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Focused Practice Designation Process

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants are required to fulfill the criteria outlined in the MIGS and PAG Focused Practice Designation (FPD) Examinations Bulletin. The following list is not exhaustive; therefore, applicants must carefully review all requirements specified in the bulletin.  

 

 

  • Unrestricted Medical License -  Candidates must have an active, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine in any and all of the states or territories of the United States, District of Columbia, or Province of Canada in which the candidate holds a current medical license.

 

  • ABOG Specialty Certification - The candidate must hold current, active ABOG certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology to be eligible to apply and to sit for the examination.

 

  • Training and Practice Requirement - Candidates must have completed a minimum of three (3) years of clinical practice with a focus on their area of focused practice (e.g., MIGS or PAG).

 

  • Unrestricted Hospital Privileges - Candidates must have unrestricted hospital (or surgical center) privileges for an ABOG Focused Practice Designation.

 

  • Moral and Ethical Behavior - The ABOG requires evidence of a candidate’s professionalism and professional standing.

 

  • Physicians in International Practice Settings - If the candidate practices in a country other than the United States and its territories or Canada, a letter from the senior responsible medical officer in the hospital or clinical setting where the candidate practices must be submitted with the application.

 

  • MIGS CME Requirement - A minimum of 20 AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credits™ in MIGS or in a gynecologic subspecialty [e.g., Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (URPS), Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI), and/or Gynecologic Oncology (GO)] in the last three years. CME earned by completing the annual ABOG CC Part II Gynecology, URPS, REI, or GO article-based assessments will count towards the MIGS CME requirement.

 

  • PAG CME Requirement - A minimum of 20 AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credits™ in PAG or relevant pediatric surgery CME in the last three years. CME earned by completing the annual ABOG CC Part II PAG article-based assessments will count towards the PAG CME requirement.

 

  • Twelve-Month Case Logs - A 12-month case log documenting a practice that demonstrates sufficient depth and breadth of their focused practice is required and must be completed at the time of application.

 

  • Falsification of Information - Falsification of any information or failure to disclose any adverse action on hospital privileges, medical license(s), or CC application will result in a denial of a candidate’s eligibility.

 

  • Continuing Certification (CC) - Time Limited and Non-Time Limited diplomates who achieve a Focused Practice Designation must enter the CC program in the year following successful attainment of the Focused Practice Designation and must successfully complete all requirements to maintain the Focused Practice Designation. 

 

  • Applicants Rules Not Admissible - If a decision is made by ABOG that a candidate has not met the requirements for admission to the focused practice examination, they may appeal the decision in writing to the ABOG.

 

  • Re-Application - Candidates who postpone or fail the written examination, must complete a new online application to be considered for the next scheduled examination and pay a new application fee.

 

 

 

 

Application Process

  • Applicants must complete the Application Interest Form to request the application.
  • Applicants will be notified once the application becomes available in their portal.
  • Applicants must submit the application and payment online by the published deadline.
  • The fee must be paid in full by credit card through the ABOG website at the time of application.
  • It is each candidate's responsibility to update their contact information in their portal profile.
  • Once the online application, 12-month case log and application fee payment have been submitted, the candidate's application will be considered in accordance with the requirements in effect for that year. An ABOG subcommittee will make the final decision as to the applicant's eligibility after the review of the application and qualifications.
  • Two business days (not less than 48 hours) after notification of admissibility, candidates should contact Pearson VUE to obtain a seat for the exam. Instructions for contacting Pearson VUE will be included in the acceptance email. Seats at Pearson VUE in individual cities are limited and are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

 

View the MIGS and PAG Focused Practice Designation Bulletin here.

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