INBDE — Integrated National Board Dental Examination Pass Rate, Format & Study Guide

The Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) is the national written examination that U.S. dental boards accept toward dental licensure. It is developed by the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE), an agency of the American Dental Association, and administered through the ADA Department of Testing Services. The exam has 500 items given over two days at the same test center, with a total administration time of 12 hours and 30 minutes (including the optional tutorial, scheduled breaks and survey); Day 1 has 300 standalone items and 60 case-based items in four 105-minute sections, and Day 2 has 140 case-based items in two 105-minute sections. The second day must fall within seven days of the first.

State dental boards in the United States accept a passing INBDE result toward dental licensure. Passing the INBDE is a required step for most dentists seeking a license.

Dental students and graduates preparing for the INBDE and candidates retaking it. Eligibility and licensure requirements are set by the JCNDE and your state board; check them before you apply.

The certifying body does not publicly publish an official pass rate for this exam. Be wary of third-party sites citing a specific number here — treat any pass-rate claim you see elsewhere for this exam as unverified.

Candidates must wait at least 60 days between unsuccessful attempts, with a maximum of four administrations in any one-year period, and must pass within five years of the first attempt or five attempts, whichever comes first (JCNDE 5 Years/5 Attempts Eligibility Rule); candidates who have passed may not retake unless a dental board requires it.

Passing standard: The JCNDE reports results as pass or fail, with scale scores from 49 to 99 provided for remediation; a scale score of 75 represents the minimum passing score. The exam has 500 items given over two days at the same test center, with a total administration time of 12 hours and 30 minutes (including the optional tutorial, scheduled breaks and survey); Day 1 has 300 standalone items and 60 case-based items in four 105-minute sections, and Day 2 has 140 case-based items in two 105-minute sections. The second day must fall within seven days of the first. No official pass rate for this exam was available in the sources we reviewed, so none is quoted here.

The exam has 500 items given over two days at the same test center, with a total administration time of 12 hours and 30 minutes (including the optional tutorial, scheduled breaks and survey); Day 1 has 300 standalone items and 60 case-based items in four 105-minute sections, and Day 2 has 140 case-based items in two 105-minute sections. The second day must fall within seven days of the first. Format: 500 items over two days · 12 hours 30 minutes total administration time · scale scores 49 to 99. Passing standard: The JCNDE reports results as pass or fail, with scale scores from 49 to 99 provided for remediation; a scale score of 75 represents the minimum passing score.

• Diagnosis and Treatment Planning36.2%
• Oral Health Management42%
• Practice and Profession21.8%

The content outline spreads questions across 3 areas: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (36.2%); Oral Health Management (42.0%); Practice and Profession (21.8%).

Eligibility depends on your education: current students in CODA-accredited dental programs need dean certification, and graduates and internationally trained candidates have their own documentation requirements; confirm the current rules in the JCNDE Candidate Guide before you apply.

The 2026 Candidate Guide lists an examination fee of US$890, which includes official results reporting to the candidate, three licensing jurisdictions and the candidate's dental program. Rescheduling fees (US$50 to US$150 by notice) and additional score reports are separate.

A passing INBDE result does not expire for the JCNDE, but state boards set their own rules for how long they accept it and for license renewal; check your state board.

Start with the heaviest areas of the content outline: Oral Health Management (42.0%); Diagnosis and Treatment Planning (36.2%); Practice and Profession (21.8%). Then work through the remaining areas, practise jurisdiction-specific rules separately from the general content, and finish with timed full-length practice runs of 500 questions across two sittings.

Content outlines, fees and passing standards change; this guide follows the materials listed under Verification as of October 2026. Check the licensing authority and test administrator before you register.