ABPath CertLink – Getting Started

If you are a diplomate participating in the Continuing Certification Program, you have been automatically registered to participate in ABPath CertLink (ABPCL). All newly certified diplomates will begin particpating in ABPCL in January of the year following your certification. If you have not received any information about the program, please contact us at [email protected].

Here are some helpful tips to get started.

Review the Program Overview

You can visit the ABPath CertLink program overview page to learn all about the online longitudinal assessment program and what it means for your Continuing Certification.

Make Sure You Are Receiving Our Emails

To ensure that you receive the ABPath CertLink (ABPCL) emails, please add the following addresses to your spam or quarantine safe sender lists:

Ensure your contact information up to date in your PATHway profile and ABPCL. For ABPCL, you can update your email address and phone number by clicking on the Profile tab in ABPCL and click “Edit Profile” in the upper righthand corner to edit. Be sure to save any changes by clicking on “save” at the bottom of the page. Contact information updates for PATHway must be made separately in PATHway.

Set Up Technical Environment

  • Update your browser. ABPath CertLink is not approved for use on smartphones or mobile devices. Use a PC or Mac laptop or desktop computer.
  • Use a stable, reliable and relatively high-speed internet connection
  • Perform a System Check to identify potential issues with your device or internet connection. Always complete the System Check prior to completing your assessment. The System Check is located in the upper right corner, fifth tab over labeled “Readiness” (see the screenshot below). If you have issues with the System Check, please email us at [email protected].

Log In

Log into ABPCL at https://abpath.mycertlink.org/ using the username and password from your Welcome email. You can also access ABPCL from the homepage of the ABPath website (see the screenshot below).

ABPCL uses a Multi-Factor Authentication process. When you are prompted to enter the code you have been sent, be sure to click “Trust this Device” for 90 days before entering the code. If you forget your password at any point you can click “Reset Password” to create a new password.

Design Your Assessment

The platform will guide you to set your assessment design before delivering any questions. Your assessment includes a combination of required and elective content. You will be prompted to redesign your assessment at the beginning of the first and third quarters of each year,

Core and Elective Content

The required Core content is assigned by ABPath based on the certifications that you are maintaining via the Continuing Certification (CC) Program. A list of Elective Practice Areas is provided for you to choose from to design the rest of your Assessment; you can adjust the percentage of content from each Elective Practice Area that appears in your Assessment. The assessment design you choose will be set for two quarters at a time. You will design it in the first quarter and in the third quarter.

Choose the elective Practice Areas you would like to receive questions from and the percent. The syllabus you choose will be set for six months before you can change it again.

This example shows the diplomate chose to receive questions in Cytopathology. 40% of the questions will be in Cytopathology. When setting up the syllabus you can choose the percent for each Practice Area as long as all of them add up to 100% inlcuding the Required Core content.

Answering Questions

Each time you log in the page will open to your personalized dashboard. The Dashboard provides real-time Assessment performance and progress information. Click the “Assessment Details” button on the Progress card or click “Assessment” in the left navigation menu.

You will be taken to the Assessment Details page where you can choose to answer questions by clicking “Start Assessment” for random topic delivery or clicking “Begin” in a specific Practice Area.

We wish you good luck and hope you enjoy ABPath CertLink!

For more information, visit the FAQs or email [email protected] for technical assistance.