Oral Clinical Examination Study Tips and Examination Blueprint / ABPD

Oral Clinical Examination Preparation

Candidate Mock OCE Video

These videos have been created to help candidates become familiar with the examination process. The scenarios depicted are illustrative examples and do not represent actual exam content.

What a case scenario looks like
Assessing a task statement
Assessing a task statement

Suggested Resources and References

Review the Oral Health Policies and Clinical Guidelines in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Reference Manual
Review recent studies, clinical reports and articles
Review textbooks

Tips for preparing and taking the OCE:

Use flashcards.

Set aside time for study and reflection on a regular basis.
Find a mentor. Talking to other colleagues regarding how they prepared could help relieve anxiety of the unknown. It is important to understand that sharing examination content is not allowed, however discussions on how someone prepared or navigated the examination is acceptable.
Develop study teams or partners to practice. Follow the same systematic approach you would use in your clinical practice to evaluate patients.
Use flashcards.
Follow the same systematic approach you would use in your clinical practice to evaluate patients.
Review the OCE blueprint and scoring rubric.
Review OCE Exam guide.
Review communication strategies.
Review Candidate mock videos.
Review certification policies.
Review what to expect on the examination day.