Organizational Overview

Summary | Objectives | Diplomates | Definition of Candidate | Specialty & Board Designations | Fees
|  Disabilities | Examination Committee | More Information

Summary

The American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD) was organized by the American Society of Dentistry for Children in 1940; Articles of Incorporation were signed in 1942.

On January 1, 1964, sponsorship of the Board was transferred to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

The ABPD Headquarters are located in Iowa City Iowa, since July 1, 2002.

Objectives

The objectives of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry are as follows:

  1. To promote interest among pediatric dentists in attaining Board certification.
  2. To disseminate information about the certification process through electronic communications.
  3. To administer a certification process which validates the candidate's in-depth knowledge and proficiency in the specialty of pediatric dentistry by:
    • Verification of the candidate's educational qualifications,
    • Validation of the candidate's knowledge, application and performance by successful completion designated examinations.
  4. To issue Diplomate certificates to qualified candidates.
  5. To administer a Renewal of Certification examination which demonstrates the Diplomate's continued in-depth knowledge and proficiency in pediatric dentistry, and evidence of lifelong learning.
  6. To maintain a registry of Diplomates.
  7. To conduct an annual credentials survey to assure that Candidates and Diplomates are in good standing in their community and profession.
  8. To verify the candidate and Diplomate maintain an active license to practice dentistry.

To fulfill these objectives, the Board is authorized through the American Dental Association Council on Dental Education and Licensure to issue to a pediatric dentist, a certificate of recognition of special knowledge in pediatric dentistry and to suspend and revoke the same, when necessary. Certification does not confer legal qualification or license to practice dentistry, in as much as it is not authorized by any governmental agency.

The Board receives and acts upon applications from pediatric dentists for certification and receives payment of fees. It maintains and amends rules and standards for the granting and revocation of certificates.

The Board determines by examination the proficiency of pediatric dentists who apply for certification as Diplomates, according to the definition of Pediatric Dentistry as determined by the American Dental Association Council on Dental Education and Licensure. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry defines the specialty as “an age-defined specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs” (adopted October 1995 by the ADA House of Delegates).
Duties and Functions of the Board

  1. The Board shall determine the levels for education and experience of candidates for certification within the requirements established by the Commission of Dental Accreditation (ADA) and the Canadian Commission of Dental Accreditation of Canada.
  2. The Board shall announce, through the ABPD Headquarters, the time and place of examinations.
  3. The Board, subject to the approval of the Council on Dental Education and Licensure (ADA), shall formulate and put into effect the policies, the criteria and the rules for the examination which shall govern the certification of candidates.
  4. The Board shall be authorized to take action even to the extent of recall or revocation of the Candidate or Diplomate when:
    • The Candidate or Diplomate ceases to conduct himself or herself in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the American Dental Association.
    • It is demonstrated clearly to the Board that the Candidate or Diplomate no longer gives his or her patients adequate or proper dental treatment commensurate with the best accepted techniques and knowledge of pediatric dentistry.
    • The Candidate and Diplomate fails to properly respond to the annual credential survey.
    • The Diplomate fails to complete the Renewal of Certification protocol.
    • The current renewal fee of $95 is not paid on or before the 1st day of October of each year.

Diplomates

A Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry is a pediatric dentist whose credentials have been verified and who has successfully completed voluntary examinations and who demonstrates unique knowledge and skill at a standard not possessed by other dentists.

Diplomate status is maintained annually with payment of the Annual Diplomate Renewal fee. Failure to pay this fee results in loss of Diplomate status and placement in an Inactive Status until reactivation application is submitted and delinquent fees are paid.

Definition of ‘Candidate’

As of July 1, 2007 the ABPD no longer uses the status ‘Board Eligible’

Candidate is a dentist who:

  • has completed an accredited advanced specialty education program in pediatric dentistry.
  • Completed and submitted the ABPD Board Candidacy and Qualifying Examination applications.
  • Applications and credentials have been approved.

Candidate status is maintained annually with payment of the Maintenance of Candidacy fee. Failure to pay this fee results in loss of Candidate status. Candidate status can be regained by completion of reactivation application and apply for the Qualifying Examination or Revalidation Examination.  A candidate MUST be actively pursuing certification.

A Candidate has a specific number of years from the date of taking their first Qualifying Examination to complete the certification process. If certification is not achieved during the assigned period Candidacy status is terminated and Qualifying Examination results are forfeited.

The period of Candidacy for completion of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry examination may be extended by the Board upon written request by the Candidate using the Appeal Form that is found on the website. Extensions will only be considered if the candidate is pursuing additional education/training in an accredited program or in situations of documented medical disability and/or special circumstances. Inability of the Candidate to meet examination requirements will not be grounds for extension.

Use of Specialty and Board Designations

Specialty Announcements:

As per ADA Code of Professional Conduct a pediatric dentist can announce specialization as Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry or Practice Limited to Pediatric Dentistry.

