For candidates who complete residency and/or fellowship training on or after January 1, 2008, the following policy applies.
- An AP and/or CP candidate who is not successful in passing the examination(s) during his/her five year period of board eligibility must complete an additional year of ACGME-accredited training or non-ACGME accredited training affiliated with an ACGME-accredited training program in the area(s) in which he/she is unsuccessful before re-applying for the examination. The additional year of training must be completed after the period of board eligibility terminates, but no later than 10 years after the completion of initial training.
- If the candidate has passed either the AP or CP examination but not the other, he/she may apply for single certification in that discipline provided the certification requirements are met.
- A subspecialty candidate who is not successful in passing the subspecialty examination during his/her period of board eligibility must complete at least an additional six months of training in an ACGME-accredited fellowship or non-ACGME accredited training affiliated with an ACGME-accredited training program in the subspecialty before re-applying for the examination. The additional six months of training must be completed after the period of board eligibility terminates, but no later than 10 years after the completion of initial training.
- Candidates requesting an additional period of board eligibility based on training will receive a 5-year additional period of board eligibility.
SINGLE CERTIFICATION FOR CANDIDATES BOARD ELIGIBLE FOR COMBINED CERTIFICATION WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL IN ONLY ONE OF THE EXAMINATIONS
- Candidates who are board eligible for certification in AP/CP must pass both examinations to become certified.
- Candidates successful in only one of the primary examinations (AP or CP) have the option to request that the ABPath award a single certificate in the primary area (AP or CP) in which they were successful, if all training requirements have been met.
- Original applications and any subsequent training will be evaluated for compliance with single certification requirements. All of the requirements for certification in Anatomic Pathology or Clinical Pathology must be satisfied as described in the current Booklet of Information (Sections III.A and III.B).
- Candidates must sign the statement included with the application for single certification stating that they are relinquishing board eligibility in AP/CP and are requesting primary certification in the area in which they were successful (AP or CP).
- Candidates must complete the application for single certification and submit the appropriate fee ($1200). This application must be downloaded, completed and mailed to the ABP office so that it is received no later than the published deadline. An online application is not available.
- Training used to satisfy the requirements for a single certificate may not be used subsequently to obtain additional certification. If a candidate applies for the other primary certificate at a later date, he/she will be expected to satisfy existing requirements for the other primary certificate at the time of application.
- Application for single certification must be submitted within 3 years of expiration of the period of board eligibility in which the primary examination was passed.
- Candidates who are board eligible for combined AP/NP certification must pass both examinations to receive a combined certificate. Candidates successful in the primary examination (AP) but not in the NP examination may apply for a single primary (AP) certificate using the procedure previously described.
- Applications for single certification are evaluated in May and in November. Applications received by March 1 will be evaluated in May. Applications received by October 1 will be evaluated in November. The fee for single certification is $ 1200.00