ABPath CertLink Requirements

ABPath CertLink – Participation and Performance

All diplomates enrolled in the CC Program must participate in ABPath CertLink®. (ABPCL). This will be the only option for meeting the CC Assessment requirement for maintaining certification. Beginning in 2019 and thereafter, all certifications which enter the CC Program are automatically registered in ABPCL.

To meet the Assessment requirement for the CC Program diplomates must meet both Participation and Performance requirements. ABPCL participation requirements differ from and are determined independent of performance requirements.

New Diplomates! – Newly certified diplomates will begin ABPCL in January of the year following their initial certification. For example, if you were certified in 2023 you will begin ABPCL in January of 2024.

Participation Requirements

The requirement for ABPCL participation is defined as answering all questions assigned for each quarter. Between 10 and 15 questions are assigned per quarter depending on previous performance.

If you miss three or more quarters in a two-year reporting period and they have not been approved as sabbaticals, your certification status will be reported as “Not participating in Continuing Certification”.

If you find that you will be unable to answer questions for a quarter, you are eligible to request up to two quarters off (sabbaticals – non-scored quarters) during the two-year reporting period. Please contact [email protected] to request a sabbatical before the quarter deadline date.

Diplomates should carefully manage their participation so the minimum requirements are met to use ABPCL as their assessment. You can view your participation history on your dashboard when you log in to ABPCL.

Performance Requirements

The expected performance standard for ABPCL will be 60% correct or greater, cumulative over four years. The performance will be displayed on the participant’s dashboard in ABPCL.

A longitudinal assessment considers:

• If an individual’s knowledge held at the start of the assessment is maintained
• If subjects and topics previously answered incorrectly are later answered correctly

Overall Performance Decision

The performance decision for all registered certifications is made on overall ABPCL performance, evaluated as a whole, not for each certificate. Questions attempted but left unanswered will be scored as incorrect. Questions not attempted, unless during a quarter designated for a sabbatical, will be scored as incorrect.

Performance Feedback

Periodic feedback about meeting performance requirements will be provided by ABPath. The expected performance standard for ABPCL will be 60% correct or greater, cumulative over four years.

ABPCL Assessment Design and Practice Areas

A custom assessment can be created from over 30 Practice Areas. A certain percentage of every assessment design will be automatically assigned based on your registered certifications. Assessment design currently occurs twice annually at the beginning and middle of each year.

The ABPath CertLink® Practice Areas and the topics covered in each can be viewed here.

Percentages of Content Categories in Assessment Design

Honor Code

The ABPath CertLink Honor Code asks that:

• Diplomates attest that they are meeting all current certification requirements
• Diplomates agree to maintain a fair and secure assessment process

View the Full ABPath CertLink Honor Code

Taking Sabbatical