Examination Committee

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The Examination Committee and Subcommittees

The Examination Committee (EC) was formed to ensure that our examinations test the in-depth knowledge of the specialty of dentistry. The examination process continually validates an individual’s knowledge, skills, and experience for delivering quality patient care. Each subcommittee is dedicated to the annual development and advancement of the certification and/or maintenance process. 

The Examination Committee is comprised of three (3) subcommittees:

• Qualifying Examination Subcommittee (QES)
• Oral Clinical Examination Subcommittee (OCES)
• Renewal of Certification Process Subcommittee (ROCPS)

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Qualifying Examination Subcommittee (QES)

The Qualifying Examination (QE) is designed to generate evidence toward validation of the individuals’ advanced training in pediatric dentistry.

The examination is composed of 200 objective, single-answer, multiple-choice items. The QE is intended to assess the Examinee’s understanding of the scientific and biological principles that support the practice of pediatric dentistry, as well as current literature.
 
Members of the Qualifying Examination Subcommittee (QES) contribute by primarily writing and editing questions for the Qualifying Examination. Additional responsibilities include:

• Develop new items as assigned
• Correct formatting, basic editing, relevance, and content errors in newly developed or existing items
• Be proactive and progressive by suggesting new topics and helpful content
• Work as a team member by participating in activities in a cooperative and helpful manner
• Attend the Examination Committee Workshop and other meetings as needed

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Oral Clinical Examination Subcommittee (OCES)

The purpose of the Oral Clinical Examination (OCE) is to enable the candidate to demonstrate proficiency in diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical care.

The examination is designed to evaluate the candidate's knowledge and ability to solve clinical cases in pediatric dentistry. Each exam is comprised of clinical vignettes or scenarios from eight (8) domains.
 
Members of the Oral Clinical Examination Subcommittee (OCES) contribute by primarily collecting cases and writing and editing vignettes. Additional responsibilities include:

• Develop vignettes as assigned
• Correct formatting, basic editing, relevance, and content errors in newly developed or existing vignettes
• Be proactive and progressive by suggesting new topics and contributing helpful content.
• Work as a team member by participating in activities in a cooperative and helpful manner
• Attend Examination Committee Workshop and other meetings as needed

Note: This is not the application to serve as an examiner for the Oral Clinical Examination.

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Renewal of Certification Process Subcommittee (ROCPS)

Renewal of Certification Process (ROC-P) is a continuous, rolling process documenting achievement in four critical areas of pediatric dentistry.

Completion of the four areas is required for Time Limited diplomates and include:

• Professional Standing - Annual Renewal and Credentials
• Lifelong learning, continuing scholarship, and improvement - 15 CE hours required annually
• Cognitive expertise measured by the Renewal of Certification (ROC) Examination
• Satisfactory performance in practice/continuous quality improvement

Members of the Renewal of Certification Process Subcommittee (ROCPS) contribute by primarily writing and editing questions for the ROC Examination or the CQI Modules. Additional responsibilities include:

• Develop new items as assigned
• Correct formatting, basic editing, relevance, content errors in newly developed or existing items
• Be proactive and progressive by suggesting new topics and contributing helpful content
• Work as a team member by participating in activities in a cooperative and helpful manner
• Attend Examination Committee Workshop and other meetings as needed

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Eligibility

Eligible candidates must meet the following minimal qualifications throughout the entire appointment term:

• A diplomate in good standing
• An active member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD)
• Must be at least five years since board certification
• Must be actively involved in direct patient care or clinical teaching of pediatric dentistry on a weekly basis

Term

Subcommittee members serve a 1-year term and may only serve on one of the three subcommittees. A member’s term may be extended annually to a maximum of five years. Re-appointments are based on performance and the needs of each subcommittee. After a diplomate has served a five-year term and wish to serve again, they can reapply following a 12-month hiatus.

New subcommittee members must participate in the Examination Committee Workshop scheduled for January 27-28, 2023. Subcommittee members will also be required to participate in the Renewal of Certification Process if not already enrolled.

Subcommittee members are eligible to serve as examiners for the Oral Clinical Examination, if needed and invited.

Application Process

The 2023 Examination Committee application is now open and will close August 1, 2022. To apply, please log in to your ABPD profile. Under the "Things You Can Do" section on your dashboard, click on the link for the Examination Committee Application. 

Two professional references are required to complete the application. One of the two references must be a past or current ABPD or AAPD volunteer, neither reference can be a current ABPD Director or staff.

An application, including completed reference forms, must be submitted by August 1, 2022. If your application and completed reference forms are not received by the deadline, your application will not be considered. 

Please contact info@abpd.org or 615-432-0082 with any questions.