ADA and ADEX Open Talks on Aligning Dental Hygiene Licensure Exams

Edited by Hygienetown staff

The American Dental Association, the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations, and the American Board of Dental Examiners have begun discussions on advancing dental hygiene licensure assessment, the organizations announced Oct. 5.

The ADA and ADEX are exploring ways to strengthen alignment in dental hygiene licensure examination content, evaluation methods, and candidate experience to help state boards in their mission to protect the public, according to a joint statement. The statement describes the work as discussions and does not announce changes to any examination.

Representatives from dental hygiene, dental schools, dental practice, dental examining boards, dental students, and the public are participating through the joint commission, the agency that develops and administers the National Board Examinations.

The effort builds on an agreement the organizations reached earlier this year to incorporate the Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination, developed by the ADA and the joint commission, into the ADEX Dental Examination.

ADEX examinations are accepted or required by law in 51 U.S. jurisdictions and serve as the initial licensure pathway for 98% of dental candidates and 85% of dental hygiene candidates nationwide, according to the organizations.

Then-ADA President Richard Rosato said the association supports licensure approaches that put patient safety first and are rigorous, fair, and responsive to workforce needs. ADEX Chair Mark Armstrong said ADEX’s responsibility to state dental boards extends to both dentistry and dental hygiene, and that the goal is to advance hygiene licensure assessment while preserving clinical standards and public protection priorities.

The organizations said they expect continued engagement over the coming months as they explore best practices and opportunities to support consistent, modern, and defensible dental hygiene licensure examination standards.

Sources:
American Dental Association, “American Dental Association and American Board of Dental Examiners Announce Collaboration to Advance Dental Hygiene Licensure,” Oct. 5, 2026: ada.org/about/press-releases/ada-abd-collab-advance-dental-hygiene-licensure
ADA News, “ADA, American Board of Dental Examiners collaborate to advance dental hygiene licensure,” Oct. 5, 2026: adanews.ada.org/2026/october/dental-hygiene-licensure