CertLink FAQs

Q. What is longitudinal assessment?

A. Longitudinal assessment is a method that has been shown to enhance information retention and facilitate new learning. The user completes shorter, more frequent assessments with spaced repetition (seeing similar questions repeated periodically). It can be likened to quizzing, identifying your knowledge gaps and learning new material, then re-quizzing a little while later to see if you have retained or learned the information.

Research on this method has shown that the act of quizzing and re-quizzing over time improves learning and memory retention better than other study methods, such as reading a text or studying flashcards.

Q. How do I register for the CertLink longitudinal assessment program?

A. All diplomates are automatically enrolled in the longitudinal assessment program (i.e., CertLink) upon achieving certification. The first segment of CertLink will launch the subsequent Summer (e.g., diplomates certified in 2025 will begin CertLink in Summer 2026).

Q. How do I access the assessment?

A. You will need to access CertLink from your ABMGG Diplomate portal. After logging in, please click the “Go to CertLink” button on your dashboard to access your CertLink account.

Q. Is there a fee to participate in CertLink?

A. The cost of participating in the longitudinal assessment program (i.e., CertLink) is covered in the annual continuing certification fee.

Q. Can diplomates with non-time limited certification participate in CertLink?

A. Yes! We at ABMGG believe that longitudinal assessment has benefits for all diplomates, and we encourage those who are not currently participating in Continuing Certification to consider participating in CertLink.

Q. How do I receive program related emails?

A. To ensure that you receive the ABMGG CertLink emails, please add the following addresses to your spam or quarantine safe sender lists: abmggcl@itstestsys.zohodesk.com and no-reply@castoredc.com.

Q. Can workplace security settings impact my assessment?

A. Check with your IT department to ask about the presence of a proxy server. While the presence of a proxy server is usually not a cause for concern, if you plan to answer questions in a workplace environment, you may also want to consider answering questions on a non-work network or computer to help ensure an optimal user experience.

If you encounter any technical issues, please go to the Readiness option on the upper right menu to run a system check. Contact support if you have any questions or need further assistance.

Q. What device should I use?

A. The browser based CertLink platform is optimized for PC and Mac computers. The minimum system requirements are:

Mac: macOS Ventura 13.7 and Safari 16.6 or later is required. The latest version of Mac products can be downloaded from the Mac Support site.

Windows 10 + and Microsoft Edge are required. The latest version of Windows products can be downloaded from the Microsoft Download Center.

Up to date versions of Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox browsers are supported in addition to Safari and Microsoft Edge.

Q. Can I use my cellphone or tablet to receive and answer questions?

A. The browser-based CertLink platform is optimized for PC and Mac computers. Using a cell phone or tablet is not recommended, because it may be difficult to view images on a small device, particularly for questions with multiple images.

Q. How can I check my device to verify it can deliver my assessment?

A. Your device should be checked to verify it is properly configured for testing. Please click the Readiness option on the upper right menu. Once the Readiness check is complete, please review the results. Please contact support if you have any questions or issues. For best results, run the Readiness check prior to answering questions.

Q. Is CertLink customized to my specialty or subspecialty?  

A. At this time, diplomates certified in Clinical Genetic and Genomics or Laboratory Genetics and Genomics may choose to design the assessment annually. 

Examples of assessment design can be found here: Getting Started with CertLink – ABMGG

Q. Should I study for CertLink?

A. ABMGG does not recommend specific approaches to study for the assessment. Each assessment includes topics that diplomates would encounter in routine clinical or laboratory practice. When diplomates access the CertLink platform, they will have the option to view content areas and answer questions specific to each. As the assessment progresses, diplomates have the opportunity to apply what they have learned from the critiques and references for the previously answered items.

Diplomates can review the assessment blueprints specific to each specialty on the main CertLink page: https://www.abmgg.org/continuing-certification/certlink-longitudinal-assessment/

Q. How much time do I have to answer a question?

A. Once you start a question, you will have 5 minutes to submit your answer. The amount of time remaining will be clearly displayed on your screen.

Q. Am I allowed to use the internet and other educational resources? May I consult with my colleagues and peers when answering questions?

A. Diplomates may use the internet, references and other educational resources to answer CertLink questions, but may NOT consult or discuss questions with anyone. Discussing CertLink questions with other diplomates is viewed by ABMGG as a violation of professionalism principles.

Q. Will my question be marked incorrect if I don’t submit an answer before the timer expires?

A. If you have an option selected but don’t click “Submit,” the selected option will be automatically submitted as your answer and scored. If no option is selected when the timer expires, the question will be marked as incorrect.

Q. Can I skip a question and return to it later after I’ve opened it?

A. No, you must answer the question within the allotted time once it is opened. An unanswered question is scored as an incorrect response.

Q. If I answer a question incorrectly, can I try again?

A. Any questions answered incorrectly are eligible to be redelivered to you in subsequent segments as a clone. Answering the question clone correctly later will result in the replacement of the previous incorrect score, thus improving your performance.

Q. Does CertLink need to be completed in a single setting?

A. CertLink need not be completed in a single sitting, which means that diplomates can answer a few questions at a time and return to the remainder throughout the duration of the segment.

Q. I missed the deadline to complete the current CertLink segment. Is it possible to obtain an extension? How will this impact my overall score?

A. The CertLink platform does not support individual extensions. Extensions for all participants may be delivered only in the case of a widespread technical issue.

Diplomates are allotted approximately six months in each segment to answer their questions. We strongly encourage everyone to begin the assessment early in the testing window and avoid waiting until the last minute to complete the assessment.

Q. How will I be assessed?

A. Diplomates are assessed using both a performance standard (63% minimum score over the four-year assessment period) and a participation standard (completion of at least six CertLink segments over the first four years of a five-year cycle).

The CertLink performance standard is determined after a four-year assessment period. Diplomates who meet the 63% requirement will earn a break from the assessment in Year 5. Standard setting is conducted every few years to routinely evaluate the performance standard and is based on overall diplomate performance.

Diplomates can view their performance in real-time using the CertLink dashboard.

Q. What happens if I do not meet the CertLink performance standard?

A. Any diplomate not meeting the performance standard after four years of assessment will be granted a remediation opportunity to maintain certification.

This can include either:

1. A 5th year of the assessment to reach the cut score, currently set at 63% (with no break in between assessment cycles),
2. Or if it is mathematically impossible to reach 63% by the end of Year 5, diplomates will be required to travel to the ABMGG office in Rockville, Maryland, to take a 120-question remediation exam.

Q. What happens if I do not meet the CertLink participation standard?

A. Diplomates are allowed to miss up to two segments in the four-year assessment period and still satisfy the participation requirement, assuming their overall score for the remaining segments is at or above 63%.

Diplomates who miss three or more segments over a four-year period will be required to travel to the ABMGG office in Rockville, Maryland to take a 120-question remediation exam.

Q. What happens if I fail the remediation exam/cannot travel to the ABMGG office to take the remediation exam?

A. The repercussion of the in-person remediation exam stresses the requirement that diplomates must satisfactorily participate in the CertLink Longitudinal Assessment when segments are initially available. The remediation exam is available to complete for approximately four months following the end of the last segment of one’s CertLink assessment cycle. Failure to take and pass the remediation exam will result in a loss of certification, Expired diplomates would need to go through the re-entry pathway to regain their certification.

Q. How do I claim CME credit for CertLink?

A. Diplomates can earn five (5) CMEs per CertLink segment completed through the American College of Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Genetics Academy. A claim code and instructions are sent to diplomates routinely as they finish the ongoing segment. The deadline to claim credits is approximately two months after a segment closes.

Q. Is there a way for me to provide feedback on specific CertLink items?

A. Yes. The CertLink platform allows diplomates to provide feedback on each item while they are still logged into the assessment. All feedback is reviewed periodically by subject matter experts who decide whether modification to any items is necessary. Note that diplomates will not receive individual responses to their feedback.

Note that feedback must be submitted WITHIN the CertLink system only. Any discussion of specific items with other individuals, even to compare responses, is prohibited.

Q. Can I help by contributing questions for CertLink?

A. We welcome contributions from diplomates! Individuals who are interested in becoming an item writer (create questions) are required to complete training to learn about formatting and content priorities for CertLink.  After successfully completing tutorials for item writing, individuals may contribute questions that align with the assigned content. Item writing assignments are made according to the CertLink blueprint.