dangerous to retake part I and II ?

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jakdie999

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I graduated from dental school a few months, and am now at a general dentistry residency. I don't have any state licensure yet.

While in dental school, I passed both the part I and II exams alright.

I'm not sure at this point but it seems as if I *might* require high scores in the future.

It's been a while since I had studied for any basic science or dental subjects and I've heard they changed the format of the national boards. I'm afraid it's not too inconceivable for me to actually fail one or both exams upon a retake.

Does anyone know what happens if you fail the exams on retake? ( especially after you graduated from dental school ? ) When you're applying for state licensure, which scores will ADA forward?
 
Just my 2 cents. The reason you would retake it is to get good or great scores. There is no way, especially since its been a few years, to get good or great scores without a lot of hard work an studying. In other words, if you are going to do it, failing the exam should not even be a consideration. You should be worried that you will get an 85 instead of a 93. So, either go all out, and take it after you feel fully prepared, or don't even mess with it. To state it another way: you shouldn't be asking this question.
 
don't retake the tests unless you are 100% sure you will pass and the only question is whether or not you will excel.
 
Since when does state licensure require high board scores. If you pass your regional clinical board, you are going to get a license. Part I and II are really only critical when applying to residency or specialty programs (or am I unaware of something?).....
 
Since when does state licensure require high board scores. If you pass your regional clinical board, you are going to get a license. Part I and II are really only critical when applying to residency or specialty programs (or am I unaware of something?).....

Probably thinking about specializing, like you alluded to in the end of your post.
 
If you're considering applying for a speciality anytime down the road, I would retake Part I and try to do as well as possible on that. Most speciality programs do not place much emphasis on Part II to warrant having to retake both of them over.

Really can't afford to be uncertain about whether you are going to pass or not, because the ramifications (which I'm not too sure about) will not be pretty. Your studying needs to be very focused on getting the highest score you can possibly obtain.

I didn't prepare myself enough the first time around and just did alright, the 2nd time I knew my pitfalls and really tried to study every single old exam question and my score jumped tremendously.

Applying after doing a GPR/AEGD will benefit you in you didn't have the best GPA in dental school. I think if you show that you really applied yourself into studying and retaking Part I and did a lot better you can increase your chances of get into a program.
 
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