1. Diplomates may make application in October to sit for all maintenance of certification examinations offered by ABOG.
Diplomates who hold certificates expiring after December 31, 2008 will sit for voluntary recertification.
For diplomates who possess a certificate expiring on or before December 31, 2009, who successfully complete the written recertification examination, the next expiration date will be six (6) years from the expiration date printed on their certificate.
Upon completion of the ABC examination, all certificates will be dated December 31, of the appropriate year. (Example: a diplomate participating in the 2007 ABC with a certificate expiring in 2007 will receive recertification valued through December 31, 2008.
2. Unrestricted license to practice medicine in any state or territory (United States or a Province of Canada) in which the physician holds a current medical license.
(A copy of each license held, with the expiration date, must accompany the application.)
3. If the physician's license to practice medicine has been revoked or restricted in any state or territory of the United States or a Province of Canada, or if termination or restriction of hospital practice because of personal, physical or mental impairments, excessive operative complications or for disciplinary reasons has occurred within the past six (6) years, a written explanation of the circumstances involved must accompany the application to sit for these examinations.
4. Good moral and ethical character.
5. If the applying physician is actively engaged in unsupervised independent hospital care, the physician must have unrestricted privileges to practice in each of the hospitals in which patient care has been conducted for the past six (6) years.
6. If the applying physician has no hospital practice, another (ABOG) Diplomate, in good standing, must attest that the applying physician is of good moral and ethical character, and that the applying physician has elected not to have a hospital practice.
7. If the applying physician is not actively involved in the clinical practice of medicine, a letter of explanation must be submitted with the application, and another (ABOG) Diplomate, in good standing, must attest that the applying physician is of good moral and ethical character, and that the applying physician has elected not to have a clinical practice.
8. The physician will be expected to sign the following statement: "There have been no restrictions in my hospital privileges since the date of my application."
Physicians who are unable to sign this statement will not receive the reslts of their examinationn and may have the results of their examination voided, unless they present evidence that full and unrestricted privileges have been restored.
9. PHYSICIANS PRACTICING IN A COUNTRY OTHER THAN THE UNITED STATES OR CANADA must submit, with the application, a letter(s) from a senior responsible officer in the hospital(s) where the physician practices, verifying the physician's responsibility for independent, unsupervised care of obstetrical and gynecological patients.
10. The Board requires, by confidential inquiry, documented evidence concerning a physician’s professional reputation, moral and ethical character and in-hospital practice privileges from administrative officers of organizations and institutions to whom the physician and their conduct of practice is known.
All subspecialists must meet the requirements listed immediately above under "A" plus the requirements listed below (1-3).
1. Subspecialists holding time-limited certificates in BOTH general obstetrics and gynecology AND a subspecialty, in which the time-limitation is two (2) years prior to the expiration date of the general obstetrics and gynecology certificate, but not the subspecialty certificate, may sit for certification renewal in either the general obstetrics and gynecology certificate renewal written examination or the ABC.
Their subspecialty will be included in the examination selected.
IMPORTANTLY, the expiration date for both certificates is linked to the expiration date printed on the SUBSPECIALTY certificate; thus, the expiration date for BOTH certificates is six (6) years (see Status with the Board) from the date of expiration printed on the SUBSPECIALTY certificate.
The Diplomate undergoing certificate renewal will receive only one certificate, reflecting recertification in both obstetrics and gynecology and the subspecialty.
2. Physicians holding unlimited general obstetrics and gynecology certificates, but time-limited subspecialty certificates may sit for either the written certificate renewal or the ABC examination within two (2) years of the expiration date printed on the time-limited subspecialty certificate.
Upon successful completion of the written examination, the next expiration date will be six (6) years from the original expiration date shown on the last subspecialty certificate.
Upon completion of the ABC, the next expiration date will be December 31 of the appropriate year from that last subspecilaty certification.
3. The procedure will follow the general guidelines and philosophy of the process described for obstetrics and gynecology. (See Maintenance of Certification Examination Process)
