Specialty Certification General Details

You can start the process of board certification from the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology 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.

Upon completing medical residency, candidates complete an online application to take the Qualifying Exam.
The online application is typically available in mid-September, the year prior to the first exam date.
You'll need your ABOG ID number to complete the application, which you can get from your residency manager.
Your residency program director must attest to successful completion of your residence program via the Residency Training Affidavit. While you can take the Qualifying Exam without yet having the affidavit on file with ABOG, you will not receive your Qualifying Exam results until ABOG has the signed affidavit from your program director.
Be sure your email address and telephone number that you provide in your application are accurate. We recommend that you use a personal email address to prevent being locked out of your email once you have completed your residency training.