that you are entering all extremely correct details while making your dentpin and cross check before confirming. Website links for creating dentpin and registering for inbde -
-
For requesting dentpin: http://www.ada.org/en/education-careers/dentpin
-
Then you can register for INBDE here: https://www.ada.org/en/jcnde/inbde/apply-to-take-the-inbde
2) Course evaluation from ECE – Make a profile on the Educational Credential Evaluators website (ECE). Enter all the correct details in your profile and double check it. In the end, select for a ‘Course by course evaluation’ and pay for it. Request the copy to be sent to American Dental Association ADA (JCNDE) on the ECE website itself while making your application.
Once you finish payment for ECE you have to send them VERY specific documents so that they can convert your marks into an American grade (GPA). They will email you regarding the documents that you need to submit.
-
You can check the document requirements for your country here –
https://www.ece.org/ECE/Individuals/Documentation-Requirements
3) Once JCNDE/ADA receives your ECE evaluation, they will send you a confirmation email stating that they have received your documents and you are now eligible to take the INBDE.
4) Login with your dentpin and pay for the INBDE. You will get a confirmation email in 1-3 business days after payment and you can schedule your exam on prometric (instructions will be given on the email)! All the best!
to summarize


Notes regarding documents for ECE
You can get submit the documents in the following formats to ECE -
1. Copies of the originals that are attested by the registrar/head of your university.
You have to get the originals photo-copied and request the registrar office to seal each of those documents in separate attested envelopes. Then send all these envelopes in one big envelope (no need for attestation) to ECE by post along with a cover letter stating your reference number. ECE DOES NOT RETURN ANY OF THE ATTESTED COPIES ONCE YOU SEND THEM.
2. Send the originals in one big envelope. They return them back to your address after they finish your report. Do NOT put your originals in individually sealed envelopes. ECE does not return documents that are sent in sealed envelopes. Mention in your cover letter that you would want your original documents back.
Electronic copy via truecopy. More details here https://www.ece.org/ECE/Individuals/Documentation-Requirements.
STUDY RESOURCES
Youtube channels-
1) Mental Dental videos
2) Pass the dental boards
The INBDE is mostly a case-based exam. The exam will feature clinical cases that feature diagnosis and treatment planning from various different aspects. The dental decks have developed INBDE series. This can be brought from their store. https://store.dentaldecks.com/dental-decks-inbde.
The exam is 500 questions. The first day is a full day appointment at prometric (exam) center, and you will have 360 questions. This consists of -
- 3 sessions of 100 questions for 1 hours and 45 minutes (70% case-based, 30% regular approximately).
- Break for 15 minutes.
- 60 questions in 1 hour and 45 minutes (case-based questions).
The second day is a half-day appointment at prometric, and you will have 140 questions. This consists of
-2 sessions of 70 questions in 1 hours and 45 minutes, with a 15-minute break between the two sessions (case-based questions).
Main study material for NBDE part 1 syllabus - Dental Decks NBDE 1/ Mosby NBDE 1/ Kaplan NBDE1/ Dentin NBDE 1/ First Aid NBDE 1. You can use just one of these books or review multiple books. We recommend just using one of these books as your main source as using multiple may just confuse your basic concepts of different topics.
Supplemental books - We recommend going through all these materials
First Aid Q&A ( which is questions about the First Aid NBDE 1 content.)
Satyam Joshi (SJ) file
Tangy
300 facts of dental anatomy
100 TMJ facts
Facebook groups with helpful study discussions on materials listed above -
1) https://www.facebook.com/groups/163726223737196/
2) https://www.facebook.com/groups/455446941267085/
Main study material for NBDE part 2 syllabus -
1) Dental Decks part 2/ Kaplan NBDE part 2/ Dentin NBDE 2/ Mosby's review for NBDE 2 / Dental Boards Mastery app - You can use just one of these books or review multiple books. We recommend just using one of these books as your main source as using multiple may just confuse your basic concepts of different topics.
2) Tufts for Pharmacology.
3) Mosby's review for NBDE 2 - patient management section.
4) Kaplan cases.
Supplemental material - We recommend doing as much of these files as you can.
1) Master day 1&2 file
2) Mango file/ Golden file
3) El Maestro file, Kiwi, Satyam Joshi file
Facebook Groups with important study discussions regarding above materials -
Youtube channels-
1) Pass the dental boards
2) Crash course in anatomy and physiology
3) Handwritten tutorials in anatomy
4) Dr. Najeeb Lectures