Booklet of Information

2010

Policies, Procedures, and Requirements

This document supersedes all previous publications of the American Board of Pathology (ABP) concerning its policies, procedures,
and requirements for certification.

All candidates for ABP certification are admitted to the examinations at the discretion of the ABP.

The admission of a candidate to an ABP certifying examination is governed by the policies, procedures, and requirements in
effect during the current application period.

The ABP reserves the right to make changes in its fees, policies, procedures, and requirements at any time, with or without
prior notice.

2010 Booklet of Information
(click to download the pdf)

Booklet of Information Contents

 Page
Policies, Procedures, and Requirements 1
Organizational History 1
Cooperating Societies of the ABP 1
Mission and Purpose 1
Certification by the ABP 2
I. Certification in Anatomic Pathology, Clinical Pathology, or Combined Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology 2
II. Subspecialty Certification 2
III. Maintenance of Certification (MOC) 2
IV. Certification Status 2
Requirements for Primary and Subspecialty Certification 3
I. Professional Education 3
A. Medical School Requirement 3
B. Documents Required with Application 3
II. Medical Licensure 3
A. Primary Certification 3
B. Subspecialty Certification 3
C. There are no exceptions to the licensure requirements 3
D. Notification of action against license 3
III. Training Requirements 3
A. General 3
B. Primary Certification 4
1. Combined Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology (AP/CP) Certification 4
2. Certification in Anatomic Pathology 4
3. Certification in Clinical Pathology 5
4. Changing Certification from AP/CP to Single Certification in AP or CP 5
C. Subspecialty Certification 5
1. Requirements for All Subspecialty Certification 5
2. Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine 5
3. Chemical Pathology 6
4. Cytopathology 6
5. Dermatopathology 6
6. Forensic Pathology 6
7. Hematology 6
8. Medical Microbiology 7
9. Molecular Genetic Pathology 7
10. Neuropathology 7
11. Pediatric Pathology 7
D. Combined Primary and Subspecialty Certification 7
1. General Information 7
2. Acceptable Combinations of Certification and Required Training 8
a. Anatomic Pathology and Cytopathology 8
b. Anatomic Pathology and Forensic Pathology 8
c. Anatomic Pathology and Hematology 8
d. Anatomic Pathology and Medical Microbiology 8
e. Anatomic Pathology and Neuropathology 8
f. Clinical Pathology and Subspecialty Certification 8
IV. Examinations 8
A. Primary Certification 8
B. Subspecialty Certification 9
C. Application 9
D. Fees 9
E. Date Assignments 9
F. Reporting of Results to Candidates 9
G. Reporting of Results to Programs 9
H. Qualification Period for Examination 9
I. Irregular Behavior 11
J. Unsuccessful Candidates 12
V. Candidates with Disabilities 12
A. Learning Disability 12
B. Previous Chemical Dependency 13
VI. Candidates Qualified for Combined Certification who are Successful in Only One of the Examinations 13
VII. Examination Dates 14
A. Location 14
B. Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology Examinations 14
C. Subspecialty Examinations 14
D. Final Filing and Cutoff Dates 14
VIII. Certificates 15
IX. Reporting of Diplomate Names by ABP 16
X. Voluntary Recertification 16
XI. Maintenance of Certification 16
XII. Appeals Procedure 16
Accreditation of Pathology Training Programs 18

Links to Other Pages
ABP Officers and Trustees
Former Trustees
Test Development and Advisory Committees
Joint Policy Committee for Dermatopathology
Joint Policy Committee for Molecular Genetic Pathology

This page was last modified on June 7, 2010.