Dental student · Reviews SchoolRack’s dental exam and admissions guides
Last updated: October 2026
The short answer
The INBDE market is effectively two products. INBDE Bootcamp is $269/$369/$469 for one, three or six months, with 3,000+ questions, the Mental Dental video library and a pass guarantee on the longer plans. INBDE Booster is $199/$299/$399 for 30, 90 or 180 days, with 2,300+ questions, 1,250+ videos and a pass guarantee that pays out as a full refund. Our pick is INBDE Bootcamp. It carries more questions (3,000+ against 2,300+), the Mental Dental video library that candidates consistently rate as the best INBDE teaching available, an AI tutor and a pass prediction tool, plus its own pass guarantee on the three- and six-month plans. INBDE Booster is the value option at $299 for 90 days against Bootcamp’s $369, and its membership can be paused — so it is the one to pick if budget is the deciding factor. Both pass guarantees now refund in full if you do not pass.
| INBDE Bootcamp | INBDE Booster | |
|---|---|---|
| Short plan | $269 — 1 month | $199 — 30 days |
| Standard plan | $369 — 3 months (list $469) | $299 — 90 days (list $399) |
| Long plan | $469 — 6 months (list $669) | $399 — 180 days (list $599) |
| Questions | 3,000+ plus 550+ Bites | 2,300+ high-yield |
| Video | Mental Dental library | 1,250+ videos |
| Extras | AI tutor, pass prediction, simulation exam, mobile app | Anki decks, custom illustrations, unlimited test creation |
| Guarantee | Pass Guarantee on 3- and 6-month plans | Pass Guarantee — full refund on 90- and 180-day plans |
| Pause | — | Yes, on 90- and 180-day plans |
| Instalments | Klarna, 4 payments | At checkout |
Both checked on the providers’ own sites, 8 October 2026.
Prices, plans and guarantee terms checked against bootcamp.com and boosterprep.com on 8 October 2026.
Before you become a dentist in the United States, you need to first pass the INBDE exam.
Dental school can be quite challenging, especially during your third and fourth years. At this stage, you’re juggling clinical work, coursework, and the inevitable stress that comes with dental education. So, it’s crucial to be well-prepared for the INBDE exam, dedicating enough time to study during weekdays, weekends, or both.
With that said, here are our top picks of the best INBDE courses that will enable you to prepare adequately.
1. INBDE Bootcamp
This prep course is an all-in-one program, which is ideal for foreign-trained students. The best part is that it can also be operated using apps from Android or iOS.
Here are its features:
- The course fee starts at $269 for a one-month package, as well as a 3-month package for $369 and a 6-month package for $469
- Includes 3,000+ detailed questions plus 550+ shorter Bites questions
- Has high-yield question banks that resemble the real INBDE exam
- Every answer, whether wrong or right, is accompanied by a detailed explanation for more understanding
- Includes video lessons that provide great insight
- Money-back guarantee that allows you to get a refund in case you fail the INBDE exam
- Allows you to form your practice questions
- You get consistent information about your performance so you can easily monitor your progress
- Comes with mock INBDE exams
INBDE Bootcamp
- Detailed video explanations with hand-drawn diagrams, built for the INBDE
- 3,000+ practice questions, updated continuously
- Engaging Mental Dental videos accompanied by quizzes
- Customizable practice test creation
- One complete INBDE mock exam
- Access to the realistic mode to simulate the test interface.
- A tried-and-true Ari’s INBDE study timetable
- Mobile video classes are available via Android and iOS apps.
- Mastery labels and Question tagging for easy revisions
- High-yield cheat sheets across the INBDE subject areas
- Flashcards/Anki Decks
Bootcamp and Mental Dental together are the best resources you can use to prepare for the INBDE. The questions are representative of the exam, and the Mental Dental videos help you understand the high-yield topics in depth. Our advice for success would be to start early and stay consistent. Create a study schedule, watch the Mental Dental videos, and practice with questions from Bootcamp. Make sure to make use of the flagging feature and performance analytics to target your weak areas and track your progress.
The platform is user-friendly, the content is comprehensive, and the question banks are incredibly helpful in solidifying your understanding of the material. The staff is also responsive and dedicated to helping you succeed. Bootcamp’s accurate realistic bank, user-friendly interface, and comprehensive features makes it one of the worthy choices for INBDE preparation.
