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 that 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 space closure (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 mail the remaining cases to the ABO for grading at a future clinical examination.
  
  
• The examinee must return 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
    
    
• If no cases from residency are Complete, the examinee will submit a new registration and take the Beginning Certification Examination.

BEGINNING CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION

This Clinical Examination will be utilized by any orthodontist who meets all requirements for the clinical examination but did not take the Initial Certification Examination following graduation from an orthodontic graduate program.

1. Patient Source

Cases treated by the examinee from their clinical orthodontic practice are required.

Exception - Full-time orthodontic educators 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.

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 space closure (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.
  
  

4. See Exam Dates and Fees

FIRST RECERTIFICATION EXAMINATION

This clinical examination will follow the Initial Certification Examination (ICE) and can be taken no earlier than three (3) years prior to the expiration date of the ICE certificate. It will also follow the Beginning Certification Examination.

Additionally, this examination will be utilized by Diplomates who were certified via the Gateway Offer.

1. Patient Source

Cases treated by the examinee from their clinical orthodontic practice are required.

Exception - Gateway Examinees may bring two cases from their orthodontic program.

Exception - Full-time orthodontic educators 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.

2. Components of the First Recertification Exam

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

3. Case Criteria for the First Recertification 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 space closure (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.
  
  

4. See Exam Dates and Fees

SECOND RECERTIFICATION EXAMINATION

This clinical examination will follow successful completion of the First Recertification Examination. It will also be utilized by Diplomates who were certified through earlier pathways with time-limited certificates. The specific details of this examination will be determined by future ABO Directors.

THIRD RECERTIFICATION EXAMINATION

This clinical examination will follow successful completion of the Second Recertification Examination. The specific details of this examination will be determined by future ABO Directors.

VOLUNTARY RECERTIFICATION EXAMINATION

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

1. Components of the Voluntary Recertification Exam

1. Submit one Case Report treated to board standards from the personal practice of the Diplomate. Any case that meets the criteria of the First Recertification Exam is acceptable.
2. Either, two cases will be diagnosed and treatment planned from assigned Board cases on a secured area of the ABO website;
   Or, score ten consecutive full treatment cases from one's personal practice using the ABO Grading System for Casts and Radiographs.

2. 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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