Alternative Pathway to Board Eligibility for Academic Faculty Trained Abroad

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An alternative pathway into board eligibility by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG) is available for medical geneticists who trained abroad in medical genetics and genomics and have extensive experience and credentials. The individual must be a current, full-time faculty member at a U.S. university-affiliated institution with an ACGME training program.

Upon approval, the candidate will be considered board eligible for a maximum of four years and two consecutive examination cycles.

Full details can be found here

Clinical Genetics and Genomics (MD)

Eligibility Requirements
  • Two or more years of formal, verified medical genetics training abroad
  • Current position as a full-time faculty member at a U.S. university-affiliated institution with an ACGME-accredited medical genetics and genomics residency
    • Rank of assistant, associate, or full professor OR member of full-time faculty for at least three years
  • Minimum of five years of clinical genetics and genomics practice after formal training
How to Apply

Send all of the following to credentials@abmgg.org for review by the ABMGG credentials committee:

  • Nomination from the department chair or program director of an ACGME-accredited residency program in Medical Genetics and Genomics
  • Three letters of endorsement from ABMGG diplomates (other than the nominating individual)
  • CV/bibliography
  • Unrestricted medical license
  • ECFMG certificate
  • $500 nonrefundable application fee

Medical Genetics Laboratory Specialties
(Laboratory Genetics and Genomics or Clinical Biochemical Genetics)

Eligibility Requirements
  • Two or more years of formal, verified genetics training abroad
  • Current position as a full-time faculty member at a U.S. institution with an ACGME-accredited laboratory training program in the respective specialty
    • Rank of assistant, associate, or full professor OR member of full-time faculty for at least three years
  • Minimum of five years of laboratory genetics practice after formal training
How to Apply

Send all of the following to credentials@abmgg.org for review by the ABMGG credentials committee:

  • Nomination from the department chair or program director of an ACGME-accredited laboratory training program
  • Three letters of endorsement from ABMGG diplomates (other than the nominating individual)
  • CV/bibliography
  • Either:
    • ECFMG certificate
      -OR-
    • Formal course-by-course degree evaluation by an external agency
    • ABMGG-determined passing TOEFL scores
  • $500 nonrefundable application fee