Frequently Asked Questions

 Participation in ABCP certification provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and proficiency in craniofacial pain assessment, diagnosis and management to prospective patients and referral sources through independent testing, which is one of the most universally acknowledged and widely accepted validation methods.

Successful completion of the ABCP board-certification process will provide you with:

• Documentation of clinical and academic competence in the assessment, diagnosis and management of Craniofacial Pain and its related disorders.
  
• Enhanced standing among colleagues in the dental and medical communities, as well as insurance company administrators, as a provider of Craniofacial Pain services.
  
• Extraordinary personal satisfaction and achievement, including recognition of your ability and commitment to implementing educational and professional standards for high quality practice.
  

Fellowship and camaraderie is a hallmark of the ABCP. We encourage you to visit with any of the dentists in our Diplomate Directory to find out more about what it is like to go through the ABCP credentialing process as well as the rewards of being ABCP board-certified.

 ABCP written and oral examinations for Diplomate status are offered at least one time per year. The date is scheduled to coincide with the summer symposium sponsored by the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain. The exam for 2023 will take place in San Antonio, Texas on August 10, 2023.

Completed applications (including all required documentation and fees) must be received in the ABCP Executive Office May 31, 2023.

Examination dates and application deadlines are routinely announced and updated on this Web site. We invite you to contact us if you require additional information. 

 Applicants may complete the necessary requirements for Diplomate status beginning any time subsequent to graduation from an accredited dental school. However, you will not be granted Diplomate status by the ABCP until the second (2nd) anniversary of your dental school graduation. 

 Yes. Successful completion of the written examination is not a prerequisite for the oral examination. Candidates for Diplomate status whose applications and supporting documentation have been reviewed and accepted by the ABCP may sit for the written and oral examinations in a single examination period. 

 The ABCP certification process is both comprehensive and rigorous. We have compiled a recommended reading list to assist you in your preparation and provided sample cases plus information about the composition of the written examination to help you plan your study time. 

 You must submit a craniofacial pain case (see Exhibit E), an internal derangement case (see Exhibit F), plus either a craniofacial pain or an internal derangement case (see Exhibit G). Each patient case history must include justification of any treatment and documentation thereof.

When selecting and preparing your patient case histories, which you will present during the oral examination for Diplomate status, please keep in mind that your goal is to establish your ability, proficiency and skill in the broad spectrum of treatment procedures relevant to assessment, diagnosis and management of Craniofacial Pain and temporomandibular disorders of non-dental origin. 

 Yes, however, photo quality paper is preferred. When submitting your materials, please keep in mind that the quality of radiographs, films and scans must be of sufficient quality for the examiners to derive the information recorded. 

 We adhere to the American Dental Association Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct, and advise all Diplomates to follow this code when advertising their status. We also recommend that each dentist consult his or her state or legal regulatory agency and adhere to their requirements.

Diplomate status does not denote specialty status. Furthermore, it does not confer or imply any legal qualification, licensure, or privilege in professional activities.