# NBDE vs INBDE: What Changed, and How to Get Old NBDE Scores

URL: https://dentovio.com/inbde/nbde-vs-inbde

The National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) is retired: JCNDE discontinued Part I on July 31, 2020, and Part II was not available after July 31, 2022. The Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE), launched August 1, 2020, is the single National Board written exam for U.S. dental licensure and is accepted in all U.S. licensing jurisdictions.

## NBDE vs INBDE

| | NBDE (retired) | INBDE (current) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Structure | Two exams: Part I (basic sciences), Part II (clinical sciences) | One integrated exam |
| Questions | 900 total across both parts | 500 items over two days |
| Last / first administered | Part I through July 31, 2020; Part II through July 31, 2022 | Since August 1, 2020 |
| Score reporting | Pass/fail in its final decade; attempts before 2012 carry numerical scores | Pass/fail from launch; passing candidates see no number |
| Status today | Retired — cannot be taken by anyone | Accepted in all U.S. licensing jurisdictions |

## If you passed the NBDE

- JCNDE's transition guidance told state boards to prepare to accept completed National Boards under either sequence — the INBDE, or NBDE Parts I and II — and states that candidates who successfully completed NBDE Part I and Part II are no longer eligible to take any National Board Dental Examination. There is no INBDE requirement for dentists who finished the two-part sequence.
- JCNDE publishes no expiration on NBDE results, but each licensing jurisdiction determines its own requirements. Whether an old pass satisfies a specific board today is that board's published rule — check the board you are applying to: [state-by-state licensure directory](https://dentovio.com/dental-licensure-exams).

## Requesting an old NBDE score report (verified 2026-08-09)

1. Official results reports include **all previous National Board attempts — NBDE Part I, NBDE Part II, and the INBDE**; candidates who tested before 2012 still receive numerical scores for those attempts (2026 Candidate Guide, updated 08/04/2026).
2. Requests are made by **signing into your DENTPIN account (ADA.org/DENTPIN) and going to the 'Requests' tab**; the ADA's Department of Testing Services "will provide a history of results to dental and dental hygiene boards and any additional recipients indicated." Lost DENTPINs are retrieved at the ADA's [Manage your DENTPIN](https://www.ada.org/education/manage-your-dentpin) page.
3. The published reference fee is **$55 per additional results report**, defined in the INBDE fee schedule; the ADA publishes no separate fee schedule for legacy-NBDE-only requests — confirm the amount with **nbexams@ada.org** or **800.232.1694**.
4. Boards and schools view reported results through the **DTS Hub** (same portal); an optional National Board **certificate** can be purchased after DENTPIN login by anyone who "completed a National Board Dental Examination" — its price is shown after login, not published.
5. Not published by the ADA as of the verification date: a dedicated legacy-NBDE request page, a legacy-only fee schedule, and score-report processing times. Confirm unpublished details with the ADA testing services rather than third-party estimates.

## If you're preparing now

You are preparing for the INBDE. Start with [how to pass the INBDE](https://dentovio.com/inbde/how-to-pass/index.html.md), the [full blueprint](https://dentovio.com/inbde/blueprint/index.html.md), the [Day 2 case-day guide](https://dentovio.com/inbde/day-2/index.html.md), the [study-schedule generator](https://dentovio.com/inbde/study-schedule/index.html.md), and the [free readiness mock](https://dentovio.com/inbde/free-practice-test/index.html.md). NBDE-era question banks and notes are two exams out of date.

## Sources

- [2026 INBDE Candidate Guide (JCNDE, updated 08/04/2026)](https://jcnde.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/jcnde/files/inbde_candidate_guide.pdf) — legacy-attempt reporting, pre-2012 numerical scores, the 'Requests' tab process, and the fee table.
- [INBDE Information for State Dental Boards (JCNDE, July 2019)](https://jcnde.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/jcnde/files/inbde_facts_state_boards.pdf) — discontinuation dates and board-acceptance guidance.
- [INBDE Information for Test Takers (JCNDE, July 2019)](https://jcnde.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/jcnde/files/inbde_facts_students.pdf) — 500 vs 900 items, the no-longer-eligible rule, jurisdiction authority.
- [JCNDE.ada.org](https://jcnde.ada.org/) — DTS portal, DTS Hub, certificate purchase, contacts (verified 2026-08-09).

Last verified: 2026-08-09.

Dentovio is an independent publisher and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the JCNDE or ADA. INBDE® is a registered trademark of the American Dental Association; NBDE refers to the ADA's retired National Board Dental Examination program. This material is educational only; confirm score-request procedures with the ADA and licensure requirements with the responsible board. This page covers exam history and score-report logistics only — no clinical content — and it makes no reviewer claim.