This study evaluated the comparability of a paper-pencil (PP) version and two computer-based (CB) versions of the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination. Comparability was evaluated by validity and psychometric criteria. Data were collected from the following resources: (1) 4,560 candidates enrolled in accredited dental hygiene programs who took the PP version in the Spring 2009, (2) 973 and 1,033 candidates enrolled in accredited dental hygiene programs who took two separate CB versions in 2009, and (3) the survey data from 2,486 candidates who took the CB versions in 2009. The results from the PP and CB versions were found to be comparable on several criteria.
Keywords: NBDHE; Rasch IRT model; beta-binomial model; comparability; factor analytic approach; validity.