2. INBDE Booster
INBDE Booster is one of the most popular prep courses, all thanks to the high-quality study materials. The course consists of everything you may need to pass your INBDE exam from practice questions to flashcards, and study notes.
The following are some features that INBDE offers:
- A study-note set running to 300+ pages
- 1,250+ videos, most of them worked solutions attached to individual questions rather than standalone lectures
- $199 for 30 days, $299 for 90 days and $399 for 180 days, the longer two reduced from $399 and $599
- Anki card decks covering the full INBDE syllabus
- Allows you to use Instagram and TikTok daily to ask any INBDE-related question
- 24/7 chat service for one-on-one lessons
- Consists of review and cheat sheets that cover fields of dentistry and patient management for review sheets and diagnosis & disorders and pharmacology for cheat sheets
- 2,300+ practice questions
- INBDE mock exam that gives insights into how you are going to perform during the actual exam
One of the two main INBDE question banks
- Up-to-date course materials.
- $299 for 90 days / $399 for 180 days access
- Comprehensive study notes
- More than 1250+ INBDE-specific video lessons
- 2300+ Highly representative Practice Questions including case-based scenarios
- High-yield study notes and 2000+ flashcards/Anki decks.
- Limited One-on-One online tutoring for any questions you may have
- Smart Performance Tracking for Revision
- AI integration for instant answers.
Overall, INBDE Booster is an exceptional resource for passing your board exams. Their support team is responsive, and the study schedule and website offer everything you need for success.
Booster is the cheaper of the two serious options and loses little for it. We still put Bootcamp first on question volume and the Mental Dental teaching, but if the $70 difference on the standard plan matters, or you need the ability to pause your membership, Booster is the one to buy.
3. Board Vitals INBDE
The next on the list is Board Vitals which tries to mimic the real INBDE exam. Another good thing about this course is that you get timely performance analytics so you can keep up with your progress.
BoardVitals INBDE Summary
- Has 950+ part 1 prep questions and 1600+ part 2 prep questions
- Part 1 covers topics like pathology, dental anatomy, physiology, microbiology, biochemistry, inclusion, embryology, histology, and anatomy while part 2 covers operative dentistry, periodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, pharmacology, and so much more
- Realistic practice questions that try to mimic the actual thing
- Has detailed explanations for both incorrect and correct answers that allow you to gain more insight into every question
- Board Vitals operations are 24/7, so you can access the platform whenever you desire
- Includes different packages, that is, the master plan at $219 for 6 months, the cram prep plan at $69 for 1 month, and the prepare plan at $159 for 3 months
- Includes practice questions that are customized based on the subjects
- Consists of questions with illustrations that allow visual learners to gain a better understanding
4. Kaplan INBDE Prep Course
If you want scheduled, instructor-led teaching rather than a self-paced question bank, Kaplan is the option on this list that offers it. In addition, the course is delivered by experienced and well-trained tutors so you can do the actual exam hassle-free.
Here are its features:
- Flexible studying schedule so you can choose your preferred learning time
- Experienced instructors
- INBDE exam notes, which are well explained for more understanding
- Provides 90+ hours for studying
- Material still organised along the old NBDE Part 1 lines — dental anatomy, basic sciences and occlusion
- And along the old Part 2 lines — dental science with case studies, radiographs and charting. Worth checking how much has been rebuilt for the integrated INBDE format
- Provides you with tips and case studies that will enable you to pass the exam
- 2000+ practice questions and instructional videos for both parts 1 and 2
- Kaplan does not publish INBDE pricing as clearly as the specialist courses — check the current figure on its own site
- Offers diagnostic exams that help you figure out your starting point
- Lastly, you can use Qbank to come up with your questions
Other INBDE Prep
In case you are not satisfied with our top picks of the best INBDE Prep, you can also opt for the following alternatives:
Crack the INBDE Course
This course is available on multiple devices including PC, MAC, iPad, and iPhone. It includes the following:
- Analysis reports that allow you to track down your progress
- Practice questions that resemble the real thing
- A part 1 package that includes 2,400+ practice questions with detailed illustrations and 6 prep exams
- A part 2 package with 600 case questions, 2 prep exams, and 800+ practice questions
- A course fee of $129 dollars for part 1 and $79 for part 2
- A feature that allows you to compare your score with a national average
- An automatic update that allows you to stay up to date
B & B Dental NBDE Test Prep
This course can also simulate the actual INBDE exam by providing realistic practice materials. Its features are as follows:
- Comes with HD video lessons for 15 full hours with whiteboard classes included
- Consists of 1800+ INBDE practice questions that allow you to prepare adequately
- Allows you to access 1100+ flashcards that provide more insight on certain topics
- Realistic practice materials
- You can practice for your exam with questions that range from simple to moderate, and hard
- Includes testlets which are also covered in about 20% of the real INBDE exam
- Sold as a basic and an advantage tier; we have not re-verified these prices this cycle, so check the current figures on the provider’s own site
Frequently Asked Questions
What format is used for the INBDE exam?
