INBDE Registration Step by Step (2026): DENTPIN, ECE, Fees and Booking Your Test

  • Dr. T
  • October 10, 2026
  • 0 Comments
INBDE registration · Updated October 2026

INBDE Registration Step by Step (2026): DENTPIN, ECE, Fees and Booking Your Test Date

Registering for the INBDE takes eight clear steps, and most delays come from small mistakes: a name that does not match, documents sent the wrong way, or an eligibility window that runs out. Here is every step in order, with the official 2026 fees and the rules international dentists need to know.

$1,325total fee for international candidates
6 monthsto test once you are approved
2 daysexam, 500 questions
3 weekstypical wait for results
Prep plansThe 8 stepsFeesChecklistTest dayMistakesFAQ
The whole road

INBDE registration in 8 steps

Steps 1 and 2 are where international dentists usually lose time, so start them first.

Step 1Get your DENTPINYour eight-digit Dental Personal Identification Number from the ADA. You need it before you can apply.1 If you have ever applied to the DAT, ADAT or CAAPID, you already have one, so do not create a second.2 See our DENTPIN guide.
Step 2Confirm your degree through ECE (international dentists)Every candidate from a non-CODA-accredited dental school must have their degree confirmed by Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).1 ECE sends the report straight to the JCNDE, and the name on it must match your DENTPIN exactly.3
Step 3Apply online and payApply through the JCNDE’s online application (the ADA’s DTS portal) with your legal name, DENTPIN, address and date of birth. Your card is charged when you submit, and exam fees are non-refundable.14
Step 4Receive your eligibility emailAfter the JCNDE reviews your application, you receive an eligibility email. Check your spam folder. From approval, you have six months to test.14
Step 5Book your test at PrometricSchedule online with Prometric, using your DENTPIN as your eligibility ID. The JCNDE suggests booking 60 to 90 days before the date you want.4
Step 6Prepare and plan your travelThe INBDE is offered only at Prometric centres in the United States, its territories and Canada (not in Quebec).15 International dentists must travel to test, so check the visitor visa rules for your country early.
Step 7Sit the examTwo days, 500 questions, 12 hours 30 minutes in total. Day 2 must fall within seven days of Day 1, at the same test centre.1
Step 8Get your resultResults arrive within four weeks, usually within three, in your DENTPIN account. A pass shows only “Pass”.1 Read how the INBDE is scored.
Step 2 in detail

The ECE step for international dentists

$110

U.S. General ReportEnough if you are only applying for the INBDE.3

$199

U.S. Course-by-Course ReportRequired by most US dental schools, and also accepted by the JCNDE. If you plan to apply through CAAPID, order this one once.3

For Indian dentistsECE asks for your degree or provisional certificate, statements of marks for all examination attempts and your internship completion certificate. Documents issued by affiliated colleges are not accepted, and you must not send or forward documents yourself; they come from the university or an approved digital service.6 Most evaluations finish about two weeks after ECE receives everything.6
Still a student at a dental school outside the US?You can apply before you graduate. You also need the JCNDE’s Certification of Eligibility form, carrying your school’s seal and the signature of the dean or registrar, with every application.1
Plan the money

INBDE fees in 2026

International candidates pay the exam fee plus a processing fee.1

Exam fee $890
Processing $435
Examination fee$890
Processing fee for students or graduates of non-CODA dental programs$435
Total for international candidates$1,325
$1,080INBDE + DLOSCE bundle, saving $470 against buying both separately
$150one 45-day extension of your eligibility window
$55each extra results report

Rescheduling at Prometric costs $50 at 30 or more business days before your test, $70 at 5 to 29 business days and $150 at 1 to 4 business days. A no-show forfeits the full fee.1 Taking the DLOSCE too? See the DLOSCE course blueprint.

Interactive

Your registration checklist

Tap each item as you complete it.

