Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Licensure Exam Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board confirms reduction in RDA written exam scoreable items from 125 to 100, effective Nov. 1
Summary
Office of Professional Examination Services and board staff reported a regulatory change approved in November 2023 will take effect Nov. 1, 2025, reducing the RDA written examination to 100 scoreable items while retaining a three‑hour testing window. OPES clarified 25 pretest items will remain in the test form.
The Dental Assisting Council received an update Aug. 14 on reforms to the Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) general written law and ethics examination.
What the council was told
- Christy Bell and the Office of Professional Examination Services (OPES) summarized a 2023 occupational analysis and subsequent regulatory recommendation. OPES recommended moving from a fixed minimum passing score to a criterion‑referenced passing score and reducing the number of scoreable items on the RDA written examination from 125 to 100 to lower barriers to licensure while maintaining reliability.
- The board approved the recommended rule‑making package in November 2023; the new test form will take effect Nov. 1, 2025. OPES said candidates will continue to be allotted three hours to complete the examination.
- OPES clarified that while scoreable items will be reduced to 100, the test will still include 25 pretest (non‑scored) items used for future test development. OPES said this information will be included in the candidate bulletin.
Ending: The item was informational. OPES staff were available for questions; no council action was required.
