Iran Dental Specialty Board - Endodontics

It combines multiple-choice and written theory papers with case-based assessment and an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) component. The theory papers test factual and clinical knowledge across all domains, while the OSCE and cases assess applied reasoning, radiograph interpretation, and treatment planning. Exact structure and weighting are published by the official examining body.

It is a specialty-level examination, so difficulty reflects residency-level depth rather than undergraduate endodontics. Questions often require integrating diagnosis, biology, and treatment sequencing rather than recalling isolated facts. Candidates who have completed an accredited residency and revise systematically generally find the material familiar but demanding in breadth.

Those details are set by the official examining body and can change between administrations. Rather than relying on secondhand figures, check the current announcement and regulations on the official body's website, and plan your revision around the published syllabus and format for your examination cycle.

The passing threshold and any retake policy are determined by the official examining body and are not fixed publicly in advance. Candidates should consult the current regulations for the passing score, the number of permitted attempts, waiting periods, and any conditions attached to a retake before applying.

Start with pulp and periapical biology, diagnosis, and microbiology, because later domains depend on them. Then move to access and morphology, cleaning and shaping, and obturation. Follow with retreatment, traumatology and regenerative endodontics, surgery, interdisciplinary topics, pharmacology, and finally research methodology and ethics.

Typical weak areas are incomplete diagnosis and treatment planning, poor justification of clinical decisions in case questions, and shaky recall of irrigation, instrumentation, and materials science details. In OSCE stations, candidates often lose marks through disorganised presentation and omission of key steps rather than lack of knowledge.

Practise structured stations aloud with a colleague: interpret a radiograph, state a diagnosis, list differentials, and outline a treatment plan with alternatives. Time yourself, verbalise your reasoning, and review current literature on traumatology, retreatment, and microsurgery, since these frequently appear in case scenarios.

Use current endodontic textbooks, peer-reviewed journals, and the official syllabus and regulations published by the examining body. Review Iranian curriculum documents where available. Avoid relying on recalled questions from previous candidates, since these are unverified and may be outdated or inaccurate.

The examination is delivered in Persian, although standard technical terms often appear in English. Candidates should be comfortable reading and writing clinical reasoning in Persian while recognising English terminology, and should confirm any language accommodations with the official examining body in advance.

Board certification is a key component of specialty recognition, but licensing and registration requirements are governed by the relevant national authorities. Candidates should verify the full registration pathway, including any additional documentation or requirements, directly with the official bodies rather than assuming the examination alone completes the process.