Board Examinations

Information on the dates, locations, and application requirements for the ABP's written and oral examinations.

Written Exam
Oral Exam
Exam Preparation

Written Examination

The Written Examination is a one-day examination offered on two days at Pearson Vue regional testing centers.

2008 Written Exam Dates
September 15 and 16

Applying for the Written Exam
Complete the Application Form in its entirety. Mail the completed application to the Board office, along with the accompanying documents and fee specified on the application. The completed application, credentials and fee MUST be received in the Board office by June 15 in the year you plan to take the exam, in order to reserve space at regional testing centers.

Registering for the Written Exam at a Testing Center
Approved candidates for the Written Examination MUST receive notification from the Board office before contacting Pearson Vue to register to take the examination. The Board notification will include instructions on how to register to take the exam at the candidate's chosen testing center along with required candidate's number needed for registration. All reservations are on a first-come-first served basis; placement at some centers may be in high demand, especially close to the date and location of an AAP Annual Meeting.

Written Exam Format and Content
The Written Examination is administered as a computer-based test at Pearson Vue testing centers, in association with Measurement Research Associates, Inc. The Web site of Measurement Research Associates has general information about computer based testing and answers to frequently asked questions, as well as practice taking the exam using the Computer Based Testing Tutorial. The examination is a short-answer, multiple-choice test that covers a broad range of information relating to the science and art of periodontology. Subject areas include basic sciences, oral medicine, oral pathology, periodontal histology and pathology, periodontal literature, epidemiology/statistics and clinical practice.

Written Exam Scoring
Evaluation of performance on the examination is criterion based and done in consultation with Measurement Research Associates, Inc. The Board's Executive Secretary will send examination results to each candidate. Examination questions are not released, and all questions are copyrighted by the American Board of Periodontology.

No-Show Candidates for the Written Exam
Candidates who fail to appear for a scheduled test with Pearson Vue Testing Centers, who arrive more than fifteen minutes after the scheduled test start time and cannot be accommodated at the testing center, or who cancel a test less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled test start time will void their application status and must restart the application process by submitting a new completed application, attestation, credential forms, and fee of $450 to the Board office.

Notification of Written Exam Results
Candidates will be notified of the results within 4-6 weeks following completion of the exam period. The Board’s Executive Director will send examination results in writing to the candidate by postal mail. Candidates are solely responsible for notifying the Board office of any change in mailing address, to ensure the timely delivery of results. Candidates must not telephone the Board office for examination results. Examination results will not be provided over the phone, by facsimile, or email.

Candidate Withdrawal from Written Exam
Candidates who wish to withdraw from the Written Examination with valid reason must submit their request in writing to the Board office. They may keep their application on file for the next Written Examination by submitting a $150 re-application fee to the Board Office along with their withdrawal request.

Oral Examination

Candidates who pass the Written Exam may participate on a first-come first-served basis in the Oral Exam. Each candidate is scheduled for two 1½-hour exam sessions conducted on the same day and must also attend a mandatory orientation at 5:30 p.m. the day before the exam.

2008 Oral Exam
Dates: May 5-8 and Nov 17-20
Location: Beginning May 2008, the oral examination will be administered at a new location:

The Vineyard Centre
2915 Vine Street
Dallas, TX

Candidate Orientation will be held at:

Hyatt-Summerfield Suites Downtown Dallas
2914 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX
Phone 214/661-9702

Daily shuttle Transportation will be provided by the Board from the Hyatt-Summerfield Suites to the Testing Center with return to Hyatt Summerfield Suites.

Applying for the Oral Exam
Complete the Application Form and mail it with the required documents and fee to the Board office by January 1 of the year in which you plan to take the oral exam.

Oral Exam Orientation
A mandatory orientation session will be held for candidates at the Hyatt- Summerfield Suites in downtown Dallas at 5 p.m. the day before their scheduled exam. At the orientation, candidates will receive information regarding shuttle transportation to the testing center, testing room assignments, examiners, and the examination process. Candidates will be asked to show photo identification. Oral exam candidates who lack official legal proof of name change will be permitted to take the examination, but must provide proof prior to receipt of results.

