“I ask each of you to reach out to one student, one resident or one program director and educate that person about osteopathic board certification.”

By Deborah Herchelroath, DO

As an oral board examiner for the American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AOBOG) since 2010, I am a passionate advocate for AOBOG certification. I am a member of AOBOG’s Executive Committee and have served as chair of the written exam committee.

Currently, I am a practicing OB-GYN hospitalist and midlife health specialist employed by a large hospital system in Pennsylvania with an ACGME-accredited OB-GYN residency (as well as residency programs in many other specialties).

I work with and train residents and students every day. Our OB-GYN residency program historically has about 50% DO physicians annually. We also have a wide range of students rotating with us, from both osteopathic and allopathic medical schools. Because of my passion for osteopathic board certification, I am frequently asking students and residents about their experiences. Luckily, our OB-GYN residency program has been open to educating all residents about both options.

Unfortunately, some residency programs are not educating residents about AOA Board Certification as an option. Following the 2020 transition to a single GME accreditation system, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirements instruct program directors to encourage graduates to pursue certification through either American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or AOA certifying boards. However, many residents from allopathic programs report limited to no exposure to osteopathic board certification as a viable option.

Thankfully, new changes and collaborations are positioning AOA Board Certification to better serve both the osteopathic medical community and the public.

Below, I will share recent efforts within AOBOG as well as within the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG) to raise awareness of AOBOG certification as an option for OB-GYN residents. I will also share my thoughts on why AOBOG certification is, in my opinion, the best option for OB-GYN certification.

Efforts to educate residents and programs

Since the transition to the single GME accreditation system, AOBOG has taken a more active role in educating residency programs and trainees about their certification options. We are hosting webinars along with live presentations during which in-depth information is shared with residency programs around the country to educate them about their choices and why AOBOG is a great option.

For the past several years, AOBOG staff have participated in annual presentations to the Association of Program Managers in Obstetrics & Gynecology to help guide residency program staff through the process of AOBOG board certification, ensuring that residents are well-informed and have a smooth pathway to certification.

Additionally, AOBOG has been participating in the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) and Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) collaborative annual meeting—we both present and exhibit at this conference.

AOBOG and the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG) have also partnered on a multi-year initiative to expand outreach to residents and strengthen exam preparedness. This collaboration has already demonstrated measurable impact on candidate engagement and performance, earning national recognition through the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions’ Outstanding Educational Collaboration Award in 2025. Their joint work has been recently profiled in journals for the continuing education and credentialing communities.

In 2025, W. Ashley Hood, DO, the president of ACOOG, appointed a task force to improve awareness of osteopathic board certification options. The goal is to ensure that every resident is fully informed and able to make the choice that best fits their career. Obviously, as residents graduate and new trainees approach seniority, this process will need to be repeated. The future of the task force will inevitably be a standing committee.

OB-GYN residencies are consistently competitive, with very few unfilled positions remaining after the initial Match cycle. Even in this competitive environment, DO students have steadily increased their presence in OB-GYN residency programs, with the percentage of first-year positions filled by osteopathic graduates rising from an average of about 15% (2013-2018) to an all-time high of 20.9% in the 2025 Match.

This upward trend reflects not only the strength of osteopathic applicants, but also the growing recognition of osteopathic medical training across the profession. For example, in 2023, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released a statement recognizing osteopathic medical school training. ACOG encouraged obstetrics and gynecology residency programs to recognize COMLEX-USA scores and to refrain from pressuring DO students to take the USMLE.

AOBOG certification details for trainees

Osteopathic OB-GYN board certification is an ongoing process. Candidates take a written exam, which is remotely proctored once per year. While most residents sit for the exam in their fourth year, AOBOG also allows third-year residents to sit—which provides greater flexibility to candidates and gives them a strategic advantage as they prepare for job searches. After passing the written exam and completing residency, physicians register for the oral exam, offered twice yearly in Chicago. Remote options exist for special circumstances such as military service.

AOBOG does not require minimum practice time or simulation courses. Additionally, AOBOG does not require case logs for primary certification, which can be helpful for those who go into fellowship or a limited scope of practice, such as a hospitalist. Earning a passing score through the ABOG qualifying exam can substitute for passing the AOBOG written exam. A re-entry pathway is also available for physicians beyond the standard six-year eligibility window.

Let’s talk about the oral exam, an experience that understandably causes some anxiety. AOBOG’s goal is not to intimidate, but to support and certify physicians who are ready to provide safe, effective care. The exam is designed to assess clinical knowledge in a structured environment. The board’s goal is to ensure that candidates are well-prepared, rather than catching them off guard.

Ultimately, the board’s mission is to uphold public trust while empowering physicians to succeed. A few suggestions to prime a candidate for the oral exam might include considering a board review course and thorough review of AOBOG’s website for specific information.

Subspecialty offerings

A variety of subspecialty certifications are available through AOBOG. Gynecologic oncology, maternal-fetal medicine, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, and urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery are current offerings. The board is also in the process of creating additional subspecialty certifications. Current AOBOG-certified subspecialists do not need to maintain primary OB-GYN certification unless an institution or other entity requires it or it is needed for moonlighting.

Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC) offers a modern, flexible approach to lifelong learning and credential maintenance. The OCC process consists of maintaining licensure, participating in continuing medical education and assessing knowledge annually. AOBOG has developed a user-friendly “open book” process designed with busy physicians in mind.

Through the AOA Learning Portal, a digital portal that can be accessed via laptop, phone or tablet, diplomates complete 30 case-based questions that can be answered using trusted OB-GYN resources. An 85% pass rate is required for continued certification. With this generous pass threshold and built-in remediation, OCC supports continuous growth while maintaining high standards. For many physicians, this model is a key reason for choosing AOBOG certification.

Preserving osteopathic distinctiveness

Let’s use this moment to mentor the next generation, not only about how to care for patients, but also about how to keep osteopathic medicine thriving. Every osteopathic medical student and resident should be aware that there are two choices for board certification. The fact that some don’t know about AOA Board Certification is a missed opportunity to preserve the distinctiveness of osteopathic medicine.

I ask each of you to reach out to one student, one resident or one program director and educate that person about osteopathic board certification.

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in The DO.