The ABD has created an International Pathway for faculty members with the academic rank of Assistant Professor or higher and who have had a full-time faculty appointment in a department of dermatology for at least five consecutive years at the same institution in the U.S. or Canada.
All candidates for certification must pass all four CORE exam modules before taking the APPLIED Exam. Passing the APPLIED Exam leads to certification in general dermatology.
Candidates have five years after their application is accepted to pass all exams in the Certification Pathway.
Declaration of Intent: Interested candidates will be asked to attest to the following criteria on a form that will be available in July 2024:
· Graduation from an Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG)-recognized
medical school.
· Completion of an international graduate medical education training program in dermatology (of at
least 3 years duration).
· A valid medical license, free from adverse actions, to practice medicine in the United States, its territories, or
Canada.
· Appointment at a Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or Canadian-accredited
medical school and a department/division that sponsors an ACGME- or RCPSC-accredited
dermatology residency training program.
· Full-time faculty appointment in an academic department of dermatology for a minimum of five
consecutive years (immediately prior to application) at the same institution.
· Academic rank of Assistant Professor or higher.
· Active supervision of and teaching trainees (students, residents, or fellows) in clinical settings.
· Currently providing direct patient care.
· Agree that, if accepted into the International Pathway, they will need to pass the four CORE exam
modules and the APPLIED Exam within 5 years to become certified by the ABD.
· Once certified, the diplomate will participate in the Continuing Certification Program (CCP).
If a candidate’s initial attestation is approved, then the candidate will be invited to submit a formal application and a non-refundable fee ($500) PLUS:
· Reference from the Chair of the Department/Division of Dermatology at the sponsoring institution
where the candidate holds a current full-time faculty appointment, attesting to the candidate’s
contribution to the field of dermatology through scholarship, education, and clinical care.
· Two additional references from one or more of the following, all of whom must be ABD-certified:
o Dermatology Residency Program Director at the sponsoring institution attesting to the
candidate’s contribution to resident and medical student education.
o Departmental peer at the sponsoring institution attesting to the candidate’s
departmental contribution to scholarship, education, or clinical care.
o Referring dermatologist outside the department where the candidate holds a current full-time
faculty appointment attesting to the candidate’s clinical care (one maximum).
· Copy of a valid ECFMG certificate.
· Documentation of completion of an international graduate medical education training program in
dermatology (of at least 3 years duration). If original documents are in a language other than
English, a notarized English translation must accompany them.
· Proof of continuous, full, and unrestricted licensure in the United States, its territories, or Canada
for five years.
· Proof of unrestricted clinical privileges at a licensed medical center certified by the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
· Curriculum Vitae, using this CV template.
Submissions will be evaluated by the ABD Executive Committee which will recommend candidates to the full Board of Directors for approval.
Once approved, each candidate will have five years within which to pass the four CORE Exam modules and the APPLIED Exam. The fee to take the CORE Exam is $200. The APPLIED Exam fee is $2,250.
Once certified, diplomates are expected to participate in the Continuing Certification Program with an annual fee of $150.
Timeline for 2024
· July 2024: The ABD will accept declarations of intent July 1-31.
· August 2024: Candidates who are approved will be invited to submit a full application. The
application fee is $500. The deadline to apply is Sept. 30, 2024.
· October – November 2024: Applications will be reviewed by the Executive Committee, then
considered by the Board of Directors at its December meeting.
· December 2024: Candidates will be notified if their application has been accepted. They will be
eligible to sign up to take any or all CORE Exam modules in February 2025.
· Candidates have 5 years from acceptance of their application to pass all four CORE Exam modules
and the APPLIED Exam.