Oral Exam Format
All candidates must arrive and leave the testing center via shuttle transportation provided by the Board from the Hyatt-Summerfield Suites. The examination follows a presentation, interview, and discussion format to evaluate the candidate’s diagnostic and therapeutic skills. Protocols (vignettes) developed by the Board form the basis of the testing process. Three to four protocols will be presented at each 1 ½ hour session. Candidates will complete two 1 ½ hour sequential sessions on the same day with two different teams of examiners. Each protocol measures the following six skills included in the protocol: diagnosis; etiology; prognosis; treatment planning; selected therapy; and evaluation and maintenance of therapy. Candidates will be taken back to the Hyatt-Summerfield Suites by shuttle transportation after their examination session is completed. View hypothetical protocol and protocol content areas.

Oral Exam Scoring
Candidates are scored independently by four different Directors or Examiners of the Board (2 each session). Each skill is graded as 4-Outstanding, 3-Satisfactory, 2-Marginal, or 1-Unsatisfactory. Final scores will be computed statistically.

Board Directors include:
Dr. Gerald Drury
Dr. Michael Mills
Dr. Cary Shapoff
Dr. Henry Greenwell
Dr. Louis Rose
Dr. Hom-Lay Wang
Dr. Georgia Johnson
Dr. Brian Mealey
Dr. Robert Sabatini
Dr. Thomas Kepic

Board Examiners include:
Dr. Daniel Assad
Dr. Leslie Batnick
Dr. Steven Blanchard
Dr. Clark (Toby) Barco
Dr. Joseph Califano
Dr. John Dmytryk
Dr. Sylvan Feldman
Dr. Jonathan Gray
Dr. James Hinrichs
Dr. Richard Kao
Dr. David Kerns
Dr. Thomas Kepic
Dr. Paul Levi
Dr. Angelo Mariotti
Dr. Michael McQuade
Dr. Jose Mellado
Dr. Robert O’Neal
Dr. David Paquette
Dr. Bryan Pearson
Dr. Michael Reddy
Dr. Mark Reynolds
Dr. Paul Rosen
Dr. Jeffrey Rossmann
Dr. Leslie Salkin
Dr. Robert Sabatini
Dr. Surendra M. Singh
Dr. Ahmad Soolari
Dr. Herbert (Hank) Towle
Dr. Byron Wade

Candidate Withdrawal from Oral Exam
Candidates who request to withdraw from the oral examination must submit their request in writing to the Board office. Candidates whose eligibility has not expired may transfer their oral examination fee to a subsequent examination for a reapplication fee of $400. Candidates withdrawing with special circumstances, (i.e., illness, family death, national disaster) may submit written request to the Board that the Oral Examination re-application fee be waived. The decision will be at the sole discretion of the Board and candidates will be notified in writing of the Board’s decision.

Retaking the Oral Examination
Those who do not pass the Oral Examination and wish to retake it must submit the full exam fee by July 15 for the fall examination or by January 1 of the following year.

Contact the ABP Office to Register

To get information about exams or submit an exam application, contact Dr. Gerald Bowers or Brenda J. Mayes at the ABP Office:

abperio@msn.com

Exam Preparation

The following documents and courses may be helpful for those preparing for Board examinations. Some materials are available free on the Academy's Web site, and some may be purchased online in the AAP Product Catalog or by calling the Academy at 312/787-5518. Ask for individual documents by name, rather than requesting information for examination preparation.

AAP Reference Material	Access
Past In-Service Examinations	Free of charge online for AAP members
Annals of Periodontology (Vols. 4-8 Online)	Free of charge for JOP subscribers and AAP members
Annals of Periodontology (Vols. 1-8 in print)	AAP Product Catalog
Position Papers	Free of charge online
Preparatory Courses	Contact
Louisiana State University Perio Review in New Orleans February 27 - March 2, 2008 5-Day & 3-Day Course Offered	Elsa Hodges 504-941-8193 ehodge@lsuhsc.edu
Full-Day Course—Become a Diplomate: It's never too late or too early! Seminar in Baltimore Friday October 17, 2008 Phone Seminars Also Available Taught by Dr. Sheldon Sydney	Sharan Kushner Toll Free 877-486-4801 devidapub@gmail.com
20th Annual Maryland Periodontal Review and Board Preparation Course July 17-20, 2008 Four Points by Sheraton BWI Airport Baltimore, MD	Dr. Bradley Phillips 410-952-7500 marylandperio@comcast.net
AAP Annual Meeting/CE Course Part I Review Course	AAP 312-787-5518

Board Examinations

Written Examination

Oral Examination

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Exam Preparation

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