Physicians certified in 1985 or later must complete the recertification process to maintain their certification as a Diplomate of the American Board of Urology. If a physician was certified prior to 1985, recertification is not required but may be done voluntarily. A physician who is clinically inactive may choose to maintain certification with a clinically inactive status. All Trustees of the Board must complete the entire recertification process during their tenure.

Recertification is valid for ten-year increments past the expiration date of the original certification or previous recertification, subject to Maintenance of Certification (MOC). Physicians are given three opportunities to recertify. For example, if a physician certified in 2001, he or she may sit for the examination in October 2008 (the first year of admissibility), 2009 or 2010. Regardless of which of these years the physician recertifies, his or her certificate will normally be valid for ten-year increments from the original certification date—2021 in the preceding example, subject to MOC.

Applications will be mailed in early December. The application and fee are due February 1. Applications may be submitted with an additional $400.00 late fee until February 15, after which time no further applications will be accepted.

Practice logs are due March 15. Logs submitted after this will be assessed a $400.00 late fee until March 31, after which time no further logs will be accepted.

Notarized CME documentation is due August 1.

Candidates may schedule their exam with Pearson VUE beginning July 14, 2008.

Approved candidates may take their exam on either October 9 or October 10, 2008.

Applications must be submitted on forms for the current cycle. Prior year forms are given for informational purposes only.  

To provide the Board with a notarized copy of a document, take the original document to a notary public. He or she will copy it and notarize the copy as a true copy of the original. Mail the notarized copy to the Board office; faxes or photocopies of documents will not be accepted.

Adobe Reader is required to view and print the documents listed below. Click on the button to the right to download the latest version of the free Adobe Reader.
Handbook for Applicants for Recertification
Recertification Application
Practice Breakdown
CME Instructions and Log
Peer Review labels template
Electronic Practice Log Instructions
Practice Log Template
Complications Narratives Instructions
Log Verification and Notarization Statement
Practice Log Instructions for Canadian Applicants
Computer-based Testing Information and Tutorial
Pearson Testing Centers

The examination is the final component of recertification. It is taken after satisfactory completion of the other elements of the process. The examination is a four-hour, proctored, computerized examination, administered annually at over 200 Pearson
VUE testing centers located throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

The exam consists of five modules of 30 questions each that cover different domains of urology. At the end of the examination period, the applicant must choose only three of the modules to be scored (for a total of 90 items).

The subjects of the modules are:
  a. Pediatric urology
  b. Oncology and urinary diversion
  c. Obstruction, calculous disease and trauma
  d. Impotence, infertility and infection
  e. Incontinence and voiding dysfunction.

The method used to determine a passing score on the Recertification Examination is based on criterion reference testing. Criterion reference testing uses a benchmark examination to establish a performance which all candidates must meet. Examinations are compared to the benchmark standard and the passing score varies according to the difficulty. The probability of passing remains constant, and the examination process provides a uniform opportunity to pass from one year to the next. In theory, all who take the examination could pass; there is no mandatory failure rate. On average, approximately 97% of candidates pass the exam.  

Any Diplomates certified before 1985 may undertake voluntary recertification. The voluntary candidate is required to fulfill all requirements of the process: application, licensure documents, peer review, practice log, CME documentation, and examination. Successful completion of the recertification process results in a "voluntary recertification" listing with the American Board of Medical Specialties. Regardless if a voluntary candidate passes or fails the recertification process, his or her original unlimited certificate remains in effect.

Physicians who are no longer clinically active may keep their certification active by completing all requirements for recertification, except submission of a practice log. Upon recertification, the physician must comply with MOC requirements except log submission. 

The clinically inactive Diplomate who wishes to apply for active status should contact the Board in writing. The recertification process must be initiated within 10 years of certification or recertification, or within 18 months following resumption of active practice of clinical urology.