10-Year Cycle Requirements
The ABOMS Board Certification process assures the public that certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMS) have successfully completed a rigorous peer evaluation process by requiring surgeons to present and maintain appropriate professional credentials, and demonstrate the requisite training, experience and knowledge.
Four Areas of Assessment
ABOMS Certification Maintenance is a continuous process of learning, self-assessment and testing that proceeds over a 10-year period, during which Diplomates must fulfill specified requirements in certain years of the cycle. It is designed to affirm a surgeon’s continued competency after certification and contains four areas of assessment.
Each year, the Diplomate must provide evidence of professional standing by submitting their Annual Registration. This online application is where Diplomates must provide attestations of professional standing by answering a series of credentialing questions.
Diplomates with a time-limited certificate are required to attest to the yearly completion of 20 hours of continuing education recognized by ADA CERP or AMA. This attestation is found in the Annual Registration form.
Diplomates are required to annually complete two article review modules, available on Diplomate profiles. Due to copyright laws, articles are not available on the ABOMS website; rather, the article reference is provided. Many of the references are found in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (JOMS).
Beginning in 2026, Diplomates with a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Head and Neck Oncologic and Reconstructive Surgery and/or Pediatric Craniomaxillofacial Surgery (Cleft and Craniofacial) are required to annually complete one additional article review module applicable to the subspeciality. More information regarding yearly requirements for CAQ Diplomates can be found in the CAQ specific handbooks.
A Diplomate must achieve a score of 100% on the article review assessments to successfully meet this requirement. Diplomates may re-take the assessment if needed.
Diplomates are required to complete two clinical case scenario modules during Cycle Years 3, 6 and 9 of their time-limited certificates. These modules focus on treatment and terminology that reflect modern management in the specialty.
A Diplomate must achieve a score of 80% on the clinical case scenario assessments to successfully meet this requirement. Diplomates may re-take the assessment if needed.
In Cycle Years 5 and 10, Diplomates must complete the Performance in Practice form on their profile. This form requires the Diplomate to attest to the following questions:
- Do you have a current Office Anesthesia Evaluation (OAE) conducted by AAOMS or a jurisdictional licensing body (e.g., a state dental board)?
- If you answered “No” to the previous question, have you completed the ABOMS Alternative Pathway to satisfy this requirement?
- Have you completed quality improvement initiatives? Each year, a percentage of Diplomates are audited through a randomized selection process. If selected, you must complete the provided QI Audit Form.
Should a Diplomate complete the Alternative Pathway (referenced in Question 2 above), they must choose a fellow board-certified surgeon to complete the review.
Failure to Meet Requirements
Diplomates who fail to meet ABOMS Certification Maintenance requirements will jeopardize their status. Therefore, in accordance with ABOMS policy, noncompliance will result in the escalating change of a Diplomate’s status from Active to Non-Compliant and ultimately Suspended. Diplomates must complete a reinstatement process to be a recognized Diplomate again.
For additional details, please refer to the full ABOMS Certification Maintenance handbook.
History
During its meetings in 2016, the Board reviewed the ABOMS Certification Maintenance (CM) process for relevance and consistency. ABOMS has adopted objectives designed to improve the ABOMS CM process by creating a more meaningful and engaging program. With the aim of developing a CM process that is both contemporary and educational, the ABOMS eliminated the high stakes examination after its 2019 administration.
As of January 2020, the ABOMS Certification Maintenance (CM) has changed to an online process, completed at any point throughout the year from a Diplomate's profile. CM still runs in 10-year cycles. Each year, Diplomates with time-limited certificates are required to complete a portion of the program, found in Diplomate profiles. Diplomates must continuously meet the CM requirements or they may jeopardize their certification.
The CM process requires certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons to maintain current competence through ongoing professional education provided through national meetings, seminars, lectures, special courses, panels, symposia, and self-assessment tools.
CM is an evolving process and the requirements outlined below may be modified as the needs of the specialty and the public change.
Diplomate profiles are now the platform for all ABOMS CM activities. Any Diplomate who holds a time-limited certificate is required to complete the components of ABOMS Certification Maintenance to maintain their Board Certification status.