title: How the licensure process will evolve.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  All aspects of dental licensure are continuing to evolve. This article describes the changes that are occurring in the licensure process and projects the direction and magnitude of future changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The author predicts that national board examinations will continue to move away from recall of facts and toward assessment of basic science and clinical principles as they apply to clinical decision making and delivery of care. Clinical examinations will continue their evolution to become even more reliable and valid. Licensure by credentials will be adopted by more states, thus addressing concerns about mobility that are expressed by many practitioners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite all of this projected progress, the dental profession should expect elevated public pressure for greater accountability unless it takes a proactive position to ensure the continued competency of all practitioners.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School 78229, USA.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Kalkwarf
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003406:Credentialing; D004521:Educational Measurement; D008005:Licensure, Dental / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D013219:State Government; D014481:United States