After having taken both NERB and WREB, I agree with Desi Dentist, the WREB is harder. They grade harder, and it is a less standardized examination. You have already taken CRDTS, so you know the format, and you know what to expect. Also, the NERB accepts extremely small lesions, so that you can be assured you will most likely only have to drill ideal preparations. WREB is picky with their patient acceptance, and again, if they reject your lesion, you lose points that you can ill afford to lose. You may drill a beautiful prep, however, you will not necesssarily receive a beautiful score. I would take NERB because if you fail the Operative, you will know that day. With WREB, you may get point deductions that you are otherwise unaware of, and wait 3 agonizing weeks waiting to know your verdict. Also, you can practice, practice, and practice the typodont portion until you are able to do it in your sleep. It is entirely reproducible and predictable on the day of the exam. Not so with WREB. Also, you must take x-rays with WREB endo, and if the developer at the exam site is compromised, or too many people are taking the examination and you have to wait, you will lose points. The WREB data is also deceiving, at the Minnesota site this summer, where I took the WREB, the pass rate was 52%! Trust me on this. Certain schools are WREB schools, and there is an incentive to pass most of the students. Remember, ultimately, boards are political, and a business. If you are already familiar with a particular testing format, stick with it. Do not deviate from it...you have an advantage going into it next time. Also, if you fail the NERB, you retake failed sections. If you fail any part of WREB, you will more than likely fail the entire examination since all portions of the exam are interdependent.
Also, realize that no matter how well you feel you performed on your preparation and restoration, you WILL NOT receive scores of 5...even though you performed "5" criterion. The WREB hype is overrated. Trust me on this. I found out the hard way. Good luck, and don't let bad outcomes determine who you are as a dentist. I took the Traditional format of the NERB just recently, and I know that I passed the Operative and Periodontal sections. I practiced the manikin incessantly, and feel pretty good about it as well, although you cannot verify your endodontic fill, of course. As we know, the written portion of the NERB/CRDTS exam is doable. STICK WITH WHAT YOU KNOW, that is my best advice. I didn't, and in the end, I should have. Again, good luck.
