Background
ABOG standards require that physicians achieve initial OB GYN or subspecialty certification within eight years of completion of ACGME-accredited residency or fellowship programs. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, some candidates may experience personal and professional challenges and are unable to participate in or wish to delay the process for initial OB GYN or subspecialty certification.
Extension of Eligibility for Certification
ABOG is extending eligibility for candidates who are currently eligible for initial OB GYN and subspecialty certification. This policy applies to physicians who have graduated from residency and/or fellowship and whose eligibility for certification has not previously expired. Candidates whose limits of eligibility have not expired before December 31, 2020, will have their eligibility extended automatically by two years. This extension applies to any eligible candidates, regardless of their status in the ABOG certification process.
This extension of current certification eligibility applies to:
- OB GYN (specialty) certification candidates
- Subspecialty (GO, MFM, REI, and URPS) certification candidates
- Candidates who have reestablished specialty certification eligibility as outlined in the ABOG Regaining Eligibility policies
Candidates do not need to request this extension as it will be applied automatically to all those eligible to receive the extension.
Inquiries about the extension of eligibility can be emailed to exams@abog.org. To review specific examples relative to year of graduation or approval year of regained eligibility and corresponding extensions, click here.
Policy date: December 2020
The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) recognizes that patients have diverse gender identities and is striving to use gender-inclusive language in its publications, literature, and other printed and digital materials. In some instances, ABOG uses the word “woman” (and the pronouns “she” and “her”) to describe patients or individuals whose sex assigned at birth was female, whether they identify as female, male, or non-binary. As gender language continues to evolve in the scientific and medical communities, ABOG will periodically reassess this usage and will make appropriate adjustments as necessary. When describing or referencing study populations used in research, ABOG will use the gender terminology reported by the study investigators.
Updated June 2021