Pathway to Osteopathic Certification
Prepared by ACOOG in conjunction with the American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AOBOG).
Eligibility
Primary Certification — OB/GYN
- Medical school: U.S. College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), U.S. or Canadian medical school (MD), or a medical school outside the U.S./Canada.
- Residency: ACGME-accredited only.
- Licensure and professionalism: adherence to the AOA Code of Ethics; unrestricted license to practice in the U.S., its territories, or Canada (by oral).
Exam Process
Step 1 — Written
- Once per year (spring), PGY3 or PGY4
- Remotely proctored; hybrid option coming 2027
- 4 hours, 225 multiple-choice questions
- $1,175 exam fee
- Applications open 6 months and close 1 month prior
- Results in 8 weeks or less
Step 2 — Oral
- Twice per year (spring and fall), 2-day windows
- Graduate with AOA recognition of training
- In person in Chicago; 4 hours, 3 stations
- $3,275 exam fee
- Applications open 6 months and close 3 months prior
- Virtual options exist where needed, e.g. military duty
The written exam blueprint: Gynecology 39–43%, Obstetrics and MFM 34–38%, REI 7–11%, URPS 6–10%, Gyn Oncology 4–8%. The oral covers general OB/GYN in office, hospital, and outpatient settings, Gyn Oncology, MFM, REI, URPS, and professionalism, communication skills, and lifelong learning.
Timeline
- October – March of PGY3 or 4: apply for the written exam.
- April/May of PGY3 or 4: written exam.
- Graduate from residency; program notifies the AOA of residency completion.
- Graduation through December 31 of the sixth year following: board eligibility window.
- Spring and fall each year: oral exam. Applications open six months prior.
AOBOG does NOT require
- Minimum time in practice
- Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) or eMIGS
- Case logs
AOBOG DOES accept
- An ABOG Qualifying Exam pass as a precursor to AOBOG orals
Exam Costs Comparison
| OB/GYN Exams | AOBOG | ABOG |
|---|---|---|
| Written (Qualifying) exam fee | 1,175 | 1,750 |
| Oral (Certifying) application fee | 0 | 1,125 |
| Oral (Certifying) exam fee | 3,275 | 1,270 |
| Total OB/GYN | $4,450 | $4,150 |
| OCC/MOC* (annual certification expense) | $300 | $290 |
*ABOG MOC requires membership in ACOG.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Path
- AOBOG's written exam is remote-proctored, with a testing center option planned for 2027, while ABOG's exam is proctored only in testing centers.
- AOBOG accepts either the ABOG or AOBOG written exam as a precursor to the AOBOG oral exam, while ABOG requires the ABOG written exam as a precursor to ABOG orals.
- AOBOG administers its oral exam in Chicago, with virtual options if needed.
- Over the long run, the costs for AOBOG and/or ABOG certification are comparable.
- AOBOG does not require case logs. Earlier certification can lead to a pay increase sooner.
- AOBOG offers single-step subspecialty certification for those who do fellowship, currently in GynOnc, MFM, REI, and URPS. Certification is in development for Advanced Benign Gynecologic Surgery (ABGS, also known as MIGS), first exam projected for 2027, and Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (PAG), projected as early as 2028.
- The mission, vision, and values of ACOOG foster a true community of women's health professionals — approachable, familiar, and built on members supporting one another, informally and through opportunities for leadership.
Osteopathic Continuous Certification
- Licensure and professionalism: unrestricted licensure in the U.S., its territories, or Canada, and adherence to the AOA Code of Ethics.
- Lifelong learning: 60 CME per three-year certification cycle, 25 of them specialty-specific, with no category-specific requirement.
- Cognitive assessment: annual longitudinal assessment.
- Practice performance: one PPA/quality improvement activity attestation form per three-year CME cycle.
AOBOG exams are accepted for ACGME requirements, and pass rates are reported to the ACGME and to programs annually. There are no specific guidelines regarding leave during training, and a re-entry pathway exists for candidates beyond traditional board eligibility. Full details at certification.osteopathic.org/obstetrics-gynecology.
Keep Current, Keep Connected
Ask your program to send your training information to the AOA at postdoc@osteopathic.org, including your program's name and ACGME ID, your name, your AOA number, your training dates, and your anticipated end date. Verification of PGY3 or PGY4 status is needed for the written exam, and verification of completion for the oral and subspecialty exams.
Check the AOBOG website regularly for dates and deadlines, and keep your contact information current with the AOA/AOBOG and at acoog.org. Membership in ACOOG is free throughout medical school and residency.
Full Presentation
Pathway to Osteopathic Certification, 2026
ACOOG in conjunction with AOBOG