Oral Examinations
Oral Examination Eligibility Period
Candidates who successfully completed the Qualifying Examination in the year 2010 and have submitted a copy of their certificate or letter signed by the Dean and Program Director as evidence of completion of an educational program in Periodontology accredited by the ADA Commission on Dental Accreditation will be considered Eligible to apply for the Oral Examination for the next two (2) years. During this time the Oral Examination process must be completed unless an eligibility extension is granted. Candidates who received three years eligibility prior to 2010 must apply and successfully complete the Oral Examination within three (3) years from the year the Qualifying Examination was successfully completed unless an extension is granted.
Requests for Eligibility Extension
Requests for eligibility extensions must be made in writing to the Board office. Requests must be received by October 31st of the year prior to eligibilty expiration; i.e., If eligibility expires in 2012, extension request must be received by October 31, 2011.
The Executive Director can approve extensions for qualified candidates without Board action. Questionable requests will be considered by the Board.
Requests will be granted only, when in the Board's judgment, the candidate was prevented from taking the Oral Examination by extenuating circumstances.
A maximum of one request will be considered by the Board.
At any time candidates may restart the eligibility period by retaking and passing the Qualifying Examination.
Candidates who fail the Oral Examination in the last year of eligibility, will be required to restart the Certification process by retaking and successfully completing the Qualifying Examination.
2011 Oral Exam
Dates: May 9-13, 2011
Location:Testing Center, Dallas, TX.
Application deadline October 31, 2010
Complete the 2011 Oral Examination Application and mail it with the required documents and fee to the Board office.
Approved candidates will receive their scheduled exam date and other pertinent information by February 2011.
Approved candidates will be scheduled for two 1 1/2 hour exam sessions conducted on the same day. Placement of candidates is on a first come/first serve basis. Ultimate placement of candidates is at the sole discretion of the Board. The American Board of Periodontology (ABP) will attempt to administer the Oral Examination as scheduled. Should the ABP cancel the Oral Examination or be prevented from appropriately administering or completing an Oral Examination at the appointed time and location, the ABP will not be responsible for any expense of the candidate in connection with the Oral Examination and any subsitute Oral Examination.
Candidate Registration/Orientation
Candidate registration and orientation will be held the same day as the exam prior to exam at testing center. Candidates are reminded that electronic devices; i.e. cell phones, pagers, etc. are not permitted at the testing center. Candidates will be required to show photo i.d. at time of registration. Candidates who may have a name change may be permitted to take the exam, but must provide legal evidence of name change prior to receiving results of the exam. Candidates must arrive and leave the testing center via ABP shuttle bus transportation . Daily shuttle Transportation will be provided by the Board from the Hyatt-Summerfield Suites meeting room located in the hotel lobby to the Testing Center with return to Hyatt Summerfield Suites.
Hyatt-Summerfield Suites Downtown Dallas
2914 Harry Hines Blvd.
Dallas, TX
Phone 214/661-9702
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 (Evaluation Rating Scale Definitions) . Final scores will be computed statistically.
Candidates who fail the Oral Examination and whose eligibility period has not expired may apply to repeat the Examination within the eligibility period. Placement of candidates in a particular session is on a first come/first serve basis and at the sole discretion of the Board. No monies will be refunded.
Candidates who successfully completed the ABP Qualifying Examination in 2007, 2008 and fail the Oral Examination in their last year of eligibility, may apply to retake the examination on a one-time basis only. Placement of candidates in a particular session is on a first come/first serve basis and at the sole discretion of the Board. No monies will be refunded.
Beginning in 2010 candidates who fail the Oral Examination in the last year of eligibility, (2 years without extension; 3 years if extension is granted), will be required to restart by successfully completing the ABP Qualifying Examination
Oral Exam Candidate Withdrawal Prior to Exam Session Dates
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 a 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.
Oral Exam Candidate Failure to Show at scheduled Exam
Candidates who fail to attend the mandatory Orientation Session prior to the Oral Examination; or who fail to show for the Oral Examination; arrive more than fifteen minutes after the scheduled exam start time and cannot be accommodated, must restart the application process by a new completed application, attestation, and credential forms and fee of $800.00 to the Board office.
Board Directors include:
Board Examiners include: