The National Board for Certification in Dental Laboratory Technology (NBC) has long been working to integrate digital technologies into its examination process for the Certified Dental Technician (CDT) credential. As part of NBC's efforts to continue to evolve its certification programs, NBC is developing a new CDT specialty in Digital Workflow. NBC has contracted with JML Measurement & Testing Services, LLC, to guide it through the creation of this new CDT specialty in Digital Workflow.

During the 2nd quarter of 2022, NBC created a task force charged with exploring the creation of a new certification for digital technicians. The task force worked to perform a job task analysis for digital workflow. NBC sent the draft job task outline to its communities of interest to validate the work of the task force. Using the responses from the communities of interest, NBC has finalized a job task outline and a written examination blueprint for the new Digital Workflow CDT specialty.

The Digital Workflow CDT specialty examination will consist of four domain areas as follows:

● Domain I: Data Acquisition (21 - 25% of written examination questions are from this domain)

● Domain II: Design Indications (30 - 34% of written examination questions are from this domain)

● Domain III: Fabricating Restorations (22 - 26% of written examination questions are from this domain)

● Domain IV: Maintaining Digital Equipment (20 - 24% of written examination questions are from this domain)

During the 3rd quarter of 2022 NBC worked with numerous volunteers to assist with writing draft examination questions for the Digital Workflow CDT specialty. During the 4th quarter of 2022, NBC worked with another task force to review each question that was submitted by a volunteer.

NBC pilot tested the written examination questions in conjunction with the LMT Lab Day Chicago Meetings on Thursday, February 23, 2023 and Saturday, February 25, 2023. JML Measurement & Testing Services, LLC, along with another task force, will review the written examination data and will work to conduct a standard setting process. During this standard setting process, a cut score will be determined for the written examination form.

NBC is also working with a task force to develop the components of the practical examinations for the Digital Workflow CDT specialty. Once a draft practical examination will be created, the proposed examination will be pilot tested. A task force will review the data from the pilot tests, to conduct a standard setting process. From the standard setting, a cut score will be determined for the practical examination. Once this takes place, NBC will be in a position to launch the practical examination for the new Digital Workflow CDT specialty. The Digital Workflow Written Examination will launch in October 2023, and the NBC expects to launch the Digital Workflow Practical Examination in December 2023.

NOTE: Candidates who test in this initial window can expect a delay in scoring due to the standard setting process.

To learn more about the new Digital Workflow specialty, contact the NBC at certification@nbccert.org or by phone at (800) 684-5310.