Maintenance FAQs

What is Renewal of Certification Process (ROC-P)?

The ROC-P is a four-part Renewal of Certification process that assures the public of a diplomates competency in the specialty of pediatric dentistry. In ROC-P your professionalism is demonstrated by:

• Professional Standing - Annual Renewal and Credentials - Yearly
• Lifelong learning, continuing scholarship and improvement – Continuing Education - Yearly
• Satisfactory performance in practice/continuous quality improvement – Continuous Quality Improvement Modules (CQI) - Yearly
• Cognitive expertise measured by examination - ROC Exam – Once every 10 years

Why is the ROC-P program necessary?

Since the 1990s, there has been a conscious and concerted effort by those both inside and outside the health professions to begin to systematically evaluate the quality of delivered health care. It also became necessary, to codify the reasons for inadequate care and health errors, and to make recommendations for system-wide improvement.

Health service researchers began to document widespread unexplained variation in care delivered, even by board-certified dentists. In addition, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published the summaries of phase 2 of their Quality Initiative project.

The publications, To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System (1999) and Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century (2001), received widespread and immediate public attention. The IOM also made specific recommendations for change, including the goals that care should be safe, effective, efficient, equitable, patient-centered, and timely.

These two reports accelerated calls for change in dental education, how care is delivered, and how certified dentists are evaluated throughout their careers.

What if I don't complete my ROC-P annual requirements?

Per ABPD’s policy, a diplomate enrolled in ROC-P who fails to complete any requirement of the Annual Diplomate Renewal by the stated deadline of November 30th will be placed on Inactive status. Inactive diplomates will have their names removed from the roster on the ABPD website and shall not declare to the public that they are diplomates of ABPD.

Those whose certification is on Inactive Status can resume Active status by successfully completing the Revalidation Examination. The Revalidation Examination is administered online and a registration fee will be assessed for this exam. If the Renewal of Certification (ROC) Examination is due during the period of inactivation, a diplomate must also complete it in addition to the Revalidation Examination.  A diplomate will forfeit certification and must reinstate their certification if they remain inactive for five (5) or more years.

When do I need to get started and what do I have to do to complete the ROC-P program?

Time-limited diplomates are automatically enrolled in ROC-P. Unlimited and Life diplomates are given the option to participate. You can login to your ABPD dashboard to review your current progress of your annual requirements. ABPD will send emails to remind you at appropriate times of your ROC-P requirements.

Why do I have to participate in ROC-P but my partner, who holds an Unlimited Certificate does not?

Prior to 1991, the ABPD awarded certificates unlimited by time. ABPD policy is that these certificates will be honored without further examination. Pediatric dentists who presented their credentials to ABPD after September 6, 1991, and subsequently completed the certifying process, received a Time-limited certificate and must participate in the renewal process on an ongoing basis.

I have questions about Continuing Education requirements for my Annual Diplomate Renewal. Where can I find this information?

You may find answers to most of your questions regarding CE here:

CE Guidelines

Do I receive Continuing Education (CE) credit hours for completing the Renewal of Certification Examination or CQI modules?

Ten (10) CE hours will be awarded for successful completion of the ROC exam and one (1) CE hour will be awarded for each CQI module.

Is the ROC Examination the same examination that I took for initial certification?

The ROC Examination is clinically focused, and allows the diplomate to validate their continued in-depth knowledge and competency in pediatric dentistry and presently has 50 questions, and is taken online in an open-book format.  For more information, please visit the Renewal of Certification page.

How often do I have to complete the ROC Examination?

Time-limited diplomates are required to complete the ROC Examination once every 10 years.

When will I receive my ROC Examination results?

You will receive immediate results after completing the examination. Successful completion of the ROC Examination will automatically be recorded in on your dashboard.