Examination Dates: August 2009 (exact dates TBD)	Application Deadline: November 28, 2008
	Examination Location: Thomson Prometric

Credentialing Requirements

The credentialing process determines an applicant’s eligibility and candidate status for the ABMG certification examination. All documents required for the credentialing process must be submitted to the ABMG Administrative Office and postmarked by the deadline.

Two unique components comprise the required application material: (1) the online biographical form and related documents and (2) the online logbook and program identification form. Each component is located at a different online site, as outlined below.

1. Personal (Biographical) Information: This component is accessible via the ABMG portal and includes a biographical form and uploaded documents in support of the application. The URL will be provided to applicants upon receipt of their 2009 Certification Examination Program Application Password Request Form and Notarized Application Statement.

    

2. Logbook and Program Identification: This component is hosted at a different URL and includes cases, program identification, training program director and program director information, and recommendations. The URL will be provided to applicants upon receipt of their Trainee Information form, which is submitted by their program director at the time they enter the training program.

Applicant Categories:

Applicants will fall into one of the following four categories. Instructions for the application/credentialing process for the ABMG certification examination are provided for each category.

• First-time applicants for ABMG certification
   

• ABMG diplomates seeking certification in an additional specialty or specialties
   

• Individuals who were granted active candidate status but failed to achieve certification in two consecutive examination cycles
   

• Individuals who were granted active candidate status but failed to achieve certification in one examination cycle and who are re-applicants for the next consecutive examination cycle

Instructions: Please note that the instructions for each applicant category are sub-divided to include specific information for applicants specializing in Clinical Genetics. Furthermore, the instructions differentiate between those requirements that are accessible via the ABMG portal and those that are found on the logbook and training program site.
 

Special Accommodations: If you require ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accommodations during the examination, you must request the Application for Special Accommodations from the ABMG Administrative Office.
 

First-Time Applicants for ABMG Certification

1. All first-time applicants must begin the application process by completing and mailing to ABMG the 2009 Certification Examination Program Application Password Request Form and Notarized Application Statement.

   Download the forms as a PDF
    

   Upon receipt of the completed original signed forms, ABMG will send via e-mail the applicant’s login, personal password, and the secure web address to ABMG’s online portal. The applicant may then start entering application details as outlined below. Note that the deadline for online submission is November 28, 2008. Completed applications and logbooks may be submitted prior to this date.
    

2. Using the URL, login, and password e-mailed to you, access the ABMG portal and complete the following requirements:
    

   1. Under the My Profile tab, which appears at the top of the screen, fill out your personal information where indicated, i.e., the Contact Information tab, the Address tab, etc. You will need to click on each tab in the My Profile section of the portal, read the instructions, and fill out the fields that pertain to trainees.
       

   2. Under the Application tab along the top of the screen, you must submit payment of the application review fee online via credit card.
       

   3. Again under My Profile, upload your curriculum vitae with bibliography that includes the dates and location of your undergraduate education, doctoral education, post-graduate training, medical genetics training, and professional employment.
       

   4. Also under My Profile, upload your doctoral degree transcript. You must also mail a hardcopy of your doctoral degree to the ABMG Administrative Office, specifically an official final transcript that includes the degree earned, the field in which the degree was earned, and the date the degree was granted. A photocopy of a final transcript will not be accepted.
       

   5. Applicants in Clinical Genetics must also upload a copy of their medical license where indicated under the Licensure tab in My Profile; in addition, they must mail in to the ABMG Administrative Office a hard copy of their current, valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine in the US. The license must still be valid on the date the ABMG certification examination is taken. A temporary, limited license such as an educational or institutional license or house staff permit is not acceptable except in special cases that have been approved by the ABMG prior to submission of the application.
       

   6. Applicants in Clinical Genetics must additionally provide hard copy documentation and attach to the genetics training page under My Profile the document verifying their 24 months of training in an ACGME-accredited residency other than Clinical Genetics. This documentation can either be a letter from the director of the ACGME-accredited residency program (in an area other than Clinical Genetics) that confirms the applicant’s satisfactory completion of 24 months of the ACGME-accredited residency training or documentation of board certification in an ABMS-recognized specialty. Note that completion of 48 months of training in an ACGME-accredited Clinical Genetics residency or 60 months of training in a combined Clinical Genetics/Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, or Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program fulfills this requirement.

    

3. Online Logbook: Upon receipt of your 2009 examination application and payment, you will be given access to the online logbook. You must meet the credentialing requirements in place at the time of your examination and therefore must use the most current logbook, regardless of the time period in which your training took place. Below are the logbook requirements for first time applicants.

    

   1. Each applicant must complete a logbook of 150 cases obtained during the inclusive dates of the applicant’s medical genetics training for each specialty area in which the applicant is seeking certification. [View Exceptions] The logbook cases must be entered into the online form and then approved by the training program director as well as the training director, and submitted online.

       

   2. An applicant who will have completed his or her entire medical genetics training by December 31, 2008 must submit a completed logbook with his or her application.
       

   3. An applicant whose medical genetics training will be completed between January 1, 2009 and July 31, 2009 must submit a completed logbook by March 1, 2009.
       

   4. The online logbook program will request the names of three diplomates who will write letters of endorsement; each letter must support the applicant’s candidacy for ABMG certification and at a minimum attest to the applicant’s honesty, integrity, and good moral character. At least one letter must be from an ABMG diplomate who is a faculty member, other than the program director, in an ABMG-accredited fellowship/ACGME-accredited Clinical Genetics program in which the applicant trained; the other two letters must be from ABMG diplomates who are in good standing with the ABMG. Each letter of endorsement must be mailed to ABMG in a sealed envelope and signed by the diplomate over the seal. Upon online submission of the logbook and application, a request for endorsement of the applicant will be sent by e-mail to the diplomates whose names appear on the application.
       

   5. The program director must provide documentation of the trainee’s required medical genetics training in an ABMG-accredited fellowship or ACGME-accredited clinical genetics residency by submitting to ABMG a completed and signed Verification of Training in Medical Genetics form that includes the signature of the trainee’s medical genetics fellowship program director or clinical genetics residency director; this form verifies the trainee’s specialty area(s) of training, inclusive dates of training, satisfactory progress, and good character. The blank form is electronically sent to the program director after the applicant has completed and electronically submitted his or her logbook for review to the training director and program director.
       

   6. An applicant completing his or her required medical genetics training by July 31, 2009 may apply for ABMG certification in 2009. If the required medical genetics training will be completed between January 1, 2009 and July 31, 2009, the ABMG Administrative Office will contact the program/residency director at the conclusion of the medical genetics training period for verification of the trainee’s successful completion of training.

Upon completion of the ABMG portal forms (tabbed screens), the online logbook forms, and receipt of all requested documents in the ABMG Administrative Office, your file will be sent to the ABMG Credentials Committee for review. The ABMG Credentials Committee will then review your application and notify you of your status.
 

ABMG Diplomates Seeking Certification in an Additional Specialty or Specialties

1. Applicants must begin the application process by completing and mailing to ABMG the 2009 Certification Examination Program Application Password Request Form and Notarized Application Statement. Download the forms as a PDF

    

   Upon receipt of the completed original signed forms, ABMG will send via e-mail the applicant’s login, personal password, and the secure web address to ABMG’s online portal. The applicant may then start entering application details as outlined below. Note that the deadline for online submission is November 28, 2008.
    

2. Using the URL, login, and password e-mailed to you, access the ABMG portal and complete the following requirements:
    

   1. Under the My Profile tab, which appears at the top of the screen, fill out or update your personal information where indicated, i.e., the Contact Information tab, the Address tab, etc. You will need to click on each tab in the My Profile section of the portal, read the instructions, and fill out the required fields. Be sure to read the instructions tab first.
       

   2. Under the Application tab along the top of the screen, you must submit payment of the application review fee online via credit card.
       

   3. Again under My Profile, upload your curriculum vitae with bibliography that includes the dates and location of your undergraduate education, doctoral education, post-doctoral training, medical genetics training, and professional employment.
       

   4. Also under My Profile, upload your doctoral degree transcript. An official final transcript includes the degree earned, the field in which the degree was earned, and the date the degree was earned. You do not need to mail in a hard copy of your doctoral degree to the ABMG Administrative Office.
       

   5. Applicants in Clinical Genetics must also upload a copy of their license where indicated under the licensure tab in My Profile; in addition, they must mail in to the ABMG Administrative Office a hard copy of their current, valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine in the US. The license must still be valid on the date the ABMG certification examination is taken. A temporary, limited license such as an educational or institutional license or house staff permit is not acceptable except in special cases that have been approved by the ABMG prior to submission of the application.
       

3. Online Logbook: Upon receipt of your 2009 examination application and payment, you will be given access to the online logbook. You must meet the credentialing requirements in place at the time of your examination and therefore must use the most current logbook, regardless of the time period in which your training took place. Below are the logbook requirements for first time applicants.
    

   1. Complete the online logbook with 150 cases obtained during the inclusive dates of your medical genetics training for each specialty area in which you are seeking certification. [See Sections IB-D for exceptions.] The logbook cases must be entered into the online form, approved by the training program director, as well as the training director, and submitted online.
       

   2. An applicant who will have completed his or her entire medical genetics training by December 31, 2008 must submit a completed logbook with the application.
       

   3. An applicant whose medical genetics training will be completed between January 1, 2009 and July 31, 2009 must submit a completed logbook by March 1, 2009.
       

   4. The online logbook program will request the name of one diplomate who will write a letter of endorsement; this letter must support the applicant’s candidacy for ABMG certification and at a minimum attest to the applicant’s honesty, integrity, and good moral character. This letter must be from an ABMG diplomate who is a faculty member but not the program director in an ABMG-accredited fellowship/ACGME-accredited Clinical Genetics program in which the applicant trained. This letter of endorsement must be in a sealed envelope and signed by the diplomate over the seal. Upon online submission of the application, a request will be sent by e-mail to the diplomate whose name appears on the application.
       

   5. The program director must provide documentation of required medical genetics training in an ABMG-accredited fellowship or ACGME-accredited clinical genetics residency by submitting to ABMG a completed and signed Verification of Training in Medical Genetics form that includes the signature of the trainee’s medical genetics fellowship program director or clinical genetics residency director; this form verifies the trainee’s specialty area(s) of training, inclusive dates of training, satisfactory progress, and good character. The blank form is electronically sent to the program director after the applicant has completed and electronically submitted his or her logbook for review to the training director and program director.
       

   6. An applicant completing his or her required medical genetics training by July 31, 2009 may apply for ABMG certification in 2009. If the required medical genetics training will be completed between January 1, 2009 and July 31, 2009, the ABMG Administrative Office will contact the program/residency director at the conclusion of the medical genetics training period for verification of the applicant’s successful completion of training.
       

   7. Applicants in Clinical Genetics must additionally provide hard copy documentation and attach to the genetics training page under My Profile the document verifying their 24 months of training in an ACGME-accredited residency other than Clinical Genetics; this documentation can either be a letter from the director of the ACGME-accredited residency program (in an area other than Clinical Genetics) that confirms the applicant’s satisfactory completion of 24 months of the ACGME-accredited residency training or documentation of board certification in an ABMS-recognized specialty. Note that completion of 48 months of training in an ACGME-accredited Clinical Genetics residency or 60 months of training in a combined Clinical Genetics/Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, or Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program fulfills this requirement.

Upon completion of the ABMG portal forms (tabbed screens), the online logbook forms, and receipt of all requested documents in the ABMG Administrative Office, your file will be sent to the ABMG Credentials Committee for review. The ABMG Credentials Committee will then review your application and notify you of your status.
 

