ABMGG Certification is the examination process following a residency or fellowship through which one becomes board-certified in a medical genetics and genomics specialty or subspecialty. Certification is voluntary and differs from the licensure process required by states/countries.
Individuals must go through a credentialing process of reviewing transcripts, test scores and other documentation to determine if one is eligible for matriculation into a training program or to sit for the certification examinations.
Click through for commonly asked questions on the ABMGG Certification Exam.
Q. What degree qualifications do I need to be considered for ABMGG certification?
A. Clinical Genetics and Genomics applicants: Must have a medical degree (MD, DO)
Laboratory Genetics and Genomics or Clinical Biochemical Genetics applicants: Must have either a medical degree or a PhD. in genetics or a closely related field. If you are unsure if your PhD is in a field that is considered closely related, email credentials@abmgg.org and include a copy of your doctoral transcript.
Medical Biochemical Genetics subspecialty applicants: Must have an initial certification in Clinical Genetics and Genomics.
Molecular Genetic Pathology subspecialty applicants: Must have an initial certification either in Clinical Genetics and Genomics or be certified by the American Board of Pathology.
Q. I completed a residency outside of an ACGME-accredited program. Am I eligible to train in an ABMGG primary specialty or subspecialty?
A. ABMGG requires satisfactory completion of at least 12 months of full-time training in an ACGME-accredited residency that includes 12 months of direct patient care (e.g., pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, etc.).
Q. I am applying for certification in Clinical Genetics and Genomics. Do I need to have a medical license to take the examination?
A. Applicants for the clinical genetics and genomics exam are required to have a valid and unrestricted medical license to achieve “Active Candidate Status”. Applicants waiting for an unrestricted license to be granted may receive a status of “Conditional Active Candidate,” indicating they have met all other credentialing requirements but must submit an unrestricted license at the time of the examination. Temporary, restricted, or training licenses are not accepted. For specific concerns about this requirement, contact the ABMGG at credentials@abmgg.org.
Q. I earned my medical or doctoral degree in another country. What is required to be considered for eligibility to take the ABMGG certification exam?
A. If your medical or doctoral degree was earned outside of the U.S. or its territories, or Canada, you must submit an International Credentials Review form. For more information, click here.
Q. My doctoral or medical degree was earned in a country in which English is not the primary language. Will my degree be accepted?
A. Applicants for the certification examinations for the laboratory specialties who have earned their degree from a country other than the U.S. and its territories, Canada, UK, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, or Australia must take the TOEFL-iBT examination. Applicants should arrange to have official TOEFL-iBT examination scores sent directly to the ABMGG Administrative Office by the Educational Testing Service (www.ets.org).
Individuals who received an undergraduate or master’s degree in a country where English is the primary language but obtained a doctoral degree elsewhere are not required to take the TOEFL-iBT exam. Physicians with an ECFMG certificate meet the English proficiency requirement. (For example: an earned undergraduate or masters degree from Ohio followed by a PhD earned in China will NOT require the TOEFL)
Q. My PhD was obtained in a country where English is not the primary language, but the educational curriculum was all delivered in English. Do I still need to take the TOEFL exam?
A. Yes, the TOEFL is still required.
Q. I am an international applicant. Do I need an ECFMG certificate?
A. Yes, if you plan to apply to Clinical Genetics and Genomics training programs.
Q. Do I submit my logbook to the ABMGG?
A. No. Logbooks should be submitted to your program director at the completion of training. During credentials review to determine active candidate status, ABMGG reserves the right to request individual logbooks for auditing purposes. Candidates should maintain a copy of their approved logbook until they have passed the relevant certification examinations.
Q. When is my logbook due?
A. Logbooks are due at the completion of training and should be submitted to the program director. By the time of certification examination application, candidates must be making reasonable progress in the accrual of logbook cases.
Q. I am a medical genetics and genomics resident in an ACGME program. Do I have to use the ACGME case log site?
A. Yes. The ACGME case log requirements are distinct from those of the ABMGG logbook requirements. Both sets of requirements must be met.
Q. What does the term “board eligible” mean?
A. A candidate is considered board eligible after they have satisfactorily completed an accredited training program and after the ABMGG has accepted their application to sit for the Board examinations(s). Board eligible candidates have not yet passed certification examination(s).
Q. For how long am I considered board eligible?
A. A candidate is considered board eligible for up to six (6) years after satisfactory completion of an ACGME-accredited training program. A maximum of three (3) attempts per certification examination are allowed during the six-year board eligibility period. For more information, refer to the Board Eligibility policy.
Q. What if I do not achieve certification within six (6) years after training or after three (3) attempts at the certification exam?
A. At this point, individuals would no longer be eligible for ABMGG certification and must fulfill all certification eligibility requirements again. These individuals may no longer use the term board eligible. Any violation of this policy with be considered a breach of ABMGG professionalism and ethical standards. For more information, view the policy on Regaining Eligibility for Initial Certification.
Q. What is active candidate status (ACS)?
A. Active candidate status is granted to individuals whose credentialing requirements have been satisfied for one or more specialty or subspecialty and whose application review and examination fees have been paid. Applicants granted active candidate status are eligible to sit for the certifying examination(s) only during the single examination cycle for which they applied. Each subsequent examination cycle, if needed, requires re-application to obtain Active Candidate status.
Q. What is conditional active candidate status?
A. Conditional active candidate status is a term used to recognize applicants who have fulfilled requirements for ABMGG certification with the exception of: (a)a valid, unrestricted medical license, and/or (b) a verification of training form completed by the program director.
Q. When are ABMGG certification examinations offered?
A. Examinations for the Clinical Genetics and Genomics and Laboratory Genetics and Genomics specialties are offered annually in August. The examination for Clinical Biochemical Genetics / Medical Biochemical Genetics is offered in August only during odd-numbered years. For details regarding the Molecular Genetic Pathology subspecialty examination refer to the American Board of Pathology: Exam Dates, Deadlines and Fees – Subspecialty – American Board of Pathology
Q. Where are the ABMGG examinations offered?
A. ABMGG certification exams are offered at PearsonVUE Test Centers worldwide. The cost of an exam seat is included in the examination fee.
Q. When must training be completed to be eligible to sit for an ABMGG certification examination?
A. Training must be completed by July 31 of an examination year.
Q. What is the deadline for applying for certification examinations?
A. The 2026 certification exam application period has closed. Information on the 2027 certification exam application will be posted in Fall 2026.
Information about certification exam registration dates, deadlines and fees are updated each Fall on the ABMGG website. Please refer to our Certification Exam Dates and Fees page for the most up to date information.
Q. How much does it cost to sit for the ABMGG certification examination?
A. Information on the certification exam fees will be updated each year on the ABMGG website. See the Certification Exam Dates and Fees link above for the most up to date information.
Note: there are separate fees for:
(a) the review process
(b) the general examination
(c) each specialty or subspecialty examination
(d) late fees (if applicable)
Q. What do the fees cover?
A. The fees cover review of all documentation (i.e., credentialing ) and determination of eligibility to sit for examinations; costs of developing, administering, evaluating, and reporting the results of examinations; as well as other activities essential to the certification process.
Q. Do I have to take all examinations in a single cycle?
A. Individuals may elect to take only one exam per cycle or all available exams in a single cycle. The general examination may be taken in a different cycle than a specialty or subspecialty examination. Individuals must pass the general and at least one specialty exam to be considered an ABMGG diplomate.
Q. I need to withdraw from an examination. What do I do?
A. Submit a written notification to credentials@abmgg.org. More information about withdrawals and refunds, when provided, can be found here.
Q. How do I access my profile and application?
A. Once a program director has registered trainees and board eligible individuals, trainees will receive an email invitation to access the portal. If you are having trouble accessing the portal, please contact the ABMGG at abmgg@abmgg.org for assistance.
Q. How do I update my information in the portal?
A. All personal and contact information must be reviewed for accuracy and updated as necessary in the portal. Additionally, during the application process applicants must review and attest that their information is correct. You may update your email address and other fields directly in the portal.
Q. How can I update my records so my name and /or birthdate match my government-issued ID?
A. If your name or birthdate does not match that listed on your government-issued ID, then you must submit a request to the ABMGG that includes a copy of your government-issued ID.
Q. My name has recently changed. How can I update my records?
A. If you have changed your name, please complete the Change of Name Request Form and return it along with the required documents and so ABMGG records may be updated. Please remember that the name on your scheduling email must exactly match the name on your government-issued identification to gain entrance for the examination(s). If you change your name prior to the certification examinations, note that failure to have your name listed identically on all documents may result in denial of admission to the test center on the day of examination(s).
Q. Does the ABMGG publish or recommend any preparation materials for the examination?
A. The ABMGG neither administers nor endorses review courses for the ABMGG certification examinations. Furthermore, the ABMGG does not provide content or guidance to organizations offering review courses. Board members do not participate as faculty in such courses, nor are practice questions abstracted from previous Board examinations. Participation in review courses is optional and does not ensure successful completion of the certification examination.
Q. How do I know what will be on the exam and what I should study?
A. Click here for content outlines and blueprints of the ABMGG certification examinations.
Q. When are scores available?
A. Examination results will be released approximately 10-12 weeks after the examinations are given.
Q. I did not pass the exam. What happens next?
A. Applicants have six years and three attempts per examination to become certified. The eligibility period is measured from the date of completed training through the end of the sixth calendar year. For example, if an examinee completes training on June 30, 2026, the eligibility window extends through December 31, 2032.
If an applicant did not take an exam or failed to achieve a passing score on either the general exam, the specialty exam, or both exams, they must reapply for the failed exam(s) in a future cycle. Applicants who do not achieve certification within the six (6) year eligibility window (see above) are no longer eligible for certification in that specialty and must the requirements for regaining eligibility for initial certification again.
Q. I passed only one examination. Am I considered board certified?
A. No. Board certification recognizes individuals who have passed at least the General examination and one specialty examination.
Q. I passed the Medical Biochemical Genetics subspecialty exam but not the general or Clinical Genetics and Genomics exams. Can I list myself as certified in MBG?
A. No. Individuals must receive passing scores in both the General exam and the Clinical Genetics and Genomics exam before a passing score on the Medical Biochemical Genetics exam is counted.
Q. Am I allowed to discuss or disclose questions that were on the exam?
A. No. The content of the examinations may not be discussed or disclosed to anyone. At the time of application, candidates sign an agreement stating they understand that the content of the ABMGG examinations is proprietary and strictly confidential. The unauthorized retention, possession, copying, distribution, disclosure, discussion, or receipt of any examination question, in whole or in part, by written, electronic, oral or other form of communication, including but not limited to emailing, copying or printing and reconstruction through memorization and/or dictation, before, during, or after an examination, is strictly prohibited.
Disclosure of any examination content to others is subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to revocation of certification, revocation of eligibility for future certification, and assessing of disciplinary fines as this behavior violates the ABMGG’s proprietary rights, including any copyrights, and may subject you to legal action resulting in monetary damages.