ABGS Frequently Asked Questions

Candidates must meet all core eligibility criteria, including appropriate medical school graduation requirements, active AOBOG certification in an approved specialty, unrestricted licensure and adherence to the AOA Code of Ethics. Additional requirements vary depending on whether the candidate applies through the Fellowship Pathway or Clinical Pathway.

Not necessarily. Candidates may qualify if they currently hold AOBOG certification in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI) or Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (URPS).

Not directly. ABGS applicants must hold current AOBOG certification in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI), or Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (URPS).

ABOG-certified physicians may be eligible to obtain equivalent AOBOG certification through the AOA’s ABMS Reciprocity process. Once granted, that AOBOG certification may be used to satisfy the ABGS eligibility requirement. Applicants approved through reciprocity must participate in Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC) to maintain their AOBOG certification.

Learn more and apply for ABMS Reciprocity.

The Fellowship Pathway is intended for physicians who have completed an approved fellowship and meet additional requirements. The Clinical Pathway allows experienced physicians to qualify based on demonstrated surgical practice and case log submission.

The Clinical Pathway will only be available during the first five years the certification examination is offered, from 2027 through 2031.

Candidates who are beyond traditional board eligibility should apply through the Clinical Pathway.

Yes. Candidates qualifying through ACGME-accredited Gynecologic Oncology, REI, or URPS fellowships must still submit a surgical log to demonstrate sufficient breadth of ABGS experience.

No. The minimum of three years of clinical experience applies only to candidates applying through the Fellowship Pathway. Clinical Pathway applicants qualify based on their current surgical practice and successful submission of the required case log, provided all other eligibility requirements are met.

Yes. Fellowship years may be counted toward the required minimum of three years of clinical experience.

To qualify through the Fellowship Pathway, candidates must have successfully completed one of the fellowship programs recognized by the AOBOG for Advanced Benign Gynecologic Surgery certification and must remain within the AOBOG board eligibility, defined as ending on Dec. 31 of the sixth year following fellowship completion. Candidates whose fellowship training falls outside this period should apply through the Clinical Pathway instead.

Approved fellowships include:

• Complex Benign Gynecology (formerly Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery) through the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL)
• Minimally Invasive Gynecologic/Robotic Surgery through the Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons (SLS)
• Gynecologic Oncology*
• Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI)*
• Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery (URPS)*

Candidates may review currently recognized AAGL fellowship programs on the AAGL website and recognized SLS fellowship programs on the SLS website (gynecology programs only).

*Gynecologic Oncology, REI and URPS fellowships must be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to qualify. In addition, candidates using one of these fellowships to establish eligibility must submit the required surgical case log documenting qualifying ABGS practice experience.

If you are unsure whether your fellowship qualifies, please contact AOBOG before submitting your application.

Yes. Candidates who are beyond the AOBOG board eligibility period generally should apply through the Clinical Pathway, which allows physicians to qualify based on their current practice experience and successful submission of the required surgical case log. The Clinical Pathway will be available for the first five years of the ABGS certification program (2027–2031).

Candidates who did not become certified during their six-year board eligibility period may also be eligible to petition AOBOG to enter the Post-Board Eligibility Process. Petitions must be submitted within three years of the end of the board eligibility period and are subject to Board approval. Once accepted, candidates must participate in the next available examination cycle and comply with all requirements of the post-board eligibility process.

For complete details regarding post-board eligibility, please review the AOBOG Board Policies page.

Candidates applying through the Clinical Pathway and candidates using Gynecologic Oncology, REI or URPS fellowships to qualify must submit a case log.

The case log must include qualifying cases performed during the 24 months immediately preceding the application date.

Applicants must document at least 150 qualifying minimally invasive benign gynecologic surgical cases, for which they were the primary surgeon.

Yes. Your log must include:

• At least 50 minimally invasive hysterectomies.
• At least 20 operative hysteroscopies.
• At least 20 advanced laparoscopic or robotic procedures.

The remaining cases may come from any qualifying categories.

No. Each surgical case should only be included once in the log. If a case could fit multiple categories, select the category that best represents the primary procedure performed.

Candidates must meet both the overall minimum 150 total cases and the category-specific minimums to qualify for the exam.

Candidates should include a patient identifier, such as a medical record number, but should not include patient names. Other required information includes date, hospital, age or date of birth, diagnosis, procedure and complications/outcomes, if applicable.

Yes. Candidates may add as many rows as needed to document all qualifying procedures.

Leave the complications field blank.

Include your name in the filename before uploading the document (e.g., “Doctor_Jane_ABGS Case Log.”)

The ABGS certification examination is a four-hour oral examination administered by two AOBOG-certified physician examiners.

The examination is conducted in person in the Chicago, Illinois, area.

Candidates can generally expect to receive assignments approximately two months before the examination date.

Failure to participate in registration and orientation may result in cancellation of the examination and forfeiture of examination fees.

AOBOG generally attempts to release examination results within eight weeks following the examination window.

Neither the AOA nor AOBOG requires maintenance of a primary Obstetrics & Gynecology certification after ABGS certification is obtained. However, physicians should verify requirements with employers, hospitals, insurance carriers, and other credentialing organizations before allowing any primary certification to lapse.

Diplomates must continue to meet Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC) requirements, including licensure, lifelong learning and CME, cognitive assessment and practice performance assessment.