June 2011 ■ Journal of Dental Education 719 Critical Issues in Dental Education Evaluating Postdoctoral Dental Candidates: Assessing the Need and Recommendations for a National Qualifying Examination Abby J. Brodie, D.M.D., M.S.; Heidi C. Crow, D.M.D., M.S.; Robert M. Eber, D.D.S., M.S.; Robert Handysides, D.D.S.; Roy Holexa, D.D.S.; Sudarat Kiat-amnuay, D.D.S., M.S.; Heiko Spallek, D.M.D., Ph.D., M.S.B.A.(CIS) Abstract: Increasingly, U.S. dental schools report pass/fail grades and do not rank students. In addition, the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations will report National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) scores as pass/fail after January 1, 2012. This article discusses how these changes will force postdoctoral dental program directors to modify how they assess candidates and how noncognitive evaluations might enhance those assessments. The authors propose developing a national qualifying examination for postdoctoral dental programs that will measure knowledge, decision making, and noncognitive traits including empathy, self-conidence, integrity, and emotional intelligence. Without NBDE scores, class rank, and GPA as a basis for decision making, a single national qualifying examination would assist postdoctoral programs in selecting high-quality candidates based on knowledge, critical thinking skills, and noncognitive traits. Dr. Brodie is Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Curriculum and Educational Affairs, Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine; Dr. Crow is Associate Professor, Oral Diagnostic Sciences, and Associate Dean, Advanced Educa- tion, University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine; Dr. Eber is Clinical Professor and Director, Healthcare Delivery Pathway Program, University of Michigan School of Dentistry; Dr. Handysides is Associate Professor and Chair of Endodontics, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry; Dr. Holexa is Clinical Associate Professor and Comprehensive Care Unit Director, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, A.T. Still University; Dr. Kiat-amnuay is Associate Professor and Director, Postgraduate Gen- eral Dentistry Clinics, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Dental Branch; and Dr. Spallek is Associate Profes- sor and Associate Dean, Ofice of Faculty Development and Information Management, Dental Public Health, Center for Dental Informatics, University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. The authors were members of the 2010 class of the American Dental Education Association’s Leadership Institute. Direct correspondence and requests for reprints to Dr. Abby J. Brodie, Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, 3200 S. University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328; 954-262-7342 phone; 954-262-3293 fax; abrodie@nsu.nova.edu. Keywords: postdoctoral dental education, postgraduate dental education, admissions criteria, holistic admissions practices, national qualifying examination Submitted for publication 8/19/10; accepted 12/13/10 C hoosing among candidates for postdoctoral dental educational programs remains one of the most critical decisions facing dental high- er education, while the means by which we currently assess applicants to these programs are undergoing signiicant changes. Since 2004, applications to all postdoctoral dental programs have increased 10 per- cent, while enrollment has increased only 6 percent. Application numbers vary among programs, but there are, on average, ifteen applications for every open position, with the highest being thirty-six applica- tions per position in oral and maxillofacial surgery. 1 From this competitive applicant pool, programs seek the best-qualiied candidates who are capable of working well with other students, faculty mem- bers, and patients. In addition, they want to select candidates who will be successful future clinicians, researchers, educators, and leaders in dentistry. One of the primary criteria traditionally used for selecting candidates will no longer be available after Janu- ary 1, 2012. After that date, National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) Parts I and II scores will be reported as pass/fail. 2 With the impending change in reporting of NBDE scores in mind, the purposes of this article are to review currently used means of evaluating candidates for postdoctoral dental programs and to make recommendations for the development of a new qualifying examination. Resident selection practices, implications for the profession, and considerations