Individuals Who Were Granted Active Candidate Status but Failed to Achieve Certification in Two Consecutive Examination Cycles

1. Applicants who were not able to achieve certification in two consecutive examination cycles must complete the equivalent of an additional 12 months of full-time medical genetics training in an ABMG-accredited fellowship program in that specialty or in an ACGME-accredited Clinical Genetics residency. A letter requesting approval for this additional training should be submitted by the program director to the ABMG Credentials Committee at the ABMG Administrative Office prior to the onset of the additional training. This letter must specify the inclusive dates and content of the additional training and must be signed by the trainee and the program director. Note that it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that this request is submitted before commencement of the additional training.
    

2. Applicants who will have completed their additional 12 months of training by July 31, 2009 must complete and mail to ABMG the 2009 Certification Examination Program Application Password Request Form and Notarized Application Statement. Download the forms as a PDF

    
   Upon receipt of the completed original signed forms, ABMG will send via e-mail the applicant’s login, personal password, and the secure web address to ABMG’s online portal. The applicant may then start entering application details as outlined below. Note that the deadline for online submission is November 28, 2008.
    

3. Using the URL, login, and password e-mailed to you, access the ABMG portal and complete the following requirements:
    

   1. Under the My Profile tab, which appears at the top of the screen, fill out or update your personal information where indicated, i.e., the Contact Information tab, the Address tab, etc. You will need to click on each tab in the My Profile section of the portal, read the instructions, and fill out the required fields. Be sure to read the instructions tab first.
       

   2. Under the Application tab along the top of the screen, you must submit payment of the application review fee online via credit card.
       

   3. Again under My Profile, upload your curriculum vitae with bibliography that includes the dates and location of your undergraduate education, doctoral education, post-doctoral training, medical genetics training, and professional employment.
       

   4. Also under My Profile, upload your doctoral degree transcript. An official final transcript includes the degree earned, the field in which the degree was earned, and the date the degree was earned. You do not need to mail in a hard copy of your doctoral degree to the ABMG Administrative Office.
       

   5. Applicants in Clinical Genetics must also upload a copy of their license where indicated under the licensure tab in My Profile; in addition, they must mail in to the ABMG Administrative Office a hard copy of their current, valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine in the US. The license must still be valid on the date the ABMG certification examination is taken. A temporary, limited license such as an educational or institutional license or house staff permit is not acceptable except in special cases that have been approved by the ABMG prior to submission of the application.
       

4. Online Logbook: Upon receipt of your 2009 examination application and payment, you will be given access to the online logbook. You must meet the credentialing requirements in place at the time of your examination and therefore must use the most current logbook, regardless of the time period in which your training took place. Below are the logbook requirements for first time applicants.
    

   1. Complete the online logbook with 150 cases obtained during the inclusive dates of your medical genetics training for each specialty area in which you are seeking certification. [See Sections IB-D for exceptions.] The logbook cases must be entered into the online form, approved by the training program director, as well as the training director, and submitted online.
       

   2. An applicant who will have completed his or her entire medical genetics training by December 31, 2008 must submit a completed logbook with the application.
       

   3. An applicant whose medical genetics training will be completed between January 1, 2009 and July 31, 2009 must submit a completed by March 1, 2009.
       

   4. The online logbook program will request the names of three diplomates who will write letters of endorsement; each letter must support the applicant’s candidacy for ABMG certification and at a minimum attest to the applicant’s honesty, integrity, and good moral character. At least one letter must be from an ABMG diplomate who is a faculty member, but not the program director, in an ABMG-accredited fellowship/ACGME-accredited Clinical Genetics program in which the applicant trained; the other two letters must be from ABMG diplomates who are in good standing with the ABMG. Each letter of endorsement must be in a sealed envelope and signed by the diplomate over the seal. Upon online submission of the application, a request will be sent by e-mail to the diplomates whose names appear on the application.
       

