INBDE Testing Accommodations: Extra Time and How to Request It
The INBDE offers testing accommodations, such as extra time or a separate room, to candidates with a documented disability or medical condition under the Americans with Disabilities Act. You request them in your DENTPIN account with the Testing Accommodations Request Form and a report from a qualified healthcare professional, and you must be approved before you book your Prometric appointment.
Practise at the timing you will actually get
In The Study Boards INBDE course, timed tests, the nightly live test at 9 PM New York time and full 2-day simulation exams show your time per question, so you can see whether pace is really the problem. If you have an approved accommodation, use that data to rehearse the pace your approved timing allows. The course is extremely personalised: red lines and assignments are given to you on the go, the course learns from the way you are studying, and our faculty are there to assist you.
Who qualifies for INBDE accommodations
The JCNDE provides “reasonable and appropriate” accommodations, under the Americans with Disabilities Act, to candidates with documented disabilities or medical conditions who show a need, ask before testing and are approved.1 At The Study Boards we get this question often from international dentists, so here is what the law and the JCNDE actually say.
What counts as a disabilityA physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, such as seeing, hearing, learning, reading, concentrating or thinking, or a major bodily function.3
The ADA Amendments Act widened itThe 2008 Act says the definition should be read in favour of broad coverage. A condition that comes and goes, or is in remission, counts if it limits you when active.4
Treatment does not cancel itWhether you qualify is judged without the benefit of medication or devices (ordinary glasses aside). Good grades in dental school do not rule you out either.3
Common examples include ADHD, a diagnosed learning disorder such as dyslexia, a diagnosed anxiety disorder, diabetes, chronic pain that limits sitting, visual or hearing impairment, and temporary conditions such as a recent fracture or concussion. The diagnosis alone is not enough: the report must show how the condition limits you on a test like this one.
Types of INBDE accommodations
Prometric delivers the INBDE, and it lists the accommodations it can set up. The JCNDE decides which ones you get, and your request must match your functional limitation.15
Extra testing timePrometric’s options include additional time, time and a half, and double time. Time and a half means the standard time plus half again.5
Separate roomA private testing room. Prometric notes it is not soundproof.5
Breaks and multi-day testingPrometric can spread an exam over more days, and lists “other reasonable requests” beyond its standard list. Extra or longer breaks fall here.5
Food, drink, medicine or devices at your deskThe JCNDE bans food, drinks and measuring devices from the testing room “except those items approved in advance under testing accommodations”.1
Vision and hearing supportScreen magnifiers, a larger monitor, anti-glare screens, screen readers, a reader or a sign language interpreter.5
Physical accessAdjustable-height tables, special chairs, ergonomic keyboards or mice, and privacy for breastfeeding or pumping.5
What time and a half looks like on paper
The JCNDE does not publish an extended-time INBDE schedule. Your approval sets your exact timing. As plain arithmetic only:
| Standard | Time and a half | Double time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| One section | 105 min | about 157 min | 210 min |
| All six sections | 630 min (10.5 h) | 945 min (15.75 h) | 1,260 min (21 h) |
Section times from the JCNDE schedule.1 Multiplier definitions from Prometric.5 Breaks and tutorials are not included. Your approval may spread this over more than two days.
Documentation the JCNDE accepts
Send this
- A current evaluation report, dated within the past five years, from a healthcare professional qualified for your condition
- On official letterhead, with the professional’s credentials, signature, address and phone number
- Your name, date of birth and the evaluation date
- The tests or diagnostic procedures used, the results and what they mean
- The specific diagnosis and how it limits you
- Recommended accommodations and how each one reduces the limitation
- Proof of past accommodations from your university or another exam. If you never had any, the professional must explain why, and why you need them now
Source: the JCNDE Candidate Guide.1
Do not send this
- Handwritten letters (they must be typed)
- Handwritten patient records or chart notes
- Diagnoses on a prescription pad
- Self-evaluations
- Research articles
- Original documents (send copies)
- Earlier letters to the JCNDE (they already have them)
The JCNDE will not accept these.1
How to request INBDE accommodations
You need three things: a completed exam application, the Testing Accommodations Request Form in your DENTPIN account, and your documentation. Requests are accepted only online through DENTPIN.12 There are two routes.
Accommodations timeline
The JCNDE does not publish a review time, and federal guidance only requires a “timely” response.3 Build in plenty of room.
RetakesRequest accommodations again with every application. You do not need new documents for the same condition.1
Not on your resultsYour accommodations are shared only with the testing staff and are not shown on your results.1
Same ID rulesAccommodations do not change the ID policy: two original IDs whose name matches your application exactly.1
Medical and religious items on test day
| Item | What the rules say | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Religious attire (turban, hijab, head covering) | Allowed; the JCNDE bans head coverings except religious attire.1 | Wear it. Expect a visual inspection. |
| Religious objects (beads, charms, bracelets) | The JCNDE bans “religious or spiritual items”. Prometric’s general list allows some, but says sponsors’ lists may differ.16 | Email [email protected] well before booking if you need to keep one on. |
| Medicine, insulin, glucose, inhaler | Prometric’s pre-approved list includes inhalers, insulin pens and glucose tablets; the JCNDE bans food and drink unless approved.16 | If you may need it during a section, request it as an accommodation. Otherwise keep it in your locker for scheduled breaks. |
| Water or snacks at your desk | Banned unless approved in advance.1 | Request it, with documentation, for example for diabetes. |
| Earplugs | JCNDE bans personal earplugs not approved by Prometric.1 | Use the center’s headphones. |
How to prepare: our full plan
The Study Boards INBDE courseINBDE Premium Boards, built by US-licensed dentists:
- 12 sequenced sections and 35,000+ questions
- Two full 2-day simulation exams
- Time-per-question tracking
- Nightly live tests at 9 PM New York time
Plan around your timingRead next:
Frequently asked questions
Can I get extra time on the INBDE?
Can I get extra time because English is my second language?
How long before my exam should I request accommodations?
Do I need new documents every time I retake?
Will dental schools see that I had accommodations?
How does The Study Boards help candidates who have accommodations?
Not sure if you qualify? Ask us first.
Our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will contact you over WhatsApp.
References
- Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE). INBDE 2026 Candidate Guide (updated 08/04/2026): Testing Accommodations, Acceptable and Unacceptable Forms of Documentation, prohibited items, application procedures, fees, scoring. jcnde.ada.org
- JCNDE. Apply for the INBDE: accommodation requests submitted electronically through DENTPIN; schedule 60 to 90 days ahead. jcnde.ada.org/inbde/inbde-apply
- US Department of Justice. ADA Requirements: Testing Accommodations (updated 28 February 2020). ada.gov
- US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. ADA Amendments Act of 2008. eeoc.gov
- Prometric. Accommodations List. prometric.com
- Prometric. Pre-Approved Items. prometric.com
Current as of October 2026. This page explains the JCNDE’s published process; it is not legal or medical advice. The JCNDE decides every request.