Use of the Diplomate Status:

  1. Wearing the Diplomate lapel pin.
  2. On letterhead, business cards, telephone directories, and biographical summaries. The appropriate title is Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry or Certified, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.
  3. On the Web, the term as stated above can be used with the doctor’s name on the home page.
  4. The Board has no abbreviation, therefore, the abbreviation DABPD or ABPDD or ABPD (Dip) are inappropriate and MUST not be used.
  5. The term Diplomate MUST not be used in the direct solicitation of patients or for strictly commercial purposes.

The following information pertains to those that are Candidates:

Use of the term Candidate:

  1. The term Candidate is an administrative designation, used by the Board in identifying pediatric dentists who have voluntarily submitted their credentials for verification and are actively in the credentialing process by application of the appropriate examination.
  2. It cannot be used as a promotion by the pediatric dentist (including but not limited to letterhead, business cards, office brochures, telephone directories, or Web sites).

Legal Issues

If a Candidate’s license to practice dentistry has been revoked or suspended the Candidate will not be scheduled for an ABPD examination.

Fees

  1. Application or Candidacy Fee (non-refundable).......................................$100
  2.  Maintenance of Candidacy Fee (non-refundable)........................................95
  3. Annual Diplomate Renewal Fee (non-refundable)........................................95
  4. Examination Fees:
    1. Qualifying Examination.........................................................700
    2. Revalidation Examination......................................................500
    3. Oral Clinical Examination.....................................................2000
  5. Renewal of Certification Examination..........................................................250
  6. Life Diplomate (non-refundable)............................................................No Fee
  7. Retired Diplomate (non-refundable).......................................................No Fee

An application and fee must be received by the ABPD Headquarters on or before the postmarked deadline date for the examination.

If a Candidate or a Diplomate do not pay their annual renewals by the deadline of October 1 they are placed into Inactive Status.  To reactivate they must pay for the number of years that they were inactive times the $95 annual fee and a $50 administrative fee.

Disabilities

The American Board of Pediatric Dentistry supports the intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The American Board of Pediatric Dentistry will make a reasonable effort to provide qualified Board Candidates who have documented disabilities with necessary auxiliary aids and services that do not fundamentally alter the measurement of the skills or knowledge which the Board assessment program is intended to test, and do not result in an undue burden.  Note that language is not a disability for testing. [Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 1990, 309(b)(3)].

Special Accommodations Policy

Candidates must self identify and present documentation from an appropriate professional (Physician and or Psychologist) to ABPD. This documentation must accompany each examination application submitted to ABPD. The report must be on the professionals’ letter head and with an original signature.

The following information must be included in the documentation of the disability in order to be considered for special accommodations:

  1. The specific disability diagnosed. The diagnosis must be current- within the past 3 years.
  2. Describe accommodations provided to the candidate for previous examinations.
  3. Describe functional limitations.
  4. Describe the specific accommodations being requested.

The candidate must submit the application and the required documentation by the application deadline.
The Examination Committee will evaluate the requests and decide which accommodations are reasonable and in compliance with ADA.

Only accommodations approved in advance by ABPD will be honored at the test site. No accommodation requests will be considered or approved at the test center.

Examination Committee (EC)

Diplomates are selected annually to serve on the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry’s Examination Committee. Members of the Examination Committee provide a broad perspective of the pediatric dentistry specialty.  They review the examination’s Table of Specifications and construct test items for the Qualifying and Renewal of Certification Examinations.  They develop vignettes and serve as examiners for the Oral Clinical Examination. For additional information and nomination requirements visit www.abpd.org.

Diplomates may also assist the Examination Committee by serving as Consultants who will assist as examiners at the Oral Clinical Examination. Criteria for participation as a Consultant are located at www.abpd.org.

Certification Process Status Types: Summary

Prospective Board Candidate: Those taking the QE while in a residency program and have not yet applied for Candidacy. Must register by November 1st following the Qualifying Examination date; failure to do so voids this status and the examination score is forfeited.

Candidate: Pediatric dentists who have applied, credentials verified, and have been approved and are active in the certification process which currently lasts for a period of 5 years from the first examination. Candidacy is renewable annually as long as the Candidate is in the active examination process, completes the annual credentialing survey and with payment of the Maintenance of Candidacy fee.

Diplomate: A successful Candidate who has successfully completed the certification process. A Diplomate must pay the Annual Diplomate Renewal fee and submit the Credentials Survey to remain active.

Life Diplomate: An active Diplomate who has been in good standing for at least 10 years, and has reached the age of sixty-five (65).

Retired Diplomate: An active Diplomate who has retired from the practice of dentistry, administration and/or teaching, and has been paying dues for at least 10 years.

For further information contact:

American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
325 East Washington Street, Suite 208
Iowa City, IA 52240

Email: info@abpd.org
Phone: 319-341-8488 or 1-800-410-1250
Fax: 319-341-9499

Revised:  August 13, 2008

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