“National Certification, National Certification, what is it all about?what is it all about?”
Last revised: November 2014
NDHCB
This presentation will focus on the following:
The NDHCB (National Dental Hygiene Certification Board) organization
The NDHCE (National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination) development
The NDHCE administration
How to prepare for the NDHCE
Security Issues
Exam Process
In addition, we are committed toIn addition, we are committed to::
Reflect a national standard for entry/re-entry into the practice of Dental Hygiene;Conduct examinations in a fair, valid, reliable and equitable manner;Issue a certificate to successful candidates;Maintain a register of successful candidates.
The National Dental Hygiene Certification Board exists The National Dental Hygiene Certification Board exists so that Canadian Regulators have reliable and valid so that Canadian Regulators have reliable and valid testing mechanisms for assessing current dental testing mechanisms for assessing current dental hygiene competencieshygiene competencies..
History• The NDHCE was developed in response to a priority
concern of Canadian dental hygienist regulators for minimum entry-to-practice standards;
• The NDHCB is a not-for-profit organization. While it was formed in 1994, it was incorporated in February 1996, with its own Board of governors comprised of representatives from;
– All provincial Regulating Agencies (except Québec’s)– 2 Stakeholder Organizations: CDAC, CDHA (DH
Educator position)
– 1 Public Member
Assists DHRAs in protecting the public by assessing minimal competence for entry-level practice thus ensuring preparedness to practice Dental Hygiene;
Evaluates knowledge/skill level against national standards for education and practice;
Is based on DH competencies as defined in the National blueprint;
Is currently required in all provinces, except Québec, for entry into the practice;
The National Dental Hygiene The National Dental Hygiene Certification Examination (NDHCE)Certification Examination (NDHCE)
How do I apply to write the examination?How do I apply to write the examination?
The NDHCE Online Application form is available through the NDHCB website (www.ndhcb.ca/en/forms.php#P4);
Submit the application with appropriate fee and required documents to the NDHCB;
An Application Guide and a Candidate Guide are also available on the NDHCB website at (www.ndhcb.ca/en/forms.php#P4)
The Application ProcessThe Application Process
Eligibility Evaluation
Forms + $800 (+ tax) + docs
Can take 8-10 weeks or more depending on
complexity
Students Graduates
Exam Application
$665 fee (+tax)($565 + tax for retakes)
Online “seat” selection (time &
location)
Online approval by the DH Program Coords
Ifpositive
If from DH program with “status under review”
Candidates from non accreditednon accredited
schools
Candidates from accreditedaccredited
schools
May apply if within 4 months of graduation at the
application deadline date
What happens after I submit my Examination application?What happens after I submit my Examination application?If you applied online: • you will receive an immediate confirmation of payment;• if you have already been granted eligibility, the NDHCB will confirm
your exam registration;• if you have not been granted eligibility yet, your program director will
be contacted by email to confirm eligibility (after the application deadline). Once granted, the NDHCB will then confirm your exam registration and invite you to select exam time and location online.
If you applied by mail, the NDHCB will:• review the application to confirm your eligibility;• process the payment, email a receipt for fees and confirmation of
examination registration and invite you to select exam time and location online.
Examination AdministrationExamination Administration
20+ computerized testing sites across Canada (see list on NDHCB website)
Offered 3 times per year:January 19-20, 2015 (deadline: November 20, 2014)May 19-20, 2015 (deadline: March 19, 2015)September 21-22, 2015 (deadline: July 23, 2015) *
* The number of days the exam is offered may vary in certain exam centres depending on the number of candidates and seating availability
The minimum score required to pass is set in advance according to a proven statistical method. It will also vary depending on which items the candidate sees. Over the past 5 years, it has varied
between 66% and 71%
Results
NDHCE 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
# %Pass # %
Pass # %Pass # %
Pass # %Pass
January 340 72% 297 73% 272 74% 200 77% 261 86%
May 1,117 92% 921 90% 978 85% 575 85% 678 87.6%
September 452 74% 365 78% 315 67% 210 68% 225 65.3%
TOTAL 1,909 84% 1583 84% 1,565 79% 985 80% 1164 83%
Individual school results for each exam administration can be viewed at www.ndhcb.ca/en/exam_results.php
What is the examination format?What is the examination format?4 hour exam: 2 periods of 2 hrs ea with a 15 min compulsory break – Many centres have 2 exam sessions per day (morning & afternoon) over 1 to 3 days;
200 questions – 180 scored and 20 non-scored;
Independent and case-based questions;
Delivered “randomly” (the computer selects different forms from a pre-selected pool).
Some items are based on images.
