COMPLETION OF THE CLINICAL EXAMINATION

You will receive notification of successful completion of the Clinical Examination and the time limitation of the awarded certificate.

The new Diplomate will receive the ABO lapel pin and Certificate. The Diplomate's name and public contact information will appear on this website's searchable directory of Diplomates.

NON-COMPLETION OF A CLINICAL EXAMINATION

Initial Certification Examination Non-Completion

• Re-examination using the same criteria as applied to the case/s that were incomplete.
  
  
• Source of the re-examination case/s
  
  Graduate program - case/s from the graduate program that were treated under the same requirements as the Initial Certification Exam may be used.
  
  Case/s solely treated by the examinee in their private practice.
  
  
• Time limitation to return for completion of the Initial Certification Exam.
  
  The examinee has five (5) years on two (2) separate occasions to present case/s to complete the Initial Certification Exam.
  
  
• Option of Re-Examination of One Case by Mail
  
  
• If the examinee does not pass upon re-examination or elects not to return within the five (5) year time limitation for re-examination, the examinee will be required to submit a new application and will take the First Recertification Examination after satisfying current fees for the exam.

First Recertification Examination Non-Completion

• Exam taken prior to expiration of the time-limited Certificate:
  
  1. One (1) to six (6) of the Diplomate's cases is/are unacceptable. If this deficiency occurs prior to the expiration of the current time-limited certificate, the Diplomate may return to present new case/s to replace those deemed unacceptable. The new case/s must meet the criteria for the one/s that were deficient. The Diplomate maintains their time-limited certificate.
  
  2. The Diplomate may retake the First Recertification Exam as often as needed as long as the current certificate is unexpired. A fee will be charged for each re-examination.
  
  3. Whenever the First Recertification Exam is successfully passed, any remaining time on the current certificate will be added to the ten (10) year recertification certificate. Therefore, there is no penalty for taking the Recertification Exam prior to expiration of the current certificate.
  
  
• Exam taken in the year of expiration of the time-limited certificate:
  
  1. THREE (3) TO SIX (6) CASE ARE UNACCEPTABLE
  
  
  1. The Diplomate is no longer certified by The American Board of Orthodontics, and must immediately cease any and all recognition and acknowledgement of ABO certification. The Diplomate's name is removed from any ABO listing of board certified orthodontists.
  2. The former Diplomate will have to reapply for certification and will have to take a new First Recertification Examination with six entirely new cases. The current examination fee will be charged.
  3. Following successful completion of the retaken First Recertification Exam, the examinee will again become ABO certified, renewing all the rights attendant to certification. The time-limited certificate will be effective for ten (10) years from the date of successful completion.
  4. If the examinee is found unacceptable for any or all of the cases of a retaken First Recertification Exam, the examinee will have two opportunities within a five year period to return and present case/s using the same criteria as applied to the case/s that were incomplete. A fee will be charged for each re-examination.
  
  
  2. ONE (1) TO TWO (2) CASES ARE UNACCEPTABLE
  
  
  1. The Diplomate maintains Board certified status but must return to the following year's Clinical Examination to present one or two entirely new cases using the same criteria as applied to the case/s that were incomplete. A fee will be charged for the re-examination.
  2. Option of Re-Examination of One Case by Mail
  3. Following passage of the re-examination, the Diplomate will receive recertification for nine (9) years.
  4. If the Diplomate returns and does not pass one or both re-examination cases, the Diplomate will no longer be board certified. The former Diplomate will have to reapply for certification and will have to take a new First Recertification Examination with six entirely new cases. The current examination fee will be charged.
  
  
  
• If a Diplomate is no longer certified by The American Board of Orthodontics, s/he must immediately cease any and all recognition and acknowledgement of ABO certification. The Diplomate's name is removed from any ABO listing of board certified orthodontists.
  
  
• If a former Diplomate is under investigation for inappropriate use of the designation of Board Certification:
  
  1. The former Diplomate will be ineligible to participate in the First Recertification Examination until a decision has been made by the Board regarding these allegations.
  
  2. If the former Diplomate is exonerated of the allegations for inappropriate use of the designation of Board Certified, s/he may reapply to re-examine as stated above under "THREE (3) TO SIX (6) CASES ARE UNACCEPTABLE."
  
  3. If the allegations of inappropriate use of the designation of Board Certified are proven to be authentic, the orthodontist will be indefinitely prohibited from taking Clinical Examinations to obtain ABO certification.
  
  

Second Recertification Examination Non-Completion

(to be determined by future ABO Directors)

Voluntary Recertification Non-Completion

A Diplomate may re-examine for the Voluntary Recertification as many times as desired by the Diplomate. There will be a nominal fee for each examination.

REQUEST INFORMATION, RECONSIDERATION, OR APPEAL OF EXAMINATION RESULTS

Detailed policy and procedure can be found at Appeal Process for Adverse Certification Decisions.