FAQS National Board Dental Hygiene Examination Nbdhe Part 1

Jan 12 / Claire Jeong, RDH, MS

Q: How many questions are there in the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE)?

There are 350 multiple choice examination questions in total; these can be divided into 2 groups;

200 questions in Component A (Scientific Basis for Dental Hygiene Practice, Provision of Clinical Dental Hygiene Services and Community Health/Research Principles).
150 questions in Component B (12 to 15 dental hygiene patient case studies).

Q: What is the passing grade?

The status of “pass” is granted if you achieve a standard score of 75 or higher.

A candidate’s total score is calculated by the total number of correct answers selected by the candidate but is adjusted for any minor differences in difficulty across NBDHE forms.

Q: Will I receive a score?

The results for the NBDHE will be reported as “pass” only for candidates who pass the test.
Candidates who fail the examination will receive numerical scores for each of the major disciplines covered on the test.

Q: How much is the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE)?

NBDHE fee: $440, which includes official score reporting, three dental licensing jurisdictions, and the dental hygiene program director of your dental hygiene school.
Rescheduling fee: $25. Rescheduling should take place at least 24 hours before the appointment and within the authorized eligibility period.

Q: What is the schedule on the day of the exam?

The exam day will be scheduled as follows:

• Optional tutorial – 15 minutes

• Session ONE (Discipline-based items, 200 items) – 3.5 hours (plus optional 15-minute scheduled break)

• Optional 30-minute break

• Session TWO (Patient case items, 150 items) – 4 hours (plus optional 15-minute scheduled break)

• Optional post-examination survey – 15 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 9 hours

If you take a break at any other time, it will be considered an “unscheduled” break.

Q: When do I get the results?

The National Board Examination results are made available approximately three to four weeks after the examination. Results can be viewed online by logging in to the My Account Summary page.
StudentRDH past users report that they received the results about 2 weeks after the examination.

Q: How do I study for the NBDHE?

There are a few options out there: the live course (if it is available in your area), Mosby and Darby review books, or StudentRDH.
Phone apps and other online review courses are NOT complete solutions; they are partial answers to your problem. It is BEST to use a complete review course. If you like the convenience of studying at your own pace, using your phone and computer, StudentRDH is a fantastic option.