Notes: show up at least 30 min before exam time bring a government issued photo ID bring a sweater & wear shoes with socks so as to not get cold
Development & Administration of NDHCE
Competency Review Blueprint Development
Item Writing
Experimental Testing& Item Analysis
Group Review
Technical Review & Professional Editing
By DH experts
By NDHCB DH Advisor & Testing Agency expert
By other DH experts and by the Testing Agency
By DH experts
Development & Administration of NDHCE (con’t)
Monitoring of the Exam& Setting Score
Review of translation(French Validation Group)
Administration of Exam
Scoring, Security analysis & Reporting of Results
By the Exam Committee
By experienced bilingual RDHs
By computer in specialized centres
By the Testing Agency, a Security firm and the NDHCB
Translation By a professional translator
Examination application and Candidate Guide (with info about withdrawals, transfers & security)
Latest NDHCE BlueprintSample questions and answers (with rationale & related competency)
Online Practice Tests – two 75 item mini tests (a 3rd one will be available in early 2015) through our website www.ndhcb.ca/en/prep_test.php
List of some reference textsEnglish/French lexiconAccommodation guide for Candidates with Disabilities
How to prepare for the examination?How to prepare for the examination?Go to www.ndhcb.ca/en/forms to access the following resource documents:
Latest Examination Blueprint
Published in September 2011;Reflects the latest National competencies approved by the FDHRA (Federation of Dental Hygiene
Regulatory Authorities);All exams are based on the 2011 Blueprint
Available on the NDHCB website: www.ndhcb.ca/en/forms.php#P4
NDHCB Blueprint - 12 Categories - 117 Competencies
CATEGORIES Total Number of Competencies
Relative % Versus Complete Profile
PROFESSIONALISM- 1. Responsibility- 2. Accountability- 3. Continuing Competence- 4. Professional Relationships- 5. Client Relationships- 6. Practice Management
28 24%
FOUNDATIONS- 7. Foundational Knowledge- 8. Health & Safety
24 20.5%
- 9. Assessment and diagnosis 28 24%
- 10. Implementation 20 17%
- 11 & 12. Planning & evaluation 17 14.5%
Weighting of the 117 Competencies identified in the NDHCB Blueprint
Group 1-AVery critical/higher frequency
30 competencies
35-45% of the exam
Group 2-ALess critical/higher frequency
30 competencies
15-25% of the exam
Group 1-BVery critical/lower frequency
28 competencies
25-35% of the exam
Group 2-BLess critical/lower frequency
29 competencies
5-15% of the exam
What does the examination look like?
Check out our online Prep Tests at: www.ndhcb.ca/en/prep_test.php
as well as the free sample questions at: www.ndhcb.ca/en/forms.php#P3
What happens if you pass the examination?
Your Candidate ID number will be listed on our website, along with all the other candidates from the same examination, as soon as all the results are available;You will receive a letter in the mail with your official results, along with your NDHCB certificate, within 6 weeks after the exam;You must then contact the DHRA in the jurisdiction you wish to be registered to practice.
What happens if you fail the examination?What happens if you fail the examination?
You will receive a “fail” result letter, including a personalized Performance Profile, by email within 6 weeks after the exam;You will be invited to submit a new Exam application for an upcoming administration;You can attempt the examination up to 3 times (note the change from a maximum of 4 attempts to 3 – those who have already written and failed once before 2015 will retain a maximum of 4 attempts).
Our standards and procedures have 2 related goals:• Giving candidates comparable opportunities to
demonstrate their abilities;• Preventing any of them from gaining an unfair
advantage over others. To promote these objectives, the NDHCB reserves the right to cancel or withhold any examination results when, in the sole opinion of the NDHCB:
• there is an apparent discrepancy in, or falsification of, a candidate’s identification;
• a candidate engages in misconduct or plagiarism; (next page)
What happens if your result is labeledWhat happens if your result is labeled““Under Review”Under Review”
• a testing irregularity occurred;• when aberrancies in performance are detected for
which there is no reasonable and satisfactory explanation; or
• the results are believed to be invalid for any other believed to be invalid for any other reasonreason..
On its website, the NDHCB will label these candidates by ID # only as “Under Review”, until it conducts its investigation process;
A decision will be rendered as quickly as possible;
See www.ndhcb.ca/en/exam_security.php for more info.
What happens if your result is labeledWhat happens if your result is labeled““Under Review”Under Review” (continued) (continued)
Exam ProcessAll writing centres are computerized - minimum of 1 centre within 100km of any accredited DH school;Proctors are hired and trained by our exam publisher - Yardstick - a Canadian-based company;Every exam is available in bilingual form – candidates can switch from English to French and vice-versa anytime during the exam;Candidates see a “different” exam version since forms of 180 scored items are delivered randomly from a pre-selected pool of items, in addition to the 20 non-scored items also delivered to each candidate;
Thank you!and Good Luck!
NDHCB1929 Russell Rd, Suite #322
Ottawa, ON K1G 4G3Tel : 613-260-8156Fax: [email protected]