A review of strategies for improving the practical component of the Korean Dental Hygienist National Examination

Objectives: To review the historical development and current operation of the practical component of the Korean Dental Hygienist National Examination, and to analyze its limitations from the perspectives of job- and competency-based assessment. In addition, a phased reform strategy will be proposed based on domestic and international examples. Methods: Institutional development, assessment tasks, and operational procedures of the examination were reviewed. Current issues were analyzed with regards to their relevance to legal and clinical duties, job representativeness, content validity, reliability, and fairness. Practical assessment systems for health professionals in Korea and dental hygienists in the United States and Canada were also examined, with an emphasis on simulation-based assessment. Results: The current examination primarily assesses selected clinical skills and does not sufficiently reflect comprehensive practice competencies. Major concerns include task relevance and representativeness, content validity, inter-rater reliability, and operational fairness. Recommended reforms include implementation of a job- and competency-based system, multimodule practical assessment, standardized scoring and rater training, linkage with university curriculum accreditation, and a phased implementation roadmap. Conclusions: The practical examination should assess the integrated clinical and communication competencies that are required in dental hygiene practice. Patient-simulation-based clinical performance examinations may be gradually introduced following pilot testing and studies on their validity, reliability, cost-effectiveness, and stakeholder acceptability.