Dental Board to shrink RDA written exam to 100 scorable items; candidates will still face 25 pretest items

The Dental Board of California told licensees on Aug. 14 that the Registered Dental Assistant general written law-and-ethics exam will be reduced from 125 scorable items to 100 scorable items beginning Nov. 1, 2025.

Why it matters: The Office of Professional Examination Services (OPES) recommended the change after an occupational analysis that updated the exam content outline; OPES said the reduction in scored items will maintain reliability while reducing barriers to licensure.

Board interim executive officer Christy Bell summarized the OPES recommendations at the meeting. OPES had urged a regulatory change to move from a fixed minimum passing score to a criterion-referenced standard; once adopted, OPES advised reducing the number of scorable items.

OPES representative Karen Okasich clarified the technical detail: "It's 100 scorable items. There will still also be 25 pretest items." She said every candidate will be informed in the candidate bulletin and that the test administration vendor will present the updated content outline to candidates when they register.

The board said OPES will continue coordinating with the test vendor to ensure candidates receive updated outlines. Candidates will continue to receive three hours to complete the exam; the board said the change is intended to reduce barriers while preserving test reliability.

Ending: The board treated the item as informational. OPES and board staff will publish candidate-bulletin materials and continue to coordinate implementation before the November effective steps.

Sources: Aug. 14, 2025 board meeting; presentation by Christy Bell and Karen Okasich (Office of Professional Examination Services).