The NDEB continues to move forward with its plan to transition all paper and pencil examinations to electronic delivery. Two Dental Specialty Core Knowledge Examinations have been delivered electronically at Prometric Test Centres and in May the first Assessment of Clinical Judgement (ACJ) will be delivered. NDEB will use Prometric test centres across Canada, in London England, Brussels Belgium, and Auckland New Zealand increasing access for examinees based outside of Canada.

Adding a third party provider to the administration of the assessment has required changes to the workflow for both staff and examinees. Staff has been working closely with Prometric to ensure a smooth registration and scheduling process. Additionally, an electronic exam orientation video has been created to provide examinees an opportunity to experience the functionality of the exam platform prior to the assessment.

APRIL UPDATEThe National Dental Examining Board of Canada

KNOW

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSESSMENTSMAY 11Assessment of Clinical Judgement

MAY 25-26Written Examination & OSCE

JUNE 1-2Assessement of ClinicalSkills

JUNE 14-16ACS Evaluation Session

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY

ADDRESSING RISING MISCONDUCT

The NDEB has a responsibility to continually evaluate and revise its examinations and assessments. Part of this evaluation is done through a psychometric process to establish a pass mark. This procedure is known as standard setting. It is suggested that standard setting be done periodically to align with changes to the knowledge skills and abilities of examinees.

In March 2019, the NDEB held a standard setting workshop for the Assessment of Clinical Skills (ACS). The workshop was facilitated by Chad Buckendahl of ACS Ventures. A series of recommendations will be generated from the workshop for consideration by the Examinations Committee and Board.

The Assessment of Clinical Judgement (ACJ) will be administered electronically at Prometric test centres in May 2019. A standard setting exercise, facilitated by Yardstick Assessment Strategies, will follow the first electronic administration. Individuals participating in the May Assessment will be the first to experience the Assessment in its new format and will receive results following the standard setting exercise. The standard setting is expected to delay the release of results; however, examinees will still receive their results in time to register for the winter 2019 assessments and examinations.

STANDARD SETTING

Given the recent rise in accusations of misconduct from 11 incidents in 2017 to 24 in 2018, the NDEB is looking at different ways to reinforce what constitutes a misconduct during an NDEB examination and the potential consequences.

The accusations of misconduct range from bringing prohibited materials into the exam room such as cell phones, watches, and notes to continuing to write on the exam material after the completion of the exam.

The NDEB hopes that refreshing content to include new visuals and the summary of the miconduct decisions heard by the Examination Commitee will draw examinee attention to potential infractions and severity of the consequences.

ACADEMIC DENTISTRY IN CANADA HONOURED AT THE 12TH ANNUAL GIES AWARDSOn March 18, 2019, the 12th Annual William J. Gies Awards for Vision, Innovation and Achievement honoured the Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry (ACFD) for Innovation in the category of Public-Private Partner. This award recognizes the invaluable contribution made by the ACFD Academic Affairs Committee, notably, Drs. Anne Charbonneau, Marie Dagenais, Sylvie Morin, and Joanne Walton in creating the ACFD Educational Framework for the Development of Competency in Dental Programs. The ACFD educational framework is a conceptual tool to help develop competency within Canadian undergraduate dental curricula. It identifies five key areas that represent global complex skills, knowledge, and behaviours that graduates of Canadian dental schools must demonstrate to enter general dental practice. The key competencies are patient-centred care, professionalism, communication and collaboration, practice and information management, and health promotion. Also recognized at this years’ award ceremony was McGill University’s Faculty of Dentistry. The Gies award for Vision – Academic Dental Institution was presented to the Faculty of Dentistry for its Service in the Community Program, which provides free dental care for Montreal’s underserved populations. The program helped students and residents identify the needs of vulnerable groups in the community and undertake initiatives to better serve them.

While Dr. Dagenais left her role at McGill University in 2015 to assume the role of Director of Examinations and later Executive Director and Registrar of the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB), she was honoured to be invited to attend the award ceremony for her contributions to the ACFD educational framework. “It was a privilege to have been a part of these two organizations who are being recognized for their contributions to dentistry. In my role as Associate Dean, I was afforded the opportunity to work with an amazing group of people representing academic dentistry across the country and I am so pleased to see the work of these individuals being recognized through this prestigious award.”

Named for the “Father of Contemporary Dental Education and Research,” William J. Gies, Ph.D., the Gies Awards honour individuals and organizations that exemplify the highest standards in oral health, dental education, research, and leadership.

In the first quarter of 2019, the NDEB administered the Written Examination and OSCE on March 2 & 3, 2019. The AFK was held February 2 and the DSCKE February 8, 2019. The following are the latest statistics for 2018 and for 2019.

2019 SO FAR

Year Candidates % Pass Candidates % Pass Candidates % Pass2018 1373 84 1279 93 10 782019 771* 89* 758* 95* 6 76

* March only

WRITTEN OSCE DSCKE

Year Candidates % Pass Candidates % Pass Candidates % Pass2018 1585 49 943 44 693 362019 804* 46* - - - -

*February only

AFK ACJ ACS