Central Regional Dental Testing Service

Over 50 Years of Dental and Dental Hygiene Testing Excellence!
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FAQs

Applying for a CRDTS Exam

Qualified candidates may apply to take the examination by submitting an application online at www.crdts.org. Detailed information regarding required documents/fees, test sites and examination dates/deadlines are outlined on the CRDTS website and in the manuals. A fully executed application complete with the appropriate documentation and fee is required to take the examination.

The application deadline is approximately 40 days before the date of the examination. Applications and all documentation/fees must be received on or before the published application deadline date.

The exam site may charge a site fee/rental fee for use of instruments, clinic facilities, manikin heads, supplies, and disposables. Some sites require that all instruments be supplied by the school. A rental charge or deposit imposed by the testing school site must be remitted directly to the school.

Payment submitted must be for the exact amount and can be paid online via credit card or by mailing a cashier’s check or money order with the applicant’s CRDTS ID number written in the lower left- hand corner to Central Office. No personal checks will be accepted.

Refunds will be made, minus an administrative fee, if notification of cancellation is received in the CRDTS Central Office 30 days prior to the first day of the examination. A 50% refund will be made if notification is made at least 6 business days prior to the first day of the examination. After that time, any cancellations will result in forfeiture of the entire examination fee. Once a candidate has paid the entire examination fee and has taken any Part of the examination, there will be no refund of fees for the Parts that have not yet been taken, should the candidate decide to cancel or withdraw from other Parts of the examination. In addition, failure to appear for the exam will result in a forfeiture of the entire examination fee. This policy applies to all cancellations, regardless of reason.

Contact Central Office and mail or scan a copy of your name change document to info@crdts.org (ex: marriage certificate or divorce document)

Contact Central Office to update your address in our database by emailing info@crdts.org

To ensure that an auxiliary aid or other requested modification exists and can be provided, it is a requirement that any candidate with a disability requesting such modification or auxiliary aid must:

• Submit, in writing via email, together with the application, a request and all documentation for the auxiliary aid or modification. Requests received after the application date or retroactive requests will not be considered.

• Provide documentation of the need for the auxiliary aid or modification. If the candidate is a student in an accredited school, a letter from a school official fulfills this requirement. Otherwise, a letter from the appropriate health care professional is required.

• Request in writing the exact auxiliary aids or modifications needed and indicate the exact portion(s) of the examination for which such auxiliary aid or modification will be needed. In providing such auxiliary aids or modifications, the testing agency reserves the ultimate discretion to choose between effective auxiliary aids or modifications and reserves the right to maintain the security of the examination.

Candidates will receive an email approximately 10 days after the deadline date for their assigned exam.

General Information

Professional Liability Insurance: Insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 / $3,000,000 is required. The Medical Protective Company of Fort Wayne, IN, in cooperation with CRDTS, will provide complimentary professional liability coverage, in the required amount, for all candidates taking this examination. No action or payment is required by hygiene candidates.

Candidates must contact the state board they are looking to be licensed in for verification of acceptance for the CRDTS Exam. The Portability Map is the most up to date information that CRDTS is aware of but we highly encourage candidates to contact the state board itself.

It is the responsibility of each state or licensing jurisdiction to enforce its own remediation policy. It is the responsibility of the candidate to obtain and complete all requirements for remedial education in accordance with the requirements of the licensing jurisdictions in which they seek to obtain licensure. CRDTS does not assume any responsibility in providing this information or in monitoring the completion of such requirements prior to examination.

CRDTS does not offer study material for the examinations. Candidates may look over the forms and manuals for each examination to familiarize themselves with CRDTS grading criteria.

CRDTS Status is only achieved when the entire examination is taken through CRDTS.

CRDTS does not require the National Board Examination to be taken before the CRDTS Exam

Scores

Hygiene scores will be released to candidates online after each hygiene testing group. Dental scores will be released by 8pm the day of the examination completion. Examinations taken at the Topeka facility may take up to 3 weeks.