On the day

What test day looks like

ID

Two original, current IDsOne government-issued photo ID with your signature, plus a second ID with your name and signature, such as a bank card. Expired IDs and copies are refused, and every ID except a passport must be in English.1

Day 1

8 hours 15 minutesThree sections of 100 standalone questions and one section of 60 case-based questions.1

Day 2

4 hours 15 minutesTwo sections of 70 case-based questions, within seven days of Day 1.1

Practise the full length firstTwo days and 500 questions is a stamina test as much as a knowledge test. Our course includes two full 2-day simulation exams so test day feels familiar. See the course blueprint.
Save yourself months

8 mistakes that delay INBDE registration

1

A name that does not matchYour IDs, DENTPIN, application and ECE report must match exactly, or you can be turned away and lose the fee.13

2

A second DENTPINIf you already have one from CAAPID, the ADAT or the DAT, use it. Name corrections go through your existing account.2

3

Documents sent the wrong wayAffiliated-college documents, or documents you forward yourself, are not accepted by ECE.6

4

Ordering the wrong ECE reportIf you will apply to dental schools later, the course-by-course report covers both needs.3

5

Letting the six months run outIf you do not test within your eligibility period, the fee is forfeited.1

6

Booking too lateSeats go early. Book 60 to 90 days ahead, for both days at the same centre.4

7

Last-minute name changesCorrections must be made at least ten business days before your test date.1

8

Expired or copied IDsOnly original, current IDs are accepted on test day.1

Registered? Now prepare.

How to prepare: our full plans

Registration gets you a seat. Preparation gets you a pass.

INBDE

INBDE Premium BoardsA complete course built by US-licensed dentists:

  • 12 sequenced course sections
  • 35,000+ focused INBDE questions
  • Two full 2-day simulation exams
  • Nightly 9 PM New York live tests

See the INBDE Course Blueprint

Plan

Time your registration to your planPick your study pace first, then book a test date that matches it.

How Hard Is the INBDE?

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Can I take the INBDE in India, Pakistan or another country outside North America?
No. The INBDE is offered only at Prometric centres in the United States, its territories and Canada, excluding Quebec.15
Do I need to graduate before I apply?
No. Students at non-CODA dental schools can apply with the Certification of Eligibility form, signed and sealed by their school.1
Can I get a refund if I change my mind?
No. INBDE exam fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.4 You can buy one 45-day extension for $150 if you need more time.1
What if I do not pass?
You can retest after 60 days, up to four times in 12 months, with a new application and fee each time.1 Read what happens if you fail the INBDE.
When should I register?
Once your preparation has a realistic finish date. You get six months from approval to test, so registering too early can waste your window.1
Pass on your first attempt

INBDE Premium Boards by The Study Boards

12 sections, 35,000+ focused questions, two full 2-day simulations and US-licensed dentists answering your questions, backed by our Pass Guarantee. Trusted by 15,000+ dentists.

12 course sections2-day simulationsNightly 9 PM NY live testsPass Guarantee

See the Blueprint

Stuck on a registration step?

Message us on WhatsApp. Our Admin Team with Dr. T and Dr. Kaur will walk you through it and help you plan your test date.

Message the Admin Team on WhatsApp

References

  1. Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE). INBDE 2026 Candidate Guide (updated 08/04/2026): eligibility, fees, application, eligibility period, rescheduling, ID rules, administration schedule, results. jcnde.ada.org
  2. American Dental Association. Manage your DENTPIN. ada.org
  3. Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). ADA/JCNDE evaluations: report types, fees, name matching. ece.org
  4. JCNDE. INBDE: How to apply: payment, refunds, eligibility email, scheduling 60 to 90 days ahead. jcnde.ada.org
  5. Prometric. ADA seat availability: testing countries listed as the United States, Canada, Guam and Puerto Rico. prometric.com
  6. ECE. Document requirements: India. ece.org

Current as of October 2026. Fees and rules change; confirm with the JCNDE, ECE and Prometric before you apply. Visa rules depend on your country and are not covered here. Educational content, not legal or immigration advice.