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What Happens if I Miss the 2026 Continuing Certification (CC) Deadlines?

Here's what you need to know

Per the 2026 CC Bulletin, to be issued toward the end of 2025, the CC application deadline will be August 15, 2026, and the final deadline (with a late fee) will be September 15, 2026. If the final deadline is missed, please carefully read all details offered below: 

 

  • Diplomate certification statuses will remain Active, but a remedial pathway will be required in 2027 to maintain certification. If you are currently on a remedial pathway, see “Important to Note” section below.

  • Impacted diplomates must apply for 2027 CC by the 2027 CC application deadline.

  • An Incomplete Requirements Service fee of $795 will be assessed in addition to the 2027 CC application fee at the time of their 2027 CC application. 

  • Additional article-based assessments and CC activities will be required in 2027 to maintain certification(s). See section below titled “Failure to Meet CC Requirements” for these details. 

  • Impacted diplomates who then fail to apply and meet all 2027 requirements by the 2027 CC completion deadline must pass the 2028 Re-Entry Exam to regain certification(s). 

 

Important to note:

  • Diplomates will only be offered the remedial pathway once per 6-year period. 

  • Diplomates who were already on a remedial pathway status or who had compliance report requirements in 2026 are not eligible for the remedial pathway again in 2027. Incomplete 2026 CC requirements results in an Expired certificate by end of 2026 for these diplomates. Impacted diplomates who fall in this category must take the Re-Entry Exam in July 2027 to regain active status. Diplomates required to take the Re-Entry exam need to complete the 2027 CC program application by the published due date, which is yet to be determined, but will be in March 2027. Physicians who are required to take the Re-Entry Exam must contact the ABOG Office of Medical Standards and Assessments here for access to the online application.  

 

 

 

Failure to Meet CC Requirements

A diplomate who fails to apply for CC and/or successfully complete all requirements in any given CC year will be considered to be on a remedial pathway and must complete the requirements listed below in the year that follows. 

 

  1. Apply for CC by the application deadline 

  2. Pay Incomplete Requirements Service fee ($795), in addition to the CC application fee assessed at the time of CC application 

  3. Complete double requirements for article-based assessments, practice improvement activities, and new knowledge gap questions being introduced as the Amplified Continuing Education (ACE) pilot in 2026. Double requirements would include: 

    • Answering 120 total CC article-based questions

    • Answering 120 ACE Pilot questions

    • Completing 2 Part IV Practice Improvement Activities

  4. Successfully complete all annual CC requirements by the CC completion deadline

 

If impacted Diplomates do not complete all requirements listed above by the CC completion deadline, they must pass the Re-Entry Exam the following year to maintain certification. 

 

Any questions regarding the above should be submitted here: Contact Us.