Certification of
a Diplomate requires completion of training in an accredited residency
program, evidence of post-training experience, and successful
completion of written and oral examinations on the entire scope
of the specialty.
The Board currently issues time-limited certificates to candidates
who successfully complete the certification process. The certificates
are issued for a ten (10)-year period of time. Diplomates are
eligible to take a recertification examination beginning three
(3) years before the expiration of their time-limited certificates.
Successful recertification candidates will be issued new certificates.
The new certificate will expire 10 years after the current (original)
certificate, not necessarily the year the candidate passed the
Recertification Examination. It is to the Diplomate's advantage
to participate in the recertification examination process early.
Diplomates who were previously issued certificates that were not
time-limited are encouraged to participate in the voluntary recertification
program. Those individuals who successfully complete the recertification
examination will be issued time-limited certificates and will
also retain their unlimited certificates; those who fail the recertification
examination will retain, nonetheless, their unlimited certificates.
The decision to institute recertification was based on trends
among surgical specialty boards to ensure that professionals keep
abreast of new technology and knowledge in their fields. The Board
believes Diplomates are dedicated to the continued improvement
of the oral and maxillofacial surgery profession. Diplomates demonstrate
this commitment through a variety of self-improvement and self-evaluation
mechanisms; recertification can be one such mechanism. The recertification
program fosters the renewal and augmentation of knowledge, and
benefits patients, the Diplomate, and the specialty.
