ABP Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics

Applicants must meet the ABP general criteria for subspecialty certification plus the developmental-behavioral requirements: three years of full-time, broad-based fellowship training in an ACGME- or RCPSC-accredited program, program-director verification of satisfactory completion, clinical competence including professionalism, evidence of scholarly activity, and a passing score on the subspecialty certifying examination.

Yes, part-time training is permitted, but it must be completed over no more than six years. The three-year full-time equivalence and all program verification requirements still apply. If your timeline will exceed six years, discuss it with your program director and the ABP before making assumptions about eligibility.

Any absence or leave exceeding three months during the three years of training must be made up, whether for vacation, parental leave, illness, or another reason. No continuous absence of more than one year is permitted. If fellowship is interrupted for more than 12 months, the Credentials Committee must review requests for previous credit.

The certifying examination assesses the knowledge and clinical judgment expected of a developmental-behavioral pediatrician. The ABP publishes a subspecialty content outline, which is the best available guide to detailed topic coverage. Build your study plan around that outline, and supplement it with focused review of developmental, behavioral, and assessment issues you encounter in fellowship.

The ABP source page does not publish a difficulty rating or pass rate, so no numeric difficulty can be quoted. Treat it as a comprehensive, high-stakes subspecialty examination. Candidates who prepare from the ABP content outline and review across the full scope of developmental-behavioral pediatrics are better positioned than those who rely only on general pediatrics knowledge.

The ABP page cited here does not describe retake rules, waiting periods, or fees. Because certification policies can change, contact the ABP directly for the current retake policy and application process before you plan a repeat attempt. Do not rely on another candidate's experience or an older handbook.

The source page does not list a fee or exam date. ABP sets exam dates and fees separately and notes that criteria and conditions are subject to change without notice. Check the ABP website or contact ABP for the current application window, fee, and scheduling details before you commit to a test date.

Start with eligibility documentation. Confirm your fellowship is accredited by the ACGME or RCPSC, ask your program director about verification of clinical competence and professionalism, and assemble evidence of scholarly activity that meets the ABP principles. Then review the subspecialty content outline and schedule the exam only after you have confirmed current dates and fees with ABP.

The source does not list exam failure modes, but practical risks include assuming general pediatrics preparation is sufficient, delaying review of the ABP subspecialty content outline, and leaving program-director verification and scholarly-activity documentation to the last minute. Certification requires both training verification and a passing exam score, so plan for both tracks early.