ABOM Diplomate Certification Examination: Oral Clinical Cases 

Clinical Knowledge Assessment 

Eligibility Requirements

• Graduation from an advanced education program in Oral Medicine accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). 
• Successful completion of Qualifying Examination.
• Evidence of oral medicine specialty clinical practice for a minimum of eighteen (18) months after receiving a certificate or degree. Evidence can a letter from a qualified colleague, a direct supervisor, or the director of the program that trained the applicant.
• Membership in an appropriate Oral Medicine organization. 
• Receipt of completed application form by published deadline. 
• Receipt of payment of application and registration fees by published deadline. 

Eligibility Duration 

An applicant approved eligible will remain so for five (5) years from the date of taking their initial Qualifying Examination, regardless of outcome, to complete the certification process. During this period, the candidate must take and successfully complete the entire examination or forfeit eligibility status, any paid examination fee and /or application fee. If certification is not achieved during the assigned period, candidacy status is terminated and the Qualifying Examination results are forfeited. 

Format of Oral Clinical Cases

This examination is designed to simulate clinical cases and reflect current standards of Oral Medicine practice with the primary goal to evaluate patient assessment, diagnosis, and management.

Content of Oral Clinical Cases

The Oral Clinical Cases Examination consists of three case-based scenarios, each taking approximately 30 minutes. The cases address:

• Oral mucosal disorders, including some relevant histopathology
• Medically complex patients
• Salivary gland disorders
• Acute and chronic orofacial pain
• Orofacial neurosensory disorders
• Pharmacological treatment, including prescriptions, adverse effects, and drug interactions
• Laboratory medicine, including the ordering and interpretation of appropriate tests
• Radiology, including the ordering and interpretation of advanced radiologic studies

The Oral Clinical Cases exam is designed to simulate clinical cases and reflect current standards of Oral Medicine practice with the primary goal to evaluate patient assessment, diagnosis, and management. The Oral Clinical Cases Examination is approximately 120 minutes in duration. During this time the examination will be administered by two examiners who will alternate asking questions. A third director may be in the room for observation/training purposes. All questions are prescribed and psychometrically evaluated. All candidates are asked the same questions. 

Certification Exam Fees

Full payment is required in advance of the examination. This includes a non-refundable initial application fee covering both Qualifying Examination and Oral Clinical Cases Examination and the examination fee made payable to American Board of Oral Medicine. 

Administration:

The Oral Clinical Cases examination is typically administered in-person during the American Academy of Oral Medicine (AAOM) annual meeting in the spring of each year. Candidates must register in advance for the examination, with the deadline for application closing approximately March 1st in any given year. For 2025, the exam will be administered on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The application deadline is March 1, 2025. Candidates will be notified of acceptance no later than March 10, 2025.