Learn more about the ABOG Focused Practice Designations.
The Focused Practice Designation in MIGS offers ABOG the opportunity to establish standards and develop assessments for this surgical technique within the discipline of obstetrics and gynecology. It further enables ABOG to acknowledge diplomates who possess advanced surgical expertise and dedicate a substantial proportion of their practice to the care of women with benign and complex gynecologic conditions, addressing complications through minimally invasive surgical techniques. Moreover, this designation provides diplomates with a specific interest in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery access to continuous professional development that is more targeted, relevant, and meaningful.
The Focused Practice Designation in PAG enables ABOG to provide obstetricians and gynecologists with a specialized interest in the care of pediatric and adolescent gynecological patients by offering continuous professional development that is more focused, relevant, and impactful. Furthermore, the designation provides formal recognition by patients, credentialing bodies, peers, and other stakeholders for those specialists in obstetrics and gynecology who have successfully acquired and are maintaining these proficiencies.
No. A focused practice designation is not intended to be a form of certification since it recognizes physicians' additional expertise in the focused practice gained through clinical experience which may include formal training. These focused practice designations are more limited in scope than those covered by subspeciality certification.
According to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), subspecialty certification relates to a specific component of a specialty to which a practicing physician may devote a significant portion of time. It requires physicians to complete an additional ACGME-accredited fellowship training program and pass an assessment given by an ABMS Member Board. Focused practice is an added designation to a certification recognizing additional expertise or focus gained through clinical experience. Physicians must maintain an active certification in their specialty/subspecialty. See more details on the document offered by ABMS.
No oral exam is required.
Exam results will be posted on your diplomate portal no later than 2 weeks after the examination date.
A candidate who fails or postpones the examination must complete a new online application to be considered for the next scheduled examination and pay a new application fee.
Yes. Focused practice designations are time-limited. Diplomates must enter the Focused Practice Continuing Certification (CC) program in the year following successful attainment of the designation and must successfully complete all assignments to maintain focused practice designation. Diplomates with non-time limited certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology who pass the focused practice designation examination must enter the Focused Practice Designation CC process and fulfill all the yearly CC requirements to maintain the focused practice designation.
You must meet CC requirements annually for your specialty or subspecialty as well as complete additional reading assignments for your focused practice designation.
The CC Part II, Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment article requirements for specialists and subspecialists holding a focused practice designation cover the following categories:
For Specialists
- General obstetrics, gynecology, office practice, and four subspecialties
- Focused practice (MIGS and/or PAG)
- Health equity and patient safety
For Subspecialists
- General obstetrics, gynecology, office practice, and the other three subspecialties
- Focused practice (MIGS and/or PAG)
- Articles in the diplomate's subspecialty
- Health equity and patient safety
Yes. You will need to complete the MIGS and PAG Exams Application Interest Form to have the application added to your portal. Once you have achieved the focused practice designation in MIGS, you must complete the annual CC requirements to keep your focused practice designation.
Yes. Patients under the age of 21 who are seen in clinic without a procedure should be listed under the other/patient encounter without procedure line in the case log. If you have more questions on case logs, please submit your inquiry via our ABOG Contact Us Form.
The MIGS twelve-month case log should only include the cases in which you were the primary surgeon. If the candidate performed their side of a hysterectomy, this would count for LAVH and total laparoscopic hysterectomies as primary surgeon. Candidates may count oophorectomies at the time of laparoscopic hysterectomy toward laparoscopic oophorectomy. If you have more questions on case logs, please submit your inquiry via our ABOG Contact Us Form.
You will need to complete the MIGS and PAG Exams Application Interest Form to request the application. Upon submission of your form, you will received an email notification when the application becomes accessible in your portal. Please allow up to 10 business days for your request to be processed.