A dental profession student can be declared clinically competent after passing a series of examinations. There are two types of tests: theoretical and practical. One of the most important stages that directly assesses skills is the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), which serves as the final determinant before they officially earn the title of dentist. This examination is conducted simultaneously across all dental education institutions in Indonesia.
The OSCE is designed to evaluate clinical skills objectively and in a structured manner, consisting of eight station. Each station is created to assess students’ abilities in anamnesis, communication, diagnosis, and clinical procedures. Students enter one by one into the examination room, with limited time allocated at each station.
According to the Head of the Dental Profession Program at FKG UGM, Dr. drg. Rurie Ratna Shantiningsih, MDS.c., participants underwent three weeks of preparatory guidance to get ready for the examination. “They received mentoring from both clinical and non-clinical departments,” she explained.
In front of examiners, students must perform procedures just as a dentist would—from greeting the patient and gathering medical history to determining a treatment plan.
In this OSCE period, a total of 15 students took the examination. Rurie highlighted that on-time graduation is a top priority for the program. “What makes us most proud is when the passing rate reaches 100% and students are able to graduate on time,” she emphasized.
Author: Fajar Budi H.
