The American Board of Clinical Chemistry (ABCC) is a not-for-profit organization, incorporated in 1950, devoted to certification of individuals with doctoral level degrees in the practice of clinical chemistry, toxicological chemistry, and other clinical laboratory medicine disciplines. In purpose, function, and organization the ABCC is analogous to the certifying boards in various medical specialties. The aim of the Board is to serve the public interest and advance the science by establishing standards of competence for those who practice clinical laboratory medicine, and to certify as Diplomates those qualified specialists who comply with the requirements of the Board.
COVID-19 Update: The ABCC's next application deadline is November 1, 2021, and it's next examination cycle is August 25-26, 2021. We are requesting application materials be sent electronically to ABCCadministrator@aacc.org.
ABCC is working with the testing centers regarding examination administration for the August 2021 exam. Any changes in delivery and details in test dates will be communicated directly with the test taker.
Why Should You Be Certified By The American Board of Clinical Chemistry?
Certification by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry satisfies the personnel requirements of CLIA ’88 regulations to serve as the director of a high complexity clinical laboratory and clinical consultant in laboratory medicine. Certifications are available in Clinical Chemistry, Toxicological Chemistry, and Molecular Diagnostics.
The examination in Clinical Chemistry tests the candidate’s Recall and Applied skills and is comprised of two parts: A) Calculations & Problem Solving, and B) Analytical & Clinical Issues.
The examination in Toxicological Chemistry tests the candidate’s Recall and Applied skills and is comprised of two parts: A) Calculations & Problem Solving, and B) Analytical, Toxicological and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Issues.
The officers shall perform the functions and duties that customarily pertain to their respective offices and such other functions and duties as may, from time to time be assigned or designated. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Board. The term of office for President and Secretary-Treasurer shall be two years. The term of office for all other Officers shall be one year.
The following individuals are Active Diplomates of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry in Clinical Chemistry. For active status, Diplomates must demonstrate continued competency in clinical laboratory science through ongoing continuing education. Beginning January 1, 2004, Diplomates must participate in 50 hours of continuing education every two years to meet requirements of Active Status. ABCC conducts an audit of Active Diplomates annually.
The following individuals are Active Diplomates of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry in Toxicological Chemistry. For Active status, Diplomates must demonstrate continued competency in clinical laboratory science through ongoing continuing education. Beginning January 1, 2004, Diplomates must participate in 50 hours of continuing education every two years to meet requirements of Active Status. ABCC conducts an audit of Active Diplomates annually.
The following individuals are Active Diplomates of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry in the area of Molecular Diagnostics. For Active status, Diplomates must demonstrate continued competency in clinical laboratory science through ongoing continuing education. Beginning January 1, 2004, Diplomates must participate in 50 hours of continuing education every two years to meet requirements of Active Status. ABCC conducts an audit of Active Diplomates annually.
The following individuals are Emeritus Diplomates of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry, Inc. For emeritus status, Diplomates must be retired from the practice of clinical chemistry and must request Emeritus Diplomate status.
Applicants with education obtained at an institution outside the U.S. or Canada must, at their expense, have their credentials evaluated by an acceptable agency. Official documentation by the agency must be submitted directly to the ABCC Administrative Office. The agency…
ATTENTION: Please note that the ABCC Examination Application is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance, and will be reopened for submissions in Early September 2021. Should you have any questions regarding the application process, please do not hesitate to reach out to ABCCadministrator@aacc.org.…
As of January 1, 2004 Diplomates of the American Board of Clinical Chemistry must document 50 contact hours of continuing education (CE) credit every two years in order to maintain listing in the directory of active Diplomates. The following describes…
ABCC Initiates Use of Non-Disclosure Agreement for Exam Candidates In a move to further safeguard its exam content, ABCC will ask exam candidates to sign a non-disclosure agreement prior to sitting for examination beginning with its 2015 exams. The non-disclosure…
Becoming board certified in clinical chemistry has given me the opportunity to move into a high profile position at my institution. The credentials have also provided me with opportunities to moonlight as a forensic toxicology director and consult on project that would have otherwise been out of reach. I would highly recommend becoming a board certified Diplomate.
My main area of practice is postmortem forensic toxicology. Being board certified in toxicological chemistry shows my colleagues, regulatory agencies, and the courts that I also have competence in the interpretation of test results pertaining to living individuals. Also, due to the continuing education requirements associated with this certification, I can better evaluate different case types with confidence that my skill set remains current with the latest clinical laboratory developments.
The ABCC credential speaks for itself—it indicates a level of knowledge, training, and expertise in our field. People with a variety of educational backgrounds may serve as clinical consultants, and board certification provides a common baseline. In my current position, I provide consultation to clients from across the United States, and board certification helps define my role.
