Q. What degree qualifications do I need to be considered for ABMGG certification?
A. Clinical Genetics and Genomics applicants: Must have a medical degree (M.D., D.O., or equivalent). Laboratory specialty applicants: Must have either a medical degree or a Ph.D. in genetics or a closely related field. If you are unsure if your Ph.D. is in a closely related field, email credentials@abmgg.org and include a copy of your transcript.
Q. I earned my medical or doctoral degree in another country. What is required to be considered for eligibility to take the ABMGG certification exam?
A. If your medical or doctoral degree was earned outside of the U.S. or Canada, you must submit a Foreign Credentials Review request.
Q, My medical or doctoral education was done outside of the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, or Australia, what do I need to do?
A. Applicants for the certification examinations for the laboratory specialties who have earned their degree from a country other than the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, or Australia, must take the TOEFL-iBT examination. You must have the official TOEFL-iBT examination scores sent directly to the ABMGG Administrative Office by the Educational Testing Service (www.ets.org). Individuals who received their undergraduate or master’s degree in the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, or Australia but obtained their doctoral degree elsewhere are not required to take the TOEFL-iBT exam. M.D.s with an ECFMG certificate are exempt from this requirement.
Applicants for the certification examinations in clinical genetics and genomics must hold an ECFMG certificate.
Q. I completed a residency outside of an ACGME-accredited program; will it qualify?
A. ABMGG requires satisfactory completion of a full-time training in an ACGME-accredited residency (e.g., pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, etc.) that includes at least 12 months of direct patient care experience. The ABMGG Credentials Committee may consider granting medical equivalency training after review of all documentation.
Q. I am applying for certification in Clinical Genetics and Genomics. Do I need to have a medical license to take the examination?
A. Applicants for the clinical genetics and genomics exam are required to have a valid and unrestricted medical license to achieve “Active Candidate Status”. Prior to holding a full medical license, an applicant may receive a status of “Conditional Active Candidate,” indicating they have met all other credentialing requirements; however, they must hold an unrestricted license at the time of the examination. Temporary or training licenses are not acceptable. For specific concerns about this requirement, contact the ABMGG at credentials@abmgg.org.
Q. I am not planning on practicing in the United States; do I still need to obtain a US license?
A. Applicants for initial certification who intend to practice abroad exclusively must submit a letter stating this fact. In addition, they must submit proof of licensure in the country in which they intend to practice.
Q. Do I submit a logbook to the ABMGG?
A. No, logbooks are submitted to your program director at the completion of training. While reviewing credentials applications, the ABMGG reserves the right to request individual logbooks for audit so you must keep a copy of your approved cases.
Q. I am a medical genetics and genomics resident in an ACGME program. Do I have to use the ACGME caselog site?
A. Yes. The ACGME requires that all residents upload cases to their caselog in addition to the ABMGG logbook.
Q. When is my logbook due?
A. Your logbook is due at the completion of training. By the time of application, you must be making reasonable progress in your cases. If you do not complete your logbook at the completion of training, you risk not being able to sit for the examination.
Q. What does “board eligible” refer to?
A. A candidate is considered board eligible after satisfactory completion of an accredited training program and before certification by the ABMGG.
Q. For what period of time am I board eligible?
A. A candidate is considered Board Eligible for up to six years after satisfactory completion of an accredited training program. For more information, please read the Board Eligibility policy.
Q. What if I do not achieve certification within six years post completion of training?
A. You are no longer eligible for certification in that specialty without fulfilling the requirements for regaining eligibility into the certification process. You may not use the term board eligible, and any violation of this rule will be considered a breach of ethical standards. View the policy on Regaining Eligibility for Initial Certification.
Q. What is active candidate status (ACS)?
A. Active candidate status is the term used to recognize applicants who have fulfilled the requirements for ABMGG certification but who have not yet taken the certification examination. ACS is granted after all requirements have been met and formally approved by the ABMGG. The term ACS is valid only for a single designated examination cycle and terminates when the results of the examination are released.
