Who Can Examine?
Dental and Dental Hygiene professionals act as examiners for ADEX in the delivery and grading of assessments nationwide.
There are two pathways to becoming an examiner. Examiners must either be State dental board members or approved consultants. Each plays a critical role by participating in the examination administration process. All examiners participate in rigorous standardization and calibration exercises to ensure that examinations are administered and scored uniformly and in accordance with established guidelines.
“Serving as an ADEX examiner has given me a much clearer understanding of what new graduates are actually able to do safely and consistently at the point of entry into practice. That perspective has been valuable in my role on the state board when we’re thinking about licensure standards and our responsibility to protect the public. You see firsthand how clinical judgment, infection control, and fine motor skills come together in patient care, and it reinforces why competency-based assessment still matters.” ~Dr. Jones, ADEX Dental Examiner | Member, XX State Board of Dentistry
“Participating in the ADEX exam process has helped me stay closely connected to how clinical skills are being evaluated across programs. In my role with our dental hygiene board, that insight has been important when we talk about licensure requirements and maintaining public safety. It’s one thing to read about assessment standards — it’s another to be involved in evaluating candidates and understand how those expectations translate to real patient care.” ~Savannah S. RDH, ADEX Dental Hygiene Examiner | Member, XX State Board of Dentistry
“Working as an ADEX examiner has helped me bring a more practical understanding of entry-level competency back to our students. I’m able to speak to the expectations they’ll face at licensure in a way that’s grounded in experience, not just policy. It’s also been helpful to see how other programs prepare their students, which has informed how we approach clinical readiness in our own curriculum.” ~ Dr. Smith, ADEX Examinger | Clinical Faculty Member, XX School
Sample Testimonial Space
State Board Members
Participation in the American Board of Dental Examiners allows regulators to uphold public protection and contribute to national consistency in dental and dental hygiene competency standards. Engagement ensures that the licensure pathways align with real-world practice, regulatory priorities, and evolving standards of care. Examiners who have served on the board of dentistry of their state may continue to examine after their terms have expired, provided they maintain a full, active license in good standing.
If you are a current state board member and wish to become an examiner, click the button below to let us know.
Consultant Examiners
A Consultant Member application is available to persons who have not served on boards of dentistry. Consultant Examiners are appointed, then reappointed after an annual review. A Consultant Examiner must maintain a full, active license in good standing to practice dentistry or dental hygiene and have been in practice for at least five years. Consultant Examiners cannot vote or hold office within the organization but may participate on committees where permitted. Applicants will be required to include license information and name a referral.
Applications for consultancy are reviewed annually by the Board of Directors. If approved, applicants must adhere to non-disclosure policies, detail conflicts of interest, and be active participants in the examination process as defined by the member participation policy, including accepting and fulfilling two (2) assignments per year when selected.
