- DLOSCE is the required computer-based component of ADEX Dental for new registrations starting June 1, 2026.
- The exam has 148 scored multiple-choice questions plus 2 prescription tasks across 310 active minutes.
- Restorative (24%) and Prosthodontics (19%) together make up 43% of DLOSCE content.
- Passing requires a scaled score of 75 on a 49-99 scale - not 75% of items correct.
DLOSCE Snapshot: What You're Actually Sitting For
This cheat sheet is built specifically around the DLOSCE (Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination) computer-based component of ADEX Dental. It's administered by the American Board of Dental Examiners at Prometric test centers, delivered under an exclusive American Dental Association license, with oversight from the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. If you want the long-form explanation of every moving part, read the full ADEX Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. This page is the condensed, print-it-and-tape-it-to-your-monitor version.
This reference reflects the July 27, 2026 ADEX DLOSCE manual and the August 1, 2026-July 31, 2027 examination-season guidance. Keep in mind that DLOSCE terminology, timing, and dates are specific to this credential - if you're comparing notes with someone studying a different exam that also happens to use the letters "ADEX," their facts won't transfer here.
Key Dates and Deadlines for 2026
DLOSCE becomes the required computer-based component for new registrations effective June 1, 2026, with appointment scheduling opening in August. If you're already registered for an eligible initial DSE OSCE attempt, you must pass it by December 31, 2026 - after that, retakes transition into the DLOSCE format. Critically, unsuccessful DSE OSCE and DLOSCE attempts are counted together under the same series rules, so an earlier miss doesn't disappear just because the exam name changed.
For the full scheduling calendar, testing windows, and appointment logistics, see ADEX Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
Series Clock Rules
You must complete the entire ADEX series within 18 months.
- Traditional Format: clock starts with your first component attempt.
- Curriculum Integrated Format: clock starts July 1 of the year before graduation.
- Failed DLOSCE attempt? Wait at least 10 days before you can register for a retake.
Exam Format Breakdown
Memorize this structure before test day - knowing exactly how many questions and minutes belong to each part removes a huge chunk of exam-day anxiety.
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Question sections | 4 sections × 37 questions = 148 multiple-choice questions |
| Prescription tasks | 2 tasks (antibiotic/analgesic prescription writing) |
| Total assessment items/tasks | 150 |
| Time per question section | 75 minutes |
| Time for prescription tasks | 10 minutes total |
| Active testing time | 310 minutes (4 × 75 + 10) |
| Full appointment length | Approximately 405 minutes, including tutorial, optional scheduled breaks, and survey |
One detail candidates frequently misread: the "148 questions" figure counts only the multiple-choice items, while the reported exam time bucket also folds in the two prescription tasks. Don't be surprised when the minute count and item count don't line up one-to-one.
Key Takeaway
Formats include single-answer and multiple-response clinical cases, patient information boxes, images, and manipulable 3D models. Some questions are unscored experimental items - you won't know which ones, so treat every question as if it counts.
Multiple-response items award partial credit for each correct selection you make - but pick even one wrong option on that item and you forfeit credit entirely. Practice deciding "all that apply" answers with discipline rather than guessing broadly.
The 9 ADEX Domains, Ranked by Weight
DLOSCE content is distributed across nine domains. Your study hours should roughly mirror these percentages - spending equal time on every domain is a common and costly mistake. For a deep dive into each content area, see the ADEX Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 9 Content Areas.
Domain 1: Restorative - 24%
The single heaviest domain. Expect case-based questions on direct and indirect restorations, material selection, and clinical decision-making under realistic patient scenarios.
Domain 2: Prosthodontics - 19%
Fixed and removable prosthodontic cases, often paired with images or patient information boxes describing occlusal or edentulous scenarios.
Domain 3: Oral Pathology, Pain Management, and Temporomandibular Dysfunction - 13%
Diagnostic reasoning questions built around lesion identification, pain etiology, and TMD presentations.
Domain 4: Periodontics - 10%
Periodontal disease classification, treatment planning, and case-based diagnosis questions.
Domain 5: Oral Surgery - 9%
Surgical case management and decision points, frequently tested with clinical images.
Domain 6: Endodontics - 8%
Diagnosis and treatment planning for pulpal and periapical conditions.
Domain 7: Orthodontics - 6%
Smaller weight, but still tested through case scenarios rather than isolated recall.
Domain 8: Medical Emergencies - 6%
Recognition and management sequencing for in-office emergencies.
