Examination Process

Note: No case may be presented to the Board more than one time

INITIAL CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION

This Clinical Examination is offered to orthodontists following completion of their orthodontic education. The orthodontist must be a graduate of a CODA (Commission on Dental Accreditation) accredited orthodontic program and have successfully passed the ABO Written Exam. The examinee must present for this examination within twenty-four (24) months following graduation. The time-limited certificate will expire ten (10) years from the completion of the Initial Certification Exam.

1. Patient Source

Of the six cases required, a minimum of three cases must be presented. All cases must have been entirely treated, from appliance placement through appliance removal, by the examinee under direct supervision of a clinical instructor in an ADA accredited orthodontic program. Active treatment ends when the same resident removes the appliances and places the patient in retention. In cases of multi-phased treatment, the final phase of full treatment (appliance placement to appliance removal) administered by a single resident is acceptable. A Confirmation of Resident Treated Cases (pdf) from the Program Director and/or Chairperson is required to assure that the cases presented meet these requirements.

The balance of case requirements will be collected, either from residency within 24 months of graduation or from post-residency practice, within ten (10) years and two (2) more attempts at completion of requirements.

2. Components of the Initial Certification Exam

1. Board Case Oral Examination (BCOE)
2. Case Report Examination (CRE)
3. Case Report Oral Examination (CROE)

3. Case Criteria for the Initial Certification Exam

The Case Report Examination component requires six (6) Case Reports consisting of

1. three (3) cases with a DI of twenty (20) or greater,
2. three (3) cases with a DI of ten (10) or greater.

The six case presentation must contain:

• at least one (1) non-surgical case treated with four (4) quadrant extractions that demonstrates effective management of the extraction sites (identified as "Extraction Case").
  
  
• at least one (1) non-surgical case with bilateral end-to-end or greater Class II molar relationship present at the time of appliance placement. A unilateral full-step Class II molar relationship is also acceptable. The final treatment result should exhibit a Class I molar and canine relationship (identified as "Class II Case").
  
  
• no more than one (1) case treated with orthognathic surgery (identified as "Surgical Case"). Note that a surgical case is not required. Any surgical case needs interim (pre-surgical) records.
  
  

4. Banking Process

• Of the six cases required, a minimum of three cases must be presented via personal appearance at the clinical examination.
  
  
• Of the cases that are presented from residency, cases which are Complete will be “banked”, or documented, at the ABO central office. The examinee must collect the balance of required cases, either from residency within 24 months of graduation or from post-residency practice, for grading within ten (10) years and two (2) more attempts.
  
  
• If at least three (3) cases are Complete and include at least one (1) case with a DI of 20 or above, and the BCOE is Complete, the examinee may register for a future exam and mail the remaining cases to the ABO for grading.
  
  
• The examinee must return in person to a future clinical examination to complete the ICE requirements IF:
  • less than three (3) cases are Complete
  • three (3) cases are Complete, but do not include one (1) case with a DI of 20 or above
  • the BCOE is Incomplete
    
    
• The examinee is not certified until six (6) cases are Complete within the allowable timeframe.
  
  
• If no cases from residency are Complete, or ICE requirements are not fulfilled within the allowable timeframe, the examinee, when ready, will submit a new registration and take the Beginning Certification Examination with six entirely new cases.

BEGINNING CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION

This Clinical Examination will be utilized by any orthodontist who meets all requirements for the clinical examination but did not complete the Initial Certification Examination following graduation from an orthodontic graduate program. A successfully completed Written Examination remains on record and need not be retaken. The time-limited certificate will expire ten (10) years from the completion of the Beginning Certification Examination.

1. Patient Source

Six cases treated by the examinee from their clinical orthodontic practice are required.*

*Exception - Full-time orthodontic educators, who have graduated from an ADA accredited advanced educational program in orthodontics within the U.S. or Canada, may present a maximum of three (3) cases that the educator directly supervised while teaching within an accredited orthodontic graduate program. The supervised cases may not include a case that will be presented to the ABO by a resident of the orthodontic program.

Individual consideration will be given to the full-time educator, who has graduated from an ADA accredited advanced education program in orthodontics within the U.S. or Canada, and who is affiliated with a graduate orthodontic program outside the U.S. and Canada.

2. Components of the Beginning Certification Exam

1. Board Case Oral Examination (BCOE)
2. Case Report Examination (CRE)
3. Case Report Oral Examination (CROE)

3. Case Criteria for the Beginning Certification Exam

The Case Report Examination component requires six (6) Case Reports consisting of

1. three (3) cases with a DI of twenty (20) or greater,
2. three (3) cases with a DI of ten (10) or greater.

The six case presentation must contain:

• at least one (1) non-surgical case treated with four (4) quadrant extractions that demonstrates effective management of the extraction sites (identified as "Extraction Case").
  
  
• at least one (1) non-surgical case with a bilateral or unilateral full-step Class II molar relationship corrected to a Class I molar and canine relationship (identified as "Class II Case").
  
  
• no more than one (1) case treated with orthognathic surgery (identified as "Surgical Case"). Note that a surgical case is not required. Any surgical case needs interim (pre-surgical) records.
  
  

GATEWAY CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION

This examination will be utilized by Diplomates who were certified via the Gateway Offer. The exam must be completed before the expiration date noted on the current ABO certificate. The new time-limited certificate will expire in ten (10) years. Any remaining time on your current certificate will be added to the new certificate.

1. Patient Source

Six cases treated by the examinee from their clinical orthodontic practice are required.*

*Exception - Gateway Examinees, who are not full-time orthodontic educators, may bring one or two cases treated in their residency program.

*Exception - Full-time orthodontic educators, who have graduated from an ADA accredited advanced educational program in orthodontics within the U.S. or Canada, may present a maximum of three (3) cases that the educator directly supervised while teaching within an accredited orthodontic graduate program. The supervised cases may not include a case that will be presented to the ABO by a resident of the orthodontic program.

Individual consideration will be given to the full-time educator, who has graduated from an ADA accredited advanced education program in orthodontics within the U.S. or Canada, and who is affiliated with a graduate orthodontic program outside the U.S. and Canada.

2. Components of the Gateway Certification Exam

1. Board Case Oral Examination (BCOE)
2. Case Report Examination (CRE)
3. Case Report Oral Examination (CROE)

3. Case Criteria for the Gateway Certification Exam

The Case Report Examination component requires six (6) Case Reports consisting of

1. three (3) cases with a DI of twenty (20) or greater,
2. three (3) cases with a DI of ten (10) or greater.

The six case presentation must contain:

• at least one (1) non-surgical case treated with four (4) quadrant extractions that demonstrates effective management of the extraction sites (identified as "Extraction Case").
  
  
• at least one (1) non-surgical case with a bilateral or unilateral full-step Class II molar relationship corrected to a Class I molar and canine relationship (identified as "Class II Case").
  
  
• no more than one (1) case treated with orthognathic surgery (identified as "Surgical Case"). Note that a surgical case is not required. Any surgical case needs interim (pre-surgical) records.
  
  

FIRST RECERTIFICATION EXAMINATION

This clinical examination will follow successful completion of the Initial Certification Examination (ICE), the Beginning Certification Examination(BGCE), the Gateway Certification Examination, or any time-limited certification of earlier pathways. It can be taken no earlier than two (2) years prior to the expiration date of the current certificate and will include in-person oral examination. The time-limited certificate will expire in ten (10) years. Any remaining time on your current certificate will be added to the new certificate.

1. Patient Source

Three cases treated by the examinee from their clinical orthodontic practice are required.* Cases must be initiated within one's current certification period or within the past ten years.

*Exception - Full-time orthodontic educators, who have graduated from an ADA accredited advanced educational program in orthodontics within the U.S. or Canada, may present up to three (3) cases that the educator directly supervised while teaching within an accredited orthodontic graduate program. The supervised cases may not include a case that will be presented to the ABO by a resident of the orthodontic program.

Individual consideration will be given to the full-time educator, who has graduated from an ADA accredited advanced education program in orthodontics within the U.S. or Canada, and who is affiliated with a graduate orthodontic program outside the U.S. and Canada.

2. Components of the First Recertification Exam

1. Case Report Examination (CRE)
2. Case Report Oral Examination (CROE)

3. Case Criteria for the First Recertification Exam

The Case Report Examination component requires three (3) Case Reports consisting of

1. one (1) case with a DI of twenty (20) or greater
2. two (2) cases with a DI of ten (10) or greater

The three case presentation must contain:

• at least one (1) non-surgical case with a bilateral or unilateral full-step Class II molar relationship corrected to a Class I molar and canine relationship (identified as "Class II Case").
  
  
• no more than one (1) case treated with orthognathic surgery (identified as "Surgical Case"). Note that a surgical case is not required. Any surgical case needs interim (pre-surgical) records.
  
  

SECOND RECERTIFICATION EXAMINATION

This clinical examination will follow successful completion of the First Recertification Examination. It can be taken no earlier than two (2) years prior to the expiration date of the current certificate. The time-limited certificate will expire in ten (10) years. Any remaining time on your current certificate will be added to the new certificate.

1. Patient Source

Two cases treated by the examinee from their clinical orthodontic practice are required.* Cases must be initiated within one's current certification period or within the past ten years.

*Exception - Full-time orthodontic educators, who have graduated from an ADA accredited advanced educational program in orthodontics within the U.S. or Canada, may present up to two (2) cases that the educator directly supervised while teaching within an accredited orthodontic graduate program. The supervised cases may not include a case that will be presented to the ABO by a resident of the orthodontic program.

Individual consideration will be given to the full-time educator, who has graduated from an ADA accredited advanced education program in orthodontics within the U.S. or Canada, and who is affiliated with a graduate orthodontic program outside the U.S. and Canada.

2. Components of the Second Recertification Exam

1. Case Report Examination (CRE) - By Mail and/or Electronic Submission

3. Case Criteria for the Second Recertification Exam

The Case Report Examination component requires two (2) Case Reports consisting of

1. one (1) case with a DI of twenty (20) or greater
2. one (1) case with a DI of ten (10) or greater

THIRD RECERTIFICATION EXAMINATION

This clinical examination will follow successful completion of the Second Recertification Examination. It can be taken no earlier than two (2) years prior to the expiration date of the current certificate. The time-limited certificate will expire in ten (10) years. Any remaining time on your current certificate will be added to the new certificate.

1. Patient Source

One case treated by the examinee from their clinical orthodontic practice is required.* The case must be initiated within one's current certification period or within the past ten years.

*Exception - Full-time orthodontic educators, who have graduated from an ADA accredited advanced educational program in orthodontics within the U.S. or Canada, may present a case that the educator directly supervised while teaching within an accredited orthodontic graduate program. The supervised case may not include a case that will be presented to the ABO by a resident of the orthodontic program.

Individual consideration will be given to the full-time educator, who has graduated from an ADA accredited advanced education program in orthodontics within the U.S. or Canada, and who is affiliated with a graduate orthodontic program outside the U.S. and Canada.

2. Components of the Third Recertification Exam

1. Case Report Examination (CRE) - By Mail and/or Electronic Submission

3. Case Criteria for the Third Recertification Exam

The Case Report Examination component requires one (1) Case Report consisting of

1. one (1) case with a DI of ten (10) or greater

FOURTH RECERTIFICATION EXAMINATION

This clinical examination will follow successful completion of the Third Recertification Examination. It can be taken no earlier than two (2) years prior to the expiration date of the current certificate. The time-limited certificate will expire in ten (10) years. Any remaining time on your current certificate will be added to the new certificate.

1. Patient Source

One case treated by the examinee from their clinical orthodontic practice is required.* The case must be initiated within one's current certification period or within the past ten years.

*Exception - Full-time orthodontic educators, who have graduated from an ADA accredited advanced educational program in orthodontics within the U.S. or Canada, may present a case that the educator directly supervised while teaching within an accredited orthodontic graduate program. The supervised case may not include a case that will be presented to the ABO by a resident of the orthodontic program.

Individual consideration will be given to the full-time educator, who has graduated from an ADA accredited advanced education program in orthodontics within the U.S. or Canada, and who is affiliated with a graduate orthodontic program outside the U.S. and Canada.

2. Components of the Fourth Recertification Exam

1. Case Report Examination (CRE) - By Mail and/or Electronic Submission

3. Case Criteria for the Fourth Recertification Exam

The Case Report Examination component requires one (1) Case Report consisting of

1. one (1) case with a DI of ten (10) or greater

VOLUNTARY RECERTIFICATION EXAMINATION

This clinical examination is voluntarily taken by Diplomates who have non-time-limited certificates. Case submission is by mail.

1. See Voluntary Recertification for more details or to
    take the online Board Case Test

TRADITIONAL OPTION I and II (limited)

These exam options are only available to candidates who sat for Oral examination in 2004 and 2005 and received an extension date and to candidates who are eligible to re-examine due to an Incomplete in a previous Option I or II examination. Click here for details.

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