Standalone DLOSCE ends after 9 October; the exam moves inside ADEX

The American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX) announced on 14 April 2026 an agreement under which the ADA's Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination (DLOSCE) is incorporated into the ADEX Dental Examination. According to the ADA's announcement, the DLOSCE has not been offered as a standalone examination to new candidates since 1 August 2026, except in conjunction with the ADEX Dental Examination, and all standalone administrations cease after 9 October 2026.

The Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE), which governs the DLOSCE, states on its examination page that the DLOSCE "is currently in its retake window", that no additional administrations are planned, and that all future administrations will be conducted through ADEX. The same page lists eight states that accept the DLOSCE in full or partial fulfilment of clinical examination requirements: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Oregon and Washington. For Alaska and Iowa it marks the fulfilment as partial, in conjunction with a hands-on assessment.

The ADA states that ADEX would sunset its own DSE OSCE no later than 1 August 2026, after which every ADEX Dental Examination administration includes the DLOSCE, and that the ADEX Dental Examination continues to assess clinical hand skills alongside treatment planning and decision-making. The announcement says the ADEX Dental Examination is currently accepted or required in 48 states and in Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Jamaica and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The JCNDE refers candidates to each state board's website for specific details and updated policies.