Domain 9: Prescriptions - 5%
Directly tied to the two dedicated prescription tasks in the exam format, testing antibiotic and analgesic selection and dosing logic.
Notice that Domains 1 and 2 alone account for 43% of the exam. If you only have time to build deep case libraries in two areas, make it these two - then round out the rest proportionally.
Cost Math You Need Before You Register
Fee mechanics catch a lot of candidates off guard. Here's the exact structure:
| Registration Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial ADEX Dental series (includes DLOSCE) | $2,995 plus facility fees |
| Initial DLOSCE-only registration | Not offered |
| Second DLOSCE attempt | $695 |
| Third DLOSCE attempt | $695 |
Because DLOSCE-only initial registration isn't offered, you can't shortcut into the exam without registering for the full initial series. For the complete pricing breakdown, including how facility fees stack on top of the base series cost, read ADEX Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Passing Score Logic
DLOSCE results are reported strictly as pass/fail. The minimum passing mark is a scaled score of 75 on a 49-99 scale - that is not the same as answering 75% of questions correctly, and confusing the two leads candidates to badly miscalculate how much margin they actually have. For the full explanation of how scaled scoring works and what it means for your prep, see ADEX Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Retake and Series-Restart Rules
Failed a DLOSCE attempt? You must wait at least 10 days before registering for a retake. But the more important number to internalize is three:
- Three successive failures of the same component require a full-series restart.
- Three DLOSCE failures specifically also trigger a mandatory six-month wait from the date of the latest failure.
- Remember: DSE OSCE and DLOSCE failures count together under the same series rules - a prior DSE OSCE miss carries forward.
If you're trying to gauge realistically how many candidates need a retake and why, the data-driven breakdown is in ADEX Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows. And if you're still deciding how demanding this exam really is relative to your current preparation level, How Hard Is the ADEX Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 walks through the difficulty factors in depth.
Key Takeaway
Passing DLOSCE does not itself grant a dental license - it clears one required component of the broader ADEX Dental series and your state's licensure process.
A Domain-Priority Sprint Plan
Rather than a generic study calendar, sequence your weeks around the domain weights above. This is the one place we'll borrow a standard study-methodology structure, and only because it maps directly onto DLOSCE's own content distribution.
Restorative + Prosthodontics
- Build case libraries covering direct/indirect restorations and fixed/removable prosthodontics - 43% of the exam lives here.
- Drill multiple-response items with partial-credit logic in mind.
Oral Pathology/Pain/TMD + Periodontics
- Focus on lesion identification and periodontal case classification using image-based practice questions.
Oral Surgery + Endodontics
- Work through surgical decision trees and pulpal/periapical diagnosis scenarios.
Orthodontics + Medical Emergencies + Prescriptions
- Lower-weight domains, but the prescription tasks require dedicated practice with antibiotic/analgesic dosing formats specifically.
Full Timed Simulation
- Run full-length practice sets at the actual 405-minute appointment length, including the four 75-minute sections and prescription tasks.
You can build and run full-length simulated sessions using original clinical practice cases and prescription-task exercises on our practice test platform, which also includes separate coverage of legacy DSE OSCE transition questions for candidates whose series started before the DLOSCE switch.
Eligibility Checklist
Before you register, confirm you meet one of the eligibility paths:
- Authorized CODA/CDAC dental student or graduate, or
- Internationally trained dentist with the required educational documentation or board authorization.
For the detailed prerequisites and documentation requirements, review ADEX Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify. And if you're still weighing whether the time and cost investment makes sense for your career path, that ROI analysis is a useful companion read alongside your registration decision.
Once you're comfortable with the format and domain weights, run realistic full-length attempts on our ADEX practice test platform before your appointment date locks in.
FAQs
No. DLOSCE is the computer-based component within the broader ADEX Dental series. Passing DLOSCE alone doesn't complete the series or grant a license.
No. Initial DLOSCE-only registration is not offered - the initial ADEX Dental series, priced at $2,995 plus facility fees, includes DLOSCE.
There are 148 multiple-choice questions across four 37-question sections, plus 2 prescription tasks, for 150 total assessment items/tasks. Some questions are unscored experimental items mixed in, though you won't know which.
Three DLOSCE failures require a mandatory six-month wait from the latest failure date, and three successive failures of the same component require restarting the entire ADEX series.
No. The passing mark is a scaled score of 75 on a 49-99 scale, not a raw percentage of correct answers - the scaling accounts for item difficulty across the exam.
Keep this page bookmarked as your quick-reference companion, but pair it with the full-length format details and domain guides linked above before you finalize your DLOSCE appointment.