1. Residents who are candidates for certification are required to complete four (4) years of graduate medical education in an obstetrics and gynecology residency program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education .
2. The final year of a resident's program must include the responsibilities of a chief (senior) resident in accordance with the description of the program as accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
3. When a resident's graduate education and clinical experience has been gained in more than one residency program, the application to take the written examination must be accompanied by verification of the candidate's satisfactory performance in each program.
Less than six months in a program is not acceptable as a part of an approved clinical experience.
4. Within the required 48 months, education in the basic sciences should be so integrated with clinical experience to emphasize the application of related disciplines to total care of the patient.
5. Requests to modify training to accommodate research for individuals preparing for academic careers will be considered individually if a detailed application is received from the individual and the program director IN ADVANCE of initiation of the program.
Annual progress reports of activities performed by individuals so approved are required by August 1 each year.
6. An exchange of residents between accredited programs of obstetrics-gynecology is acceptable.
Exchange into residencies of other specialties cannot be permitted within a 48-month residency program except for accredited primary care rotations
7. Up to 6 months credit for previous training in another ACGME accredited residency may be granted for resident entering an ACGME accredited Ob/Gyn residency after July 1, 2006. The residency program director must request this from the Board prior to the start of the candidate's residency.
8. Leaves of absence and vacation may be granted to residents at the discretion of the program director in accordance with local policy.
If, within the four years of graduate medical education, the total of such leaves and vacation, for any reason, (e.g., vacation, sick leave, maternity or paternity leave, or personal leave) exceeds eight (8) weeks in any of the first three years of graduate training, or six (6) weeks during the fourth graduate year, or a total of twenty (20) weeks over the four years of residency, the required four years of graduate medical education must be extended for the duration of time the individual was absent in excess of either eight (8) weeks in years one-three (1-3), or six (6) weeks in the fourth year, or a total of twenty (20) weeks for the four years of graduate medical education.
9. The program director is required to attest to the resident's satisfactory performance, competence and completion of the program. The program director is expected to sign on behalf of the program, not as an individual.
10. Each resident is required to keep a record of the number and type of obstetric and gynecologic procedures performed during residency to demonstrate the adequacy of his/her operative experience.
11. Resident education must include inpatient and ambulatory primary/preventive (generalist) care throughout the duration of residency and provide a continuity of care.
12. Concurrent private practice during residency is not permitted except in rare instances and only after advanced prior approval of the ABOG. This policy does not preclude supervised ongoing longitudinal care of patients over several years of residency training.
13. Resident education must include the diagnosis and management of breast disease.
14. Resident education must include the diagnosis and management of lower urinary tract dysfunction in women.
15. Resident education must include the performance and interpretation of diagnostic pelvic and transvaginal ultrasound.
16. Residents must have acquired decision-making skills and judgment essential for selection of appropriate treatment, as well as the capability to perform, independently, major gynecologic operations, spontaneous and operative obstetric deliveries, to manage the complications thereof and to be capable of performing the essential diagnostic procedures required of a consultant in obstetrics and gynecology.
