ABD Dermatology

No. This is an independent study resource. The ABD is an independent, non-profit organization that publishes its own exam calendar, policies, and registration instructions. Confirm every date, eligibility rule, and requirement directly with the ABD before you register or plan travel.

The ABD's published exam calendar lists BASIC, taken by first-year residents, CORE, offered in several administrations each year, APPLIED, and subspecialty certification exams in dermatopathology, pediatric dermatology, and MDS. Each has its own scheduled window. Check the official calendar for the administration assigned to you.

Dates vary by exam and cycle. For example, the calendar lists a BASIC exam for first-year residents on April 1, 2027, and CORE administrations in fall 2026, winter 2027, summer 2027, and fall 2027. Subspecialty exams have separate dates. Because schedules change, verify your specific administration on the ABD site.

The ABD does not publish difficulty ratings or pass rates on its public pages, so treat any specific claim with suspicion. The exams are designed to certify that diplomates have the knowledge and skills for high-quality, safe, and effective dermatologic care. Expect broad, integrated clinical reasoning rather than isolated fact recall.

Retake rules, waiting periods, and attempt limits are set by the ABD and are not stated on its public home page. Do not rely on secondhand accounts. Contact the ABD directly, or consult its policy library and FAQs, for the rules that apply to your exam and cycle.

Build general dermatology and dermatopathology fundamentals first, since they underpin every later exam. Then add subspecialty depth only if you are sitting a subspecialty exam. Work backward from your confirmed exam window, schedule spaced self-testing throughout, and reserve the final weeks for weak areas and integrated cases rather than new material.

Candidates most often lose points by studying broadly without self-testing, memorizing lists instead of reasoning through morphology and histology, and neglecting their weakest domain until the final week. Another frequent problem is planning around an unverified exam date. Confirm your administration early, then build a schedule with regular retrieval practice.

The ABD lists its office at 2 Wells Avenue, Newton, Massachusetts 02459, with office hours Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET, and a phone/fax number of (617) 910-6400. A general email address is also published. The Board also offers a Physician Experience Team for diplomate questions, particularly about its Continuing Certification Program.

The ABD website provides an "Is My Dermatologist Board Certified?" search that asks for a last name, first name, and NPI. Use that official lookup rather than third-party directories, which may be outdated. The ABD also publishes printable patient flyers in English and Spanish explaining what certification means.