American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology

The pathologic conditions of the oral maxillofacial region are complex, with oral and maxillofacial pathologists often being the key component in establishing a diagnosis. In the specialty of oral maxillofacial pathology, clinical diagnosis of disease, microscopic diagnosis of disease, as well as the management of those diseases is practiced. The American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (AAOMP) was officially organized in 1946, and in 1950 the American Dental Association recognized Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology as one of the nine boarded dental specialties.

Mission and Purpose

The objectives of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology (ABOMP) are:

1. To encourage the study of oral and maxillofacial pathology.
2. To protect the public interest by maintaining the standards and advancing the practice of the specialty of oral and maxillofacial pathology.
3. To determine the competence of those wishing to practice the specialty of oral and maxillofacial pathology through evaluation of their credentials and the examination of eligible candidates.
4. To issue certificates to those who successfully complete the certifying examination administered by the ABOMP.
5. To serve the public, the dental and medical professions, hospitals, and dental and medical schools by maintaining a list of diplomates of the ABOMP. A list of registered diplomates shall be prepared annually by the Secretary-Treasurer and submitted to the Council on Dental Education and Licensure of the American Dental Association.
6. To establish criteria for certification maintenance and conduct an on-going recertification program.

Prerequisites for Examination

To be considered for certification as a diplomate of ABOMP each candidate must:

1. Successfully complete an advanced training program in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology approved by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
2. Submit a completed application and the nonrefundable application/examination fee, and be approved by the Credentials Committee.
3. Achieve a passing score on the certification examination.

Certification of Maintenance

The Certification Maintenance (CM) program is directed primarily toward those oral and maxillofacial pathologists with time-limited certificates. All certificates issued by the ABOMP after January 1, 2004, are valid for 10 years. The process will be open, however, to all certified diplomates. A diplomate who holds a non-time-limited certificate will not put that certificate in jeopardy by participating in the CM program Certification.

Maintenance will be based on three components:

1. Evidence of professional standing. Diplomates of the ABOMP must maintain a current license or a teaching license to practice dentistry in at least one jurisdiction of the United States, its territories, or Canada. Diplomates who do not have a current license or teaching license, but have a faculty appointment at an accredited dental or medical school, may substitute evidence of academic appointment or standing. Diplomates practicing outside the United States or Canada must maintain an equivalent license to practice dentistry issued by their respective jurisdictions.
2. Evidence of commitment to lifelong learning and involvement in periodic self-assessment (organized continuing education [CE] and self-learning). Each diplomate must maintain a minimum of 40 hours every 2 years of pathology-related continuing education sponsored by the AAOMP, or by an ADA/CERP-approved provider, or by an organization or institution accredited by the AMA Council on Medical Education.
3. Evidence of cognitive expertise (certification maintenance examination). The CM examination is mandatory, will be given annually at the AAOMP meeting, and must be taken no later than ten years after initial (or most recent) certification.

Further information:

For more detailed and specific information on the requirements for certification and certification of maintenance, consult “Requirements, Procedures, and Fees for Certification of Diplomates” and “Certification of Maintenance” published on the ABOMP web site (www.abomp.org).

Additional questions may be directed to clarita@abpath.org or sent in writing to:

American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
4830 West Kennedy Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33609-2571
Phone: (813) 286-2444 ext.230
Fax: (813) 289-5279