PRC Dentist Licensure exam-day guide
PRC Dentist Licensure · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Valid identification document
Bring the original ID document the testing authority requires (typically the resident ID card for mainland candidates; confirm the exact accepted documents and validity dates with the provider). Check the expiry date now - an expired ID can bar entry even if you registered successfully.
Admission ticket / registration confirmation
Print or download the admission ticket (准考证) from the official registration system and keep a backup copy on your phone and in email. Verify the test site address, session time, and candidate number match your records. If the ticket has not been released, confirm the release date with the provider.
Photo requirements confirmed
Some stages require a recent photo matching the registration upload. Confirm with the provider whether a printed photo is needed on the day; do not assume the digital upload is sufficient.
Scratch paper and writing tools policy
Stationery rules vary by test site and station type. Confirm with the provider whether pens, pencils, or scratch paper are supplied or prohibited; bring only what is explicitly permitted.
Clinical attire and PPE
For the practical/clinical stations, wear clean professional attire suitable for a clinical setting. Confirm with the provider whether gowns, gloves, masks, and eye protection are supplied by the site or must be brought, and whether white coats with any markings are restricted.
No prohibited electronics
Phones, smartwatches, and other devices are normally collected or must be powered off and stored before entering the test area. Plan to arrive with a way to store them securely; confirm the site's storage arrangements with the provider.
Rehearse the route and travel time
Do a dry run or map the route to the test site, including security checks and building entry. Aim to arrive well before the reporting time stated on your admission ticket; late arrival rules are strict and set by the provider.
Review the station format and scoring weights
Re-read the official exam syllabus for the practical stage: which stations exist (for example, clinical skills, case analysis, or instrument handling), time per station, and how each is scored. Confirm details with the provider rather than relying on secondhand accounts.
Prepare your instrument-identification and technique recall
Practice naming instruments and describing indications, and rehearse standard operative sequences aloud. This is a content-preparation item, not something to bring, but it is the highest-yield use of the final days.
Health and logistics check
Confirm any health declaration or temperature/health screening requirement with the provider in advance. Arrange accommodation near the site if travel is long, and check whether the site provides drinking water or lockers.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Save the provider's contact number and the test site's address in your phone and on paper. Identify a backup transport option in case of delays.
Confirm scoring and result-release process
Ask the provider, or check the official announcement, how the practical stage is scored, whether there is a pass mark per station or overall, and when and how results are published. Do not rely on rumor.
Plan the day
Re-read the official syllabus and your own notes on the practical stations. Do timed dry runs of the skills you will be asked to demonstrate, focusing on sequence and verbalizing your reasoning. Stop learning new material; consolidate what you already know.
Print the admission ticket, check ID validity, and confirm the test site address and reporting time. Reconfirm with the provider any rules on attire, equipment, and prohibited items.
Do a final logistics check: transport, accommodation, and a backup route. Pack permitted items in one bag so nothing is forgotten. Normalize your sleep schedule.
Light review only: instrument names, indications, and standard sequences. Lay out ID, admission ticket, and permitted attire. Avoid intensive cramming and get a full night's sleep.
Eat a proper meal, arrive at the site well before the reporting time, and complete any security or identity checks. Power off and store electronics as instructed. Use waiting time for calm mental rehearsal, not new content.
Listen carefully to station instructions and time limits. Introduce yourself and state your steps clearly where verbalization is scored. Work within the time allowed, keep your workspace organized, and follow infection-control and safety procedures exactly as instructed.
If a station goes badly, reset mentally before the next one - stations are typically scored independently, so one weak performance should not be allowed to affect the rest. Confirm the scoring model with the provider beforehand so you know how to allocate effort.
Note the result-release channel and date announced by the provider, and keep your admission ticket and candidate number for follow-up. Do not discuss station content in ways that could breach confidentiality rules.
Rules to check
Bring the original identification document required by the testing authority and keep it with you throughout; confirm the accepted document types and validity requirements with the provider before test day.
Present your admission ticket and ID at check-in and follow all identity-verification steps, including any photo or fingerprint check the site uses. Cooperate fully; refusal can result in being barred from the test.
Electronic devices are generally prohibited in the test area. Power them off and store them as instructed; confirm the site's storage and prohibited-item rules with the provider in advance.
Follow all infection-control, safety, and instrument-handling instructions at clinical stations. Unsafe practice can be penalized independently of the clinical answer you give.
Do not communicate with other candidates during the test, and do not record, photograph, or share station content. Breaches of confidentiality or conduct rules can lead to invalidation of results.
Break and restroom rules are set by the site. Ask the invigilator before the test begins how to request a break and whether leaving the test area is permitted mid-session; do not assume.
Scoring methods and pass criteria for the practical stage are set by the provider. Confirm the published rules rather than relying on secondhand accounts, and understand whether stations are scored individually or in aggregate.
If you believe a station was conducted unfairly or an equipment problem affected you, report it to the invigilator immediately and follow the provider's official appeal or feedback procedure afterward.