Recertification Exam Instructions

Diplomates seeking recertification: Please read through these instructions completely before accessing the online ABOM Recertification Application form. 

In order for ABOM Diplomates to maintain certification, a recertification examination has been implemented.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  1. Moral and ethical standing satisfactory to the Board.
  2. ABOM Diplomates are required to recertify every ten years based on the date they passed the ABOM Board examination.
  3. ABOM Diplomate status must be in good standing. Good standing requires the proper number of continuing education points and current ABOM dues paid.
  4. Verification of good standing is the responsibility of the Secretary of the ABOM.
  5. License to practice dentistry in any state or territory of the United States or in any nation with equivalent standards.
  6. Membership in an appropriate Oral Medicine Organization e.g., American Academy of Oral Medicine.


APPLICATION PROCESS

  1. The recertification examination is available to be taken three years prior to the expiration of current Diplomate status (i.e., every 10 years). Note: In as much as the examination was first offered as of 2019, all Diplomates who received Diplomate status prior to June 2009, are required to take and successfully complete the Recertification Examination. Diplomates who passed the ABOM Board examination between June 2009 and June 2012 are eligible to take the recertification examination in 2019. Candidates must pass the examination during a 3-year time frame (by 2022).

  2. Diplomates will be sent a notice by the ABOM at the beginning of this 3-year time frame to complete an online recertification form and begin the recertification process. 

  3. As part of this process, diplomates must submit evidence of having achieved a total of 35 CE hours during the preceding three years (eg. if testing in 2020, evidence must be submitted from 2017-2019 as a single combined PDF document uploaded with the application)

    Points are awarded for the activities listed below:
    1 point for each ‘Continuing Education’ hour
    1 point for a scientific or clinical presentation (provide evidence)
    1 point for a published abstract as part of a scientific meeting (provide evidence)
    1 point for presenting a poster at a scientific meeting (provide evidence)
    2 points for publishing a peer-reviewed article (provide evidence)
    2 points per year for a part-time faculty appointment (provide evidence)
    2 points for publishing chapter in oral medicine (provide evidence)
    8 points per year for a full-time faculty appointment (provide evidence)
    10 points for publishing a book (provide evidence)

  4. Pay the recertification fee (see below).
    Re-Certification Fee Guide Fee
    Initial Application fee $350.00 USD
    Re-take of Re-Certification (for first two retakes) $200.00 USD
    Re-take of Re-Certification (more than 2 retakes) $350.00 USD
  5. The completed application is then sent to the Board for review. Once approved by the Board, diplomates will receive a confirmation email with instructions to access the online testing system, Classmarker, to complete the ABOM Re-certification exam.

  6. The re-certification is open resource (honor code): books, journals, and websites may be used by the examinee.

  7. A passing grade on the recertification examination is 70%.

  8. Grading will be performed by the software, and all examinees will be notified by the ABOM Secretary of their grade within 30 days of taking the re-examination via e-mail. The certificate will be sent to the examinee from the ABOM office.

  9.  If a diplomate does not pass the re-certification examination, then they have 2 opportunities to retake the exam and they must wait a minimum of 1 month before retaking the exam. (see Examination fee)
Complete the Recertification Exam Application