Organizational Overview

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 has been 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 of 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 renewal fee is due in January of each year (without penalty).

Definition of Diplomate types
A Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry is a pediatric dentist whose credentials have been verified, who has successfully completed voluntary examinations, and who demonstrates specialized knowledge and skill and is dedicated to providing exceptional patient care through a voluntary commitment to lifelong learning.

Unlimited Diplomate: A Board Candidate who has successfully completed the certification process. A Diplomate must comply with the Annual Diplomate Renewal fee, have an active license to practice dentistry, and submit the Credentials Survey to remain active. 

Time-limited Diplomate:  A Board Candidate who has successfully completed the certification process and was awarded a 10-year certificate.  Time-limited Diplomates must comply with the Annual Diplomate Renewal fee, have an active licenses to practice dentistry, submit the annual Credentials Survey, and complete required elements of ROC-P on an annual basis.

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.

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

Candidate status is maintained annually by completing and submitting their online Credentials Survey . Failure to complete will result in loss of Candidate status. Candidate status can be regained by completion of reactivation application. A Candidate is an individual who is 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 is not grounds for extension.

Definition of 'Applicant'
Effective July 1, 2011:  An Applicant is a pediatric dentist or resident/graduate student who has submitted their initial online Qualifying Examination (QE) application and the $700 examination fee.  Applicants are not considered to be in the certification process until they have sat for their initial Qualifying Examination. 

Applicants seeking licensure in a state with specialty examinations and needing assistance from the Board with QE outcomes must inform Headquarters no later than 5 PM (CDT) on April 1 prior to their schedule examination.  Requests received after that date may not be processed.

When verifications are requested by a third party (e.g., hospital administrators regarding medical staff privileges), Applicants are not considered to be in the certification process.

Applicants will have until November 1 following the May Qualifying Examination to submit the completed application for Board Candidacy and the $100 processing fee and required supporting materials (the deadline would be January 15 for Applicants who are completing a 30-month program).  If any portion of the application or the associated processing fee is not received by the deadline test results are forfeited.

Upon ABPD's verification of the submitted application and supporting documentation, the Applicant becomes a Board Candidate and his/her Qualifying Examination results are released via US Postal Service.

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.

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 (effective 1/1/2012)

1. Application for Board Candidacy Fee (non-refundable) is $100
2. Maintenance of Candidacy Fee - no annual fee until Board Candidate achieves Diplomate status; BUT the Credentials Survey must be completed annually to maintain Board Candidate status.  If a Board Candidate does NOT complete the Credentials Survey by the deadline they will be subject to a reactivation fee of $500.
3. Annual Unlimited Diplomate Renewal Fee (non-refundable) - $125  (see payment table below)
4. Annual Time-limited Diplomate Renewal Fee (non-refundable) - $210 (see payment table below)
5. Examination Fees (refundable per cancellation policy):
   • Qualifying Examination is $700 per exam 
   •  Oral Clinical Examination is $2000 per exam
6. Life Diplomate - No Fee
7. Retired Diplomate - No Fee
8. Reactivation fee: $500

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

Time-limited Diplomate payment table: 
  * January 4 through January 31, 2012 - $210
  * If paid February 1-28, 2012 - $260
  * If paid March 1-31, 2012 - $310
  * If not paid their Diplomate is placed Inactive.
  * After April 1 there is a $500 reactivation fee. Diplomate will need to contact Headquarters.

An Unlimited Diplomate payment table:
  * January 4 through January 31, 2012 - $125
  * If paid February 1-28, 2012 - $175
  * If paid March 1-31, 2012 - $225
  * After April 1 there is a $500 reactivation fee.  Dipllomate will need to contact Headquarters.

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.  Additional information and nomination requirements can be found under the 'about' tab.

Diplomates may also assist the Examination Committee by serving as Consultants who serve as examiners at the Oral Clinical Examination which is held annually in September. Criteria for participation as a Consultant is located in the 'about' tab.

Certification Process Status Types: Summary
Applicant: Those registered to take the QE and have not yet applied for Board Candidacy. Must apply for Board Candidate status by November 1st following the Qualifying Examination date; failure to do so voids this status and the examination score is forfeited.  An Applicant can also refer to a former Board Candidate who has not sat for the Qualifying Examination.

Board Candidate: Pediatric dentists who have applied, credentials verified, and have been approved and are actively in the examination process for Board certification 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, and completes the online annual credentialing survey.

Unlimited Diplomate: A Board Candidate who has successfully completed the certification process. A Diplomate must comply with the Annual Diplomate Renewal fee, have an active license to practice dentistry, and submit the Credentials Survey to remain active. 

Time-limited Diplomate:  A Board Candidate who has successfully completed the certification process and was awarded a 10-year certificate.  Time-limited Diplomates must comply with the Annual Diplomate Renewal fee, have an active licenses to practice dentistry, submit the annual Credentials Survey and complete required elements of ROC-P on an annual basis.

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 in good standing and has no pending actions or investigations against any dental licenses.   If a Retired status Diplomate returns to practicing, teaching, or administration in dentistry, he/she must inform ABPD Headquarters withing thirty (30) days at which time his/her status will be changed Life Diplomate status.

For further information Contact Us

Revised: March 2013

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