   5. The program director must provide documentation of the trainee’s required medical genetics training in an ABMG-accredited fellowship or ACGME-accredited clinical genetics residency by submitting to ABMG a completed and signed Verification of Training in Medical Genetics form that includes the signature of the trainee’s medical genetics fellowship program director or clinical genetics residency director; this form verifies the trainee’s specialty area(s) of training, inclusive dates of training, satisfactory progress, and good character. The blank form is electronically sent to the program director after the applicant has completed and electronically submitted his or her logbook for review to the training director and program director.
       

   6. An applicant completing his/her required medical genetics training by July 31, 2009 may apply for ABMG certification in 2009. If the required medical genetics training will be completed between January 1, 2009 and July 31, 2009, the ABMG Administrative Office will contact the program/residency director at the conclusion of the medical genetics training period for verification of the applicant’s successful completion of training.
       

   7. Applicants in Clinical Genetics must additionally provide hard copy documentation of 24 months of training in an ACGME-accredited residency other than Clinical Genetics; this documentation can either be a letter from the director of the ACGME-accredited residency program (in an area other than Clinical Genetics) that confirms the applicant’s satisfactory completion of 24 months of the ACGME-accredited residency training or documentation of board certification in an ABMS-recognized specialty. Note that completion of 48 months of training in an ACGME-accredited Clinical Genetics residency or 60 months of training in a combined Clinical Genetics/Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, or Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program fulfills this requirement.

Upon completion of the ABMG portal forms (tabbed screens), the online logbook forms, and receipt of all requested documents in the ABMG Administrative Office, your file will be sent to the ABMG Credentials Committee for review. The ABMG Credentials Committee will then review your application and notify you of your status.

Individuals Who Were Granted Active Candidate Status but Failed to Achieve Certification in One Examination and Who Are Re-Applicants for the Next Consecutive Examination Cycle

Note: Re-examinees applying in the next consecutive cycle are not required to submit a logbook or new letters of recommendations or a Verification of Training form.

1. Applicants must begin the application process by completing and mailing to ABMG the 2009 Certification Examination Program Application Password Request Form and Notarized Application Statement. Download the forms as a PDF
    

   Upon receipt of the completed original signed forms, ABMG will send via e-mail the applicant’s login, personal password, and the secure web address to ABMG’s online portal. The applicant may then start entering application details as outlined below. Note that the deadline for online submission is November 28, 2008.
    

2. Using the URL, login, and password e-mailed to you, access the ABMG portal and complete the following requirements:
    

   1. Under the My Profile tab, which appears at the top of the screen, fill out or update your personal information where indicated, i.e., the Contact Information tab, the Address tab, etc. You will need to click on each tab in the My Profile section of the portal, read the instructions, and fill out the required fields. Be sure to read the instructions tab first.
       

   2. Under the Application tab along the top of the screen, you must submit payment of the application review fee online via credit card.
       

   3. Again under My Profile, upload your curriculum vitae with bibliography that includes the dates and location of your undergraduate education, doctoral education, post-doctoral training, medical genetics training, and professional employment.
       

   4. Also under My Profile, upload your doctoral degree transcript. An official final transcript includes the degree earned, the field in which the degree was earned, and the date the degree was earned. You do not need to mail in a hard copy of your doctoral degree to the ABMG Administrative Office.
       

   5. Applicants in Clinical Genetics must also upload a copy of their license where indicated under the licensure tab in My Profile; in addition, they must mail in to the ABMG Administrative Office a hard copy of their current, valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine in the US. The license must still be valid on the date the ABMG certification examination is taken. A temporary, limited license such as an educational or institutional license or house staff permit is not acceptable except in special cases that have been approved by the ABMG prior to submission of the application.

Upon completion of the ABMG portal forms (tabbed screens) and receipt of all requested documents in the ABMG Administrative Office, your file will be sent to the ABMG Credentials Committee for review. The ABMG Credentials Committee will then review your application and notify you of your status.