Q. What is conditional active candidate status?
A. “Conditional active candidate status” recognizes applicants who have fulfilled all requirements for ABMGG certification with the exception of: (a) a valid, unrestricted medical license, and/or (b) the completion of an approved training program in the intended specialty. The applicant may only sit for the examination once full ACS is achieved upon completion or submission of the outstanding requirements.
Q. Where are the ABMGG examinations offered?
A. ABMGG certification exams are offered at PearsonVUE Test Centers worldwide. Exam seats in the US and Canada are included in your examination fee. International exam seats require an additional fee per specialty examination.
Q. When must training be completed for one to be eligible to sit for the examinations?
A. Training must be completed by July 31, 2025.
Q. What is the deadline to apply for the certification examinations?
A. Deadline without late fee: November 30, 2024
Final deadline (with late fee): January 31, 2025
Q. How much does it cost to sit for the ABMGG certification examination?
A. The 2025 fees can be found here. All fees for the examinations must be submitted with the application. There are separate fees for
(a) the review process
(b) the general examination
(c) each specialty or subspecialty examination
(d) international testing per examination (if applicable)
(e) late fees (if applicable)
To discuss a payment plan, contact abmgg@abmgg.org.
Q. What do the fees cover?
A. The fees cover review of all documentation submitted for credentialing; determination of eligibility to sit for the examinations; costs of developing, administering, evaluating, and reporting the results of the examination; as well as other activities essential to the certification process.
Q. How do I withdraw from the exam?
A. A written notification must be sent to abmgg@abmgg.org. More information about withdrawals and refunds can be found here.
Q. How do I access my profile and application?
A. Trainees and board eligible individuals will receive via email an invitation to the portal when initially registered by the program director or ABMGG office administrator. If you are having trouble accessing the portal, please contact the ABMGG at abmgg@abmgg.org for assistance.
Q. How do I update my information?
A. All personal and contact information must be reviewed for accuracy and updated as necessary in the portal. Additionally, applicants must review and attest that their information is correct during the application process. If your name or birthdate does not match that listed on your government-issued ID, then you must submit a request to the ABMGG that includes a copy of your government-issued ID. You may update your email address and other fields directly in the portal.
Q. My name has recently changed, how can I update my records?
A. If you have changed your name, please complete the Change of Name Request Form and return along with the required documents and we will update our records. Please remember that the name on your scheduling email must exactly match the name on your government-issued identification to gain entrance for the examination(s).
Q. Does the ABMGG publish or recommend any preparation materials for the examination?
A. The ABMGG neither administers nor endorses review courses for the ABMGG certification examinations. Furthermore, the ABMGG does not provide content or guidance to organizations offering review courses. Board members do not participate as faculty in such courses nor are practice questions abstracted from previous Board examinations. Participation in review courses does not ensure successful completion of the certification examination.
Q. How do I know what will be on the exam and what should I study?
A. The content outlines and blueprints of the ABMGG certification examinations can be found here.
Q. When are scores available?
A. Examination results will be released approximately 10 weeks after the examinations are given. Candidates will receive an email with instructions.
Q. I did not pass the exam; now what?
A. You have six years from the date of completion of your training program to become certified. If you did not take the exam or you failed to achieve a passing score on either the general exam, the specialty exam, or both exams, then you must reapply in order to take the exams in the next cycle. If you do not achieve certification within 6 years, you are no longer eligible for certification in that specialty without fulfilling the requirements for regaining eligibility for initial certification.
Q. Am I allowed to discuss or disclose questions that were on the exam?
A. No, you cannot discuss or disclose items that were on the exam to anyone. You signed an agreement when you submitted your application stating that you understood that the content of the ABMGG examinations are proprietary and strictly confidential and that the unauthorized retention, possession, copying, distribution, disclosure, discussion, or receipt of any examination question, in whole or in part, by written, electronic, oral or other form of communication, including but not limited to emailing, copying or printing and reconstruction through memorization and/or dictation, before, during, or after an examination, is strictly prohibited. In addition to constituting irregular behavior, subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to revocation of certification, revocation of eligibility for future certification, and disciplinary fines – such activities violate the ABMGG’s proprietary rights, including copyrights, and may subject you to legal action resulting in monetary damages.