Maintenance of Certification
Diplomates must demonstrate compliance with the requirement for lifelong learning and continuous quality improvement.
ABP Launches New Continuing Certification Platform: ABPerio Minute
Beginning January 1, 2025, all Diplomates will be required to meet the following requirements for continuing certification:
- Participation in the ABPerio Minute continuing certification platform, which is described in detail in this FAQ.
- Completion of at least 60 points of continuing education credit.
- Attestation of good-standing with all licensing boards and other governing agencies.
- Diplomates with certification expiring in 2025: FAQ
- Diplomates with certification expiring in 2026: FAQ
- Diplomates with certification expiring in 2027: FAQ
- Diplomates with certification expiring in 2028: FAQ
- Diplomates with certification expiring in 2029: FAQ
For more information on Measurement Decision Theory (MDT), please review this FAQ.
NEW: Please watch this video of our ABPerio Minute webinar to learn more about how to use the system.
For Diplomates Certified from May 2013 to Present
- Diplomates certified beginning May 2013 are awarded a time-limited certificate of six years.
- Diplomates must complete all continuing certification requirements by the sixth year of certification.
- If the continuing certification requirements are not met, the Diplomate will lose Diplomate status and will be required to begin the certification process again.
- Diplomates may request an extension to complete the continuing certification requirements due to extenuating circumstances, such as severe illness. Requests will be reviewed and granted at the sole discretion of the ABP Directors.
For Diplomates Certified Prior to May 2013
- Diplomates certified prior to 2013 received certificates which are not time-limited.
- Diplomates certified prior to 2013 who fail to complete the continuing certification requirements will be placed on Inactive status.
- Diplomates placed on Inactive status may not claim to be Board Certified.
- Diplomates may request an extension to complete the continuing certification requirements due to extenuating circumstances, such as severe illness. Requests will be reviewed and granted at the sole discretion of the ABP Directors.
Activity Points
Over the course of each six-year certification cycle, Diplomates must obtain 60 activity points of educational activity within the scope of periodontal practice. Diplomates are responsible for maintaining documentation and must attest that this requirement has been satisfied as part of the continuing certification requirements.
Activity points may be earned each year during a Diplomate's six-year certification cycle.
Activity points earned for attendance at periodontal conferences (AAP annual meeting, regional meetings, etc.) are the total points permissible for all activities related to attendance at that meeting. Additional points may not be earned for specific courses attended during any meeting. For example, if a Diplomate attends the AAP annual meeting, the Diplomate may claim 7 activity points that year for the annual meeting. The Diplomate may NOT claim additional activity points for each educational course attended at the AAP annual meeting.
Record-keeping and reporting of the accumulation of points remains the responsibility of the Diplomate. Diplomates may be subject to an audit of activity points at the conclusion of the six-year certification cycle. For each six-year maintenance of certification cycle, the Board requires Diplomates to sign a statement of attestation that all continuing education requirements have been met.
60-Point Criteria for Continuing Education Credits (required every six years):
| POINTS | ACTIVITY |
|---|---|
| 7 | In-person attendance at the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Annual Meeting |
| 5 | In-person attendance at a national or international multiple day meetings that are within the scope of periodontics |
| 2 (per year) | Completion of all 60 ABPerio Minute questions during the annual cycle |
| 2 (per day) | In-person attendance at a regional or local meeting that is within the scope of periodontics |
| 2 (per day) | In-person attendance at a meeting or conference within the scope of periodontics sponsored by a university of the AAP |
| 2 (per day) | In-person attendance at a course of four plus hours within the scope of periodontics or for maintaining sedation credentials (courses under four hours receive on point per day) |
| 1 | Attendance at an interactive webinar related to periodontics |
| 1 | Courses taken on-line related to periodontics |
| 4 | Presentation of a course of four hours or greater. (Presentation of courses of less than four hours receive two points per day) |
| 3 (per publication) | Publication, as primary or corresponding author in a journal cited on PubMed |
| 3 (per chapter) | Publication of a periodontal related book chapter |
| 1 (per day) | Teaching of periodontics in a predoctoral or postdoctoral setting (no more than 14 points per certification cycle) |
