ONLINE REGISTRATION DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS
STEP ONE: CREATING YOUR ONLINE PROFILE
To register for a NERB Exam, got to http://www.nerb.org/apply and start an online profile. Click on “Fill out a basic profile.” (Do this even if you have taken a NERB exam before, using a paper application.) Fill in the information required.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: You must fill in your U.S. government-issued Social Security Number in full. State boards require Social Security Numbers to be associated with your results to issue your license once passing the examination. If your Social Security Number is incomplete, incorrect, or absent, they will not be able confirm your scores and you will not be able to get a license. Do not enter a Tax ID number or any other number. The only reason to leave this field blank is if you do not have a Social Security Number, in which case you may continue to register, but you are strongly urged to apply to the U.S. Government for a Social Security Number as soon as possible. Once you have been issue a Social Security Number please contact NERB to have it entered into your account.
NAME: Do not parenthesize parts of your name, such as “Mary (Smith) Jones” or “Amelia (Amy) Jones.” Your name must appear as it does on your IDs and credit cards. If your name does not match, it could result in your being refused access to testing sites and Prometric testing centers to take your exam and the forfeit of the fee you paid for that exam. It is your responsibility to be sure your ID and account names match exactly.
EMAIL ADDRESS: The email address you enter will become your username to login to your profile and will be used to communicate any information, issues, and when your exam results are available for release. You should double-check your email address to be sure you entered it correctly.
PASSWORD: Choose a secure password that you can easily remember.
When complete click the Apply button.
The next page that is displayed is the one you will see each time you login to your profile. The Dashboard tab is displayed by default.
PHOTO: On your dashboard page will be an exclamation mark with a notice to upload a photo. Click the Upload link and follow the instructions. A photo is required. All photos will be reviewed by NERB and may be rejected if they are not found to be acceptable for identification purposes. You must upload a photo to have your profile verified. If determined to be unacceptable you will be emailed to upload a replacement photo and this will delay your application, so please follow directions carefully.
- Photos must be in one of the following formats: JPG/JPEG, GIF, or PNG. (BMP files are acceptable but discouraged.) No other file formats are acceptable for photo purposes.
- Photos must be square and have a minimal resolution of 200 x 200 and a maximum resolution of 500 x 500.
- Photos must be a front-facing head shot, in the format that would be used for a passport.
- Photos must be of just yourself; please, no group photos. Do not scan your driver’s license or other photo ID.
You must then upload some documentation.
PROOF OF GRADUATION: Candidates for the CIF Dental exam are exempt from this.
- Acceptable proofs of graduation: a copy of a diploma, OR a copy of a transcript, OR a copy of a letter from your school confirming your graduation. All these must be from a school in the United States or Canada; documentation from schools outside the U.S. or Canada is invalid.
- Students who have not yet graduated may provide the Certification of Completion of Requirements to Graduate within 45 days form in the back of the manual, or a letter confirming that you are a finial-year student in good standing.
NERB Coordinators at schools in the NERB region may also be able to verify you directly by logging into our system or by providing a list of eligible students to the NERB.
Once you have graduated, you will be asked to upload proof of graduation. - Unacceptable proofs of graduation: Dental or Dental hygiene license, Local Anesthesia certificate, Continuing education certificate, National Board certificate, NERB certificate from a previous exam, anything other than what is specified above.
- Dental candidates with degrees from schools outside the U.S. or Canada are required to submit authorization letters from a state approving them to take the examination in lieu of submitting proofs from their schools.
These may be in the following formats: JPG, GIF, PNG, or PDF. (BMP and TIFF are acceptable but discouraged.) No other file formats are acceptable. Please, no ZIP files. They can be scanned copies or clear digital photographs. Please do not fax, email, or mail documents to the NERB Central Office; it is your responsibility to upload these to your profile. This must be done even if you applied for an exam in the past, using a paper application. (Once this is uploaded to your profile, it will remain there and make it easier for you to register for any exams in the future.)
NAME CHANGE DOCUMENT: This is required only if the name on your proof of graduation is different from the name you are registering under.
- 1. Acceptable as proof of name change (as applies): a copy of a marriage license or certificate, a copy of a divorce decree, or a copy of court papers reflecting a legal name change.
- 2. Unacceptable as proof of name change: driver’s license, passport, Social Security card, credit card, CPR card, student ID, other forms of ID.
Again, these may be in the following formats: JPG, GIF, PNG, or PDF. (BMP and TIFF are acceptable but discouraged.) No other file formats are acceptable. Please, no ZIP files. They can be scanned copies or clear digital photographs. Please do not fax, email or mail documents to the NERB Central Office; it is your responsibility to upload these to your profile. This must be done even if you applied for an exam in the past, using a paper application. (Once this is uploaded to your profile, it will remain there and make it easier for you to register for any exams in the future.)
If your name has not changed, you may simply disregard this section.
DISABILITY PACKET: Uploading a disability packet is only necessary when you have a disability that impacts your taking of the exam, and you want to request extra time or a special testing environment. Disabilities must be documented by an appropriate healthcare provider or your school’s office of services for students with disabilities. Documents may be in the following formats: JPG, GIF, PNG, PDF, BMP, or TIFF; please, no ZIP files. When you upload this document, also send an email to director@nerb.org stating your request and asking that your documents be reviewed.
Candidates without disabilities can simply disregard the Disability section.
POST GRAD CERTIFICATE: This applies only to postgraduate students who desire to take the Dental Exam. A form confirming that you are a graduate student of record must be uploaded to this section. Documents may be in the following formats: JPG, GIF, PNG, PDF, BMP, or TIFF; please, no ZIP files. Individuals who are currently post graduate students at a U.S. dental school but have a DDS/DMD or equivalent degree form outside the U.S. or Canada are required to submit authorization letters from a state approving them to take the examination in lieu of submitting proofs from their schools.
Candidates for Dental Hygiene, Local Anesthesia, or Nitrous Oxide exams should disregard the Post Grad Certificate section.
If there are any problems with your photo or documentation, you will be contacted by email and given a chance to correct them but this could substantially delay the application process.
STEP TWO: VERIFICATION, REGISTRATION, AND PAYMENT
All photographs and documentation will be reviewed by staff at NERB Central Office, generally within 10 business days. Once approved, your profile will be marked “verified” and you will be sent an email instructing you to sign into your profile. Once logged in, you will be told to register for an exam. Do so by clicking on the exam you want to take and then on “Register.”
At the next screen, you will select your testing site. If you are only taking the CSCE, DSE, LA or NO exams, click on “Prometric” (the only site choice possible for Prometric exams), and then on “Next Step.” (Bear in mind that you are not making an appointment at that time to take the exam, only registering for it. See “Step Three: Authorization.”)
If you are registering for a clinical exam, it will immediately bring up any exams available at the school you have listed as your school of graduation. Otherwise, click on the drop-down box in the lower white area to select a state and see which sites are available at that state. CIF Dental students may only take the exams at their current school.
The next screen is where you register your payment. NERB accepts VISA and MasterCard only. Debit cards may be used if allowable by the issuing bank and if they bear the VISA or MasterCard logo. All payments are drawn immediately and must be paid in full. The fee will be indicated.
Payments must be submitted within 72 hours of registering or your registration will be cancelled. Your profile remains. To register again, login back into your profile and follow the Step Two instructions above. There is no penalty to do this.
STEP THREE: AUTHORIZATION
For Prometric exams, once your payment has been processed, another email will be sent to you, generally within 5-7 business days. This will inform you that you have been authorized to make your appointment at a Prometric testing center to take the exam. At that time, an authorization code will be visible on your profile, in the “Apply” section. At this time, you may either go to http://www.prometric.com or call the Prometric National Registration Number at 1-800-797-1813, to select a testing center and time, using your Authorization Code. Separate Authorization Codes are issued for each exam; if you applied for two different Prometric exams, you will have two different Authorization Codes, one for each exam. When registering with Prometric online or via phone select or let the operator know that you are testing for The North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners. Do not select any other testing agency such as the ADA or your records will not be found and you will not be able to schedule your examination.
For clinical exams, you will be sent information regarding scheduling, site fees, and orientation at a later date. It is also recommended that you contact the school you have selected for any further site information.
When you apply online, all correspondence will be via email; nothing will be mailed to you via U.S. Mail. The NERB no longer issues certificates upon completion of the Dental or Dental Hygiene exams, and it does not and never has issued certificates for completion of the Local Anesthesia or Nitrous Oxide exams. Once your scores are registered on your profile, they are also made available to all NERB member states so there is no need to request your scores be sent to any of these states.
YOUR ONLINE PROFILE will serve as your permanent source for NERB examination registration. Your documentation only needs to be uploaded one time. Once your documentation and photo are on there, it can only be removed by your authorization. Changes can be made by contacting NERB Central Office. Should a retake of an exam be necessary, you may simply log in to your profile and register again without submitting further documentation. Do not create another profile. This also applies if you ever need to take any other exam in the future through NERB.