What Is an ABO Board-Certified Orthodontist?

Every orthodontist who treats patients in the United States has already graduated from an accredited orthodontic residency and holds a state dental license. Board certification is a separate, voluntary step taken on top of that foundation. When an orthodontist becomes an ABO Diplomate, they have passed additional written and clinical examinations administered by the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO), the specialty board that dentistry established in 1929. This page walks you through what the certification requires, how it differs from being board eligible, and which questions help you confirm a doctor’s status.

What board certification actually means

The ABO describes certification as a voluntary credential that reflects an orthodontist’s commitment to the standards of specialty practice and to ongoing learning. It is not a license to practice, and it is not a requirement to open an office. Instead, it is a way for an orthodontist to demonstrate, through outside review, that their finished treatment results meet a defined standard. A doctor who chooses this path submits completed cases to peers who judge the work against objective criteria.

The path to becoming a Diplomate

An orthodontist earns the credential in three stages. First, they graduate from an orthodontic residency accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, which every orthodontist completes regardless of certification. Second, they pass the ABO Written Examination, a test of clinical knowledge across the specialty. Third, they pass the Clinical Examination by presenting completed, treated cases