ACTIVE DIPLOMATE: An individual is considered an ABCC diplomate once they have successfully passed the required specialty exam(s) and completed any additional requirements if applying under an application exception. The individual must submit documentation of continuing education in laboratory medicine every two (2) years to maintain an active diplomate status. This two-year certification renewal cycle begins on January 1, of the year following their passing of all required specialty exams for their initial specialty certification.
As an example, an individual that has successfully completed Clinical Chemistry Part A and Part B exam in August 2020 will have a certification renewal cycle that begins January 1, 2021 and concludes December 31, 2022.
The individual must submit documentation of continuing education to CE-Broker and a processing fee payment of $250 USD to complete the certification renewal. Certification renewal occurs in the last quarter of the year that the diplomate’s current certification renewal cycle is ending. For the example above, the individual would submit CE documentation and payment of processing fee in the October – December 2022 timeframe to ensure active status continues.
ABCC diplomates remain active diplomates as long as certification renewal is maintained. ABCC diplomates are encouraged to include the certification in their professional title and denoted the certification specialty using “CC” for Clinical Chemistry, “TC” for Toxicological Chemistry, and “MD” for Molecular Diagnostics ((e.g., DABCC (CC); DABCC (CC, TC); or DABCC (CC, TC, MD)).
LAPSED DIPLOMATE: If any above steps – the submission of CE documentation and/or payment of processing fee – are incomplete at the end of the cycle, the individual is considered a lapsed diplomate. Lapsed diplomates will remain listed in the directory of ABCC diplomates but cannot receive a letter of verification of active status and may not be eligible to serve roles that require ABCC certification.
Lapsed diplomates may remain lapsed for up to two years following the conclusion of the diplomate’s most recent certification cycle.
As an example, a diplomate whose certification renewal cycle ends on December 31, 2022, will be considered lapsed on January 1, 2023, if the CE documentation and/or payment of processing fee are not submitted. The diplomate will remain lapsed until these steps are completed.
To reinstate active diplomate status, the individual must submit all outstanding CE documentation and pay all outstanding processing fees. This may require contacting the ABCC administrative office by email to ensure CE documentation can be submitted in the CE Broker platform and that they receive the appropriate payment form.
A lapsed diplomate will have two (2) years (i.e., one certification renewal cycle) to submit documentation and payment without penalty.
INACTIVE DIPLOMATE: Beyond the initial two years of lapsed status, a diplomate will become inactive. Inactive diplomates will have their name removed from the directory of ABCC diplomates. Inactive diplomates also cannot receive a letter of verification of active status and may not be eligible to serve roles that require ABCC certification.
To reinstate active diplomate status, the individual must submit CE documentation for each certification renewal cycle that the individual has not completed. The individual must submit payment of processing fees for each certification renewal cycle that the individual has not completed. Additionally, an inactive diplomate must pay an additional $250 late penalty fee.
To reinstate active diplomate status, the individual must contact the ABCC administrative office by email to ensure CE documentation can be submitted in the CE Broker platform and that they receive the appropriate payment form.
A diplomate will only become inactive following the two (2) year period as a lapsed diplomate. After this two (2) year period as a lapsed diplomate, an individual may remain inactive for up to four (4) years before the individual will be considered expired.
EXPIRED DIPLOMATE: Beyond six (6) years following the end of the diplomate’s most recent completed certification renewal cycle, the individual is considered to be an expired diplomate. Expired diplomates cannot reinstate active status. The individual will remain removed from the ABCC diplomate directory. Letters of verification of active status will not be provided. The individuals would not be eligible for roles that require ABCC certification.
To become an active diplomate, the individual must resubmit an application to the ABCC program that includes all required documentation under the current application requirements. The individual would be required to retake and successfully complete the required exam(s) for the specialty being sought.
If successful, the individual would become an active diplomate once again and must continue the certification renewal cycle based on the current exam timeframe. Letters of verification would be provided for the time periods that the individual was an active diplomate only.
EMERITUS DIPLOMATE: A diplomate may qualify for emeritus diplomate status once they retire from the field and are no longer actively engaged in clinical consultative services, patient care, overseeing laboratories or services, or any other role that requires board certification or medical licensure. Emeritus diplomates may participate in professional activities that do not require board certification. The individual must have been an active ABCC diplomate for at least 10 years and in good standing. Good standing is defined as an individual in active status with no outstanding or pending fees, continuing education documentation, or disciplinary action from the ABCC.
To request emeritus status, an individual must submit a “Request for Emeritus Status” in writing to ABCC Administration. The request must include an attestation of retirement from the field.
Emeritus diplomates are exempt from certification renewal requirements (i.e., they are not required to submit CE documentation or pay a processing fee every two years). Emeritus diplomates may not serve on the board of directors and may not be eligible to serve roles that require ABCC certification. However, emeritus diplomates are eligible to participate in ABCC activities and will continue to receive ABCC communications. Emeritus members will be listed under the emeritus diplomate section of the site. Any requests for letter of verification will state the dates of active diplomate status and dates of the start of emeritus diplomate state. Emeritus member may continue to designate their diplomate status by including a subscripted “EM” to the end of the ABCC certification (e.g., DABCC (CC)EM; DABCC (CC, TC)EM; or DABCC (CC, TC, MD)EM).
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall consist of not fewer than 9 or more than 25 persons.
Elected members must be Diplomates of the Board in good standing and listed in the directory of active Diplomates. The term of office for Directors and Officers shall be six (6) years.
Officers
The officers of ABCC and of its Board of Directors shall be a President, three (3) Vice-Presidents and a Secretary-Treasurer. 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.