ABO/ABPD Certification

American Board of Orthodontics Certification

The American Board of Orthodontics was founded in 1929. It is the oldest and most prestigious specialty board in dentistry. The ABO’s aim is to elevate the standards of the practice of orthodontia, to familiarize the public with its aim and ideals, and to protect the public against irresponsible and unqualified practitioners.

The board upholds four main objectives supported by its mission:

To evaluate the knowledge and clinical skills of graduates of accredited orthodontic programs by conducting exams and conferring time-limited certificates
To re-evaluate clinical knowledge and skills through administration of recertification exams throughout a Diplomate’s career
To support the development of quality graduate, postgraduate, and continuing education programs in orthodontics
To promote and encourage certification expertise throughout the world

Becoming Board Certified

To become board certified, an orthodontist has to pass a rigorous set of written and clinical examinations, as well as a comprehensive review of his or her credentials. The initial process of becoming board certified can take anywhere from five to ten years. Once certified, the orthodontist must become recertified every ten years to maintain board-certified status.

What does it mean to be board certified?

A board-certified orthodontist, also known as a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, has been voluntarily examined by his or her peers on the basis of knowledge and clinical skills. Becoming board certified signifies the orthodontist’s pursuit of continued proficiency and excellence in orthodontics.

American Board of Pediatric Dentistry Certification

The vision of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry is to achieve excellence in pediatric dentistry through certification of all pediatric dentists.

What is a Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist?

A pediatric dentist who has completed a graduate program accredited by CODA (the Commission on Dental Accreditation) in the specialty of pediatric dentistry. A dentist who graduates from a specialty program becomes a pediatric dentist and is eligible to become board certified through the voluntary examination process of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Involvement in the certification process is a demonstration of the pediatric dentist’s pursuit of continued proficiency and excellence.

The certification process involves a written qualifying examination and an oral clinical examination that cover all areas of knowledge a pediatric dentist should master. Certification is awarded for a time-limited period, and the recipient must renew annually to maintain board-certified status. Through this accomplishment, a pediatric dentist has earned the title of Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.