Specialty (OB-GYN) Certification Overview

• The ABOG provides a residency portal for you during your residency that provides access for you to complete tasks based upon your PGY level.  Tasks include uploading the Surgical Skills Certification (FLS [EMIGS certification information is provided to ABOG by AAGL]), completion of resident leave tasks, updates to profile, access to the Qualifying Exam Application and sign OB GYN Residency Attestation in your fourth year of residency.
• Obtaining board certification is a completely voluntary process.
• To become board certified, you have to pass the Qualifying Exam (written test) to demonstrate that you have the special knowledge and skills required for medical and surgical care of women.
• You must collect cases reflecting your care prior to the Certifying Exam (oral exam).
• The Certifying Exam is given by a team of well-respected national experts. The exam tests your skills, knowledge, and ability to treat different conditions. The examiners also review cases related to the patients that you've treated during the past year.
• ABOG notifies certain entities of the names of new diplomates certified each year. See Notifying Entities of New Diplomates to learn more.

Important Points to Know if You're Getting Ready to Pursue Board Certification

• Upon completing medical residency, applicants complete an online application to take the Qualifying Exam through their resident portal.
• The online application is typically available in January of the year of the exam date.
• You'll need your ABOG ID number to access your portal and complete the application.  Contact your residency manager or the ABOG (residency@abog.org) for your ABOG ID.
• Your residency program director must attest to successful completion of your training using the Residency Training Attestation for Graduating Residents. While you can take the Qualifying Exam without having the attestation submitted to ABOG, you will not receive your Qualifying Exam results until the program director has completed and submitted the attestation.
• Applicants should review their ABOG profile to confirm correct email address and telephone number contact information as this will be used for the Qualifying Examination Application.  We recommend using your personal email address to prevent being locked out of your institutional email once you have completed your residency training.