CRDTS will mail two certified copies of their final examination results approximately 3-4 weeks after their exam. One copy is for the candidate and the other copy is in a sealed grey envelope within the main envelope. DO NOT OPEN the sealed grey envelope. Candidates should mail the sealed grey envelope with the certified copy directly to the licensing state of their choice. For security and confidentiality reasons, no scores can be released by telephone.


Internationally trained candidates, and those candidates not taking the full examination, will receive two non-certified copies of their results, explained above.


A Score Report Request may be submitted online to have scores sent to themselves, a state board, or other address. Most state boards accept an electronic score report from CRDTS

A Master Grade Sheet listing all scores will be automatically distributed to all CRDTS member State Boards, as well as those non-member states which recognize CRDTS’ results and have requested routine receipt of examination results.

A Score Report Request may be submitted online to have scores sent to themselves, a state board, or other address. Most state boards accept an electronic score card from CRDTS.

CRDTS maintains a complaint review process whereby a candidate may request a review of documentation, concerns or protocols affecting his/her individual examination results. This is a formalized process conducted by a special committee whose charge is to review the facts to determine if the examiners' findings substantiate the results. Any request for such a review must be filed and received at CRDTS Central Office no later than 14 days following the official date on which the scores were released to the candidate or the candidate’s dental hygiene school. The Committee is required to complete its review within 60 days from the time of receiving a formal request; during that time, the candidate may apply for reexamination. If the candidate files a formal complaint, then retests and passes the examination before the complaint has been fully processed, the complaint review will be terminated. Forms may be obtained from CRDTS’ Central Office or from the CRDTS website and documentation for the complaint must be submitted on this form.

Complaint Review Procedure Form

No, CRDTS is a testing agency that administers exams, we are not a licensure or regulatory board. Although our exam results are used as part of the decision-making process for licensure, CRDTS is not directly involved in this process. For more information on the specific requirements for licensure in each of the CRDTS member states, you must contact each state's Dental Board.

Dental Examinations

For exam schedules please see the examination page.

Simulated Patient Examination

Part I: Diagnosis and Comprehensive Treatment Planning (DCTP) Written Examination

Part II: Endodontics Examination

Part III: Prosthodontics Examination

Part IV: Periodontal Examination

Part V: Restorative Examination

CRDTS Retake Policy: If a candidate does not achieve a 75% or greater score on a procedure within a part of the CRDTS exam on their first attempt, a 2nd attempt retake option for that procedure is available on-site after the dental examination has been completed at most examination sites. Each procedure has an allotted amount of time in which the retake procedure needs to be completed within. The on-site retake policy allows for a maximum aggregate time of 5 (five) hours for an examination that includes all 5 (five) examination parts. If less than 5 (five) examination parts are taken, the allotted time is reduced to an amount reflecting the parts of the exam that were taken.


Candidates retaking the CRDTS examination must sign a retake release form stating that the candidate has verified with the state board in the state which the candidate intends to practice about their number of attempts policy.


A 3rd attempt may be offered to candidates that do not achieve a score at or above a 75% on their second attempt. A 30-day minimum waiting period is imposed between the second and third attempts.


If a candidate is unsuccessful at a third attempt of the previously failed exam procedure(s) then all procedures within that examination part must be retaken, following a minimum period of 30 days. In the unlikely event that a candidate is still unsuccessful after a fourth attempt, the candidate will be required to take the entire CRDTS examination, following a minimum period of 30 days.


If following the CIF Format, remediation must take place between each attempt after the second attempt, all retakes must be taken within 60 days after graduation, or else all parts of the examination must be retaken in the Traditional Format.


All attempts will be reported on score reports whether a candidate is considered Traditional or Integrated. If following the CIF Format all unsuccessful attempt to pass the exam, while the candidate is enrolled in dental school and has access to faculty remediation, or within the 60-day grace period following graduation, will be reported to state dental boards but counted as one failed attempt for purposes of CRDTS Certification.


Retests Parts I, II, III, IV & V: A score is reported for each of the procedures of the CRDTS dental examination. If one or more procedures within an examination part are failed, only those failed procedures must be retaken. In the case of a sub 75% score in the Prosthodontic Bridge Factor, previous scores for test #3 and #5 will be negated and the retake will consist of the PFZ, MZC and Bridge Factor procedures.


When applicable, the alternate treatment selection procedure will be required when retaking Parts IV and V.


Traditional candidates applying for re-examination off-site must provide documentation that all school requirements have been completed and the candidate has graduated. Retest opportunities will be administered at select dental schools that may or may not be the candidate's school of attendance. Applicants from the school where the examination is administered receive priority for assignment to that site.

CRDTS Part 1: Diagnosis and Comprehensive Treatment Planning (DCTP) written examination is composed of multiple 4-question mini-cases that measure a candidate’s ability to diagnose, treatment plan and manage clinical situations that are commonly encountered in entry level practice. Each mini-case is accompanied by a combination of charting, radiographs, photographs and/or other supporting images or data. Examination content focuses on diagnosis, assessment, and complex treatment planning in operative dentistry, fixed and removeable prosthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, oral pathology, oral surgery, and implant dentistry.


CRDTS also has an Extra/Intra Oral Assessment OSCE in conjunction with the Simulated Patient Periodontal Examination. It is a 16-question written test performed on a tabled with an allowance of 15 minutes to complete.

Dental Hygiene Examinations

For exam schedules please see the examination page.

CRDTS offers a simulated patient dental hygiene examination and a patient based dental hygiene examination, patient based will be offered through 2027 only.

Some sites may offer a retake immediately after the scheduled exam groups. Candidates who are unsuccessful and retest at a future exam site must submit a new application and pay the examination fee. Candidates who are retaking the examination at a future exam site must fulfill current examination requirements since the examination format is periodically redesigned. All portions of the failed examination must be retaken, not just the procedures with deficient performance. The candidate applying for reexamination at a future exam site must provide documentation that all school requirements have been completed and the candidate has graduated

Candidates must notify Central Office if they plan to share a patient by the deadline date of their examination.

Yes; A simulated patient extra/intra oral assessment written OSCE will be presented to candidates as part of the simulated examination via a CRDTS computer tablet. Candidates will have fifteen (15) minutes to view and answer sixteen (16) questions appropriately. Candidates will be required to sign and uphold the Candidate Statement of Understanding about the CRDTS Oral Assessment OSCE Security Measures.

Local Anesthesia Examinations

For exam schedules please see the examination page.

CRDTS offers both a written and clinical local anesthesia examination.

Candidates who are unsuccessful on their first attempt of the written exam can retake at the same site on the next day after paying the retest fee, PROVIDING the site can accommodate a retest schedule. Unsuccessful candidates are encouraged to study the areas of deficiency, provided in their critique, prior to attempting the exam again. Candidates who are unsuccessful on their first attempt of the clinical injections can retake at the same site after paying the retest fee. Only the injection(s) that were unsuccessful need to be retaken.

Restorative Auxiliary Examinations

For exam schedules please see the examination page.

CRDTS offers a simulated patient restorative auxiliary examination.

Candidates who are unsuccessful must submit a new application and pay the examination fee. Some sites may offer a retake immediately after the scheduled exam groups. The candidate letter will clarify if a same-site retake opportunity is available. When retaking the examination at the same site, only the unsuccessful restoration(s) need(s) to be completed. Candidates who are retaking the examination must fulfill current examination requirements since the examination format is periodically redesigned.

Dental Therapy Examinations

For exam schedules please see the examination page.

CRDTS will offer a dental therapy examination customized to the state boards requirements.

Candidates who are unsuccessful may have availability to retest at the same site. Reexamination policy will be based off the state boards requirements.