COMPLETION OF THE CLINICAL EXAMINATION

You will receive notification of successful completion of the Clinical Examination. You will also receive a Diplomate Certificate. For recertifying Diplomates, any remaining time on your current certificate will be added to the new certificate. A first-time Diplomate will receive the ABO lapel pin.

The Diplomate's name, public contact information and certificate expiration will appear on this website's 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
  
  
  • Case/s solely treated by the examinee either from their residency within 24 months of graduation or from their post-residency practice.
    
    
• Time limitation to return for completion of the Initial Certification Exam.
  
  
  • The examinee has ten (10) years on two (2) separate occasions to present case/s to complete the Initial Certification Exam.
    
    
• If the examinee does not fulfill ICE requirements, the examinee will submit a new registration and take the Beginning Certification Examination with six entirely new cases after satisfying current fees for the exam.

Beginning 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
  
  Case/s solely treated by the examinee in their private practice.
  
  
• Time limitation to return for completion of the Beginning Certification Exam.
  
  The examinee has five (5) years on two (2) separate occasions to present case/s to complete the Beginning Certification Exam.
  
  
• Option for 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 submit a new registration and take the Beginning Certification Examination with six entirely new cases after satisfying current fees for the exam.

Gateway Certification 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 Incomplete. If this deficiency occurs prior to the expiration of the current time-limited certificate and there are future clinical exams scheduled before the expiration, the Diplomate may register for a new examination to present new case/s to replace those deemed Incomplete. 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 Gateway Certification 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 Gateway Certification Exam is successfully passed, any remaining time on the current certificate will be added to the new certificate. Therefore, there is no penalty for taking the Gateway Certification Exam prior to expiration of the current certificate.
  
  
• Exam or Re-Exam taken in the year of expiration of the time-limited certificate:
  
  1. THREE (3) TO SIX (6) CASES ARE INCOMPLETE
  
  
  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 submit a new registration and will take the Beginning Certification Examination with six entirely new cases. The current examination fee will be charged.
  
  
  2. ONE (1) TO TWO (2) CASES ARE INCOMPLETE
  
  
  1. The Diplomate maintains Board certified status for one year and must register for a Clinical Examination during that year 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 for 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 successfully complete one or both re-examination cases, the Diplomate will no longer be board certified. The former Diplomate will submit a new registration and take the Beginning Certification Examination with six entirely new cases. The current examination fee will be charged.
  
  
  

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.

Recertification Examination/s Non-Completion

• Re-examination using the same criteria as applied to the case/s that were Incomplete.
  
  
• Source of the re-examination case/s
  
  
  • Cases/s soley treated by the examinee in their private practice.
  
  
• Time limitation to return for completion of the Recertification Exam
  
  
  • The Recertification Exam may be retaken as often as needed as long as the current certificate is unexpired. A fee will be charged for each re-examination.
  
  
• Option for Re-Examination of One Case by Mail
  
  
• If the examinee does not successfully complete re-examination or elects not to return, the examinee will be required to submit a new registration and will take the Recertification Exam that follows the last successful exam and bring entirely new case/s. The current examination fee will be charged.
  
  

NON-COMPLETION OF RECERTIFICATION

• 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 Clinical Examination until a decision has been made by the Board regarding these allegations.
     
     
  2. 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.

REQUEST INFORMATION, RECONSIDERATION, OR APPEAL OF EXAMINATION RESULTS

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