CMD Dermatología
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ExploreAbout this exam
The CMD Dermatología (Certificado Médico Dermatología) is a professional certification in dermatology aimed at physicians who want documented evidence of their command of the specialty. It is relevant to dermatologists in clinical practice, to general practitioners who manage a high volume of skin complaints, and to residents preparing to enter specialty practice. The exam is multiple choice and is organized around ten content domains that span the full breadth of the field: clinical dermatology and cutaneous semiology; dermatopathology and immunodermatology; inflammatory and autoimmune dermatoses; cutaneous infections and sexually transmitted diseases; pediatric dermatology; cutaneous oncology and dermatologic surgery; disorders of the hair, nails and glands; aesthetic dermatology and lasers; dermatoses caused by physical and occupational agents and adverse drug reactions; and systemic dermatology with cutaneous signs of internal disease. The domains are not equally weighted, so a sensible preparation plan allocates study time proportionally rather than treating every topic as equally likely to appear. Effective preparation combines a structured review of each domain with image-free clinical vignette practice, since the exam rewards pattern recognition and reasoning about morphology, distribution and history rather than isolated fact recall. Candidates should confirm current administrative details, including scheduling, fees and any retake rules, directly with the certifying body, which publishes the authoritative figures on its own website.
What you'll study
About CMD Dermatología preparation
What is the exam format?
It is a multiple-choice examination. Each item presents a clinical scenario or a focused knowledge point with several answer options, and you select the single best answer. Expect questions that test reasoning from history, lesion description and distribution rather than pure recall of lists.
How difficult is the CMD Dermatología?
Difficulty is moderate to high. The exam samples across ten domains, so breadth matters as much as depth. Candidates who know one subspecialty very well but have not reviewed infections, pediatric dermatology or dermatopathology often find the paper harder than expected.
How much time is allowed and how many questions are there?
The certifying body sets the number of items and the time limit and publishes the current figures on its official site. Check there before you plan your pacing, and rehearse with timed practice blocks so you know your per-question rhythm on exam day.
What score do I need to pass, and what does it cost?
The passing standard and the examination fee are set by the certifying organization and are published on its website. They can change between administrations, so verify the current values directly with the body rather than relying on secondhand information.
Can I retake the exam if I fail?
Retake rules, waiting periods and any additional fees are defined by the certifying body and are not fixed across administrations. Consult its official policies page for the current retake conditions before you register, and plan your study schedule with a possible second attempt in mind.
In what order should I study the domains?
Start with clinical dermatology and semiology, since morphological reasoning underpins every other domain. Then take the two largest weighted areas, oncology and surgery, and inflammatory and autoimmune dermatoses. Fit infections, pediatric, adnexal, aesthetic, environmental and systemic topics around them, weighting by published percentages.
What are the most common failure modes?
Neglecting low-weight domains entirely, memorizing lists without practicing vignette reasoning, and skipping dermatopathology and immunology because they feel abstract. Another frequent error is not rehearsing under time pressure, which leads to careless misreads on the longer clinical stems.
How long should I prepare?
Most candidates need a structured review of several months alongside clinical work. Build a schedule that covers every domain at least once, then spend the final weeks on mixed-topic practice and review of your error patterns rather than on new material.
Is this the same as a national board certification?
No. This profile describes an independent certification exam and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the certifying body. For authoritative information on eligibility, recognition and validity, always consult the official organization directly.