The INBDE exam normally consists of 2 parts, that is, a clinical simulation exam and a written exam. The written exam will cover topics like pharmacology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, dental anatomy, and pathology while the simulation exam tests students on their ability to handle real-life dental situations.
In total the exam runs to about 500 questions — roughly 360 on day one and 140 on day two.
How many questions does one need to answer right to pass the exam?
INBDE scores are usually standardized, so the ADA does not provide information about the number of questions you need to pass.
Candidates commonly report that scoring consistently above about 75% on either provider’s question bank lines up with passing, but neither provider publishes this as a threshold and it is not a guarantee.
How long do I need to prepare for the INBDE exam?
Three months is the usual plan, which is why both providers build their standard package and their pass guarantee around a 90-day window. Candidates coming from a US dental school sometimes need less; internationally trained candidates often want longer.
Is INBDE accepted in Canada?
Aspiring Canadian dentists have to prepare for NDEB, which is an equivalency process that allows them to become licensed dentists in Canada. An important point to note is that dentistry is taught similarly in both the US and Canada.
How do I ensure that I pass the INBDE exam?
Typically, the most effective way that ensures you pass your exam is to prepare adequately. You can do this by using various practice materials from any prep course that is listed above.
Both providers also publish pass-prediction tools based on your own performance — a better readiness signal than any single percentage.
What is the next step for an internationally trained student who has already passed the INBDE exam?
First, you will need to take a TOEFL exam and score more than 100. Next, you will need various documents like an intent letter, a CV, letters of recommendation, and more to apply.
An important point to note is that you will need to visit the ADEA CAAPID website to check for any university that includes Advanced Standing Programs.
Conclusion
There are plenty of INBDE prep courses, but for most candidates the real choice is between Bootcamp and Booster — the rest are better treated as supplements than as a primary resource. All you now need to do is to choose one that works according to your preferences.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best INBDE prep course in 2026?
INBDE Bootcamp, for most candidates — 3,000+ questions against 2,300+, the Mental Dental video library, an AI tutor and a pass guarantee on the three- and six-month plans. INBDE Booster is the value pick at $299 for 90 days against Bootcamp’s $369, with a membership you can pause. Both pass guarantees refund in full if you do not pass.
How long should I prepare for the INBDE?
Three months is the common plan length for a reason: it matches the study schedules both providers publish, and it is what their pass guarantees are built around.
Do I need both Bootcamp and Booster?
No. They cover the same exam with overlapping content. Buy one, finish it, and spend any spare budget on more question repetitions rather than a second subscription.
Is there a free INBDE resource worth using?
The official exam specifications and released materials from the JCNDE should be your reference point regardless of which course you buy — they define the case-based format the whole exam is built on.
What candidates report about the real exam. A detailed March 2026 pass write-up on Student Doctor Network describes roughly two months of preparation at three to four hours a day while working clinically, using written notes and cheat sheets for content and then treating the question banks as the main learning tool rather than a final readiness test — topic-by-topic questions first, then a second randomised pass over everything missed or bookmarked, reading why each wrong option was wrong and not only why the right one was right. That candidate rated pharmacology, prosthodontics and oral medicine as the highest-yield areas, with occlusion and genetics barely appearing. They also reported the live exam’s case sets sat closer in style to Booster’s questions and slightly harder than Bootcamp’s — worth knowing if case-set realism is your priority, even though we rank Bootcamp higher overall on teaching and question volume. Practical habits they credited: flag sparingly, because over-flagging eats the time the case sets need, and take shorter breaks than the allowance so you are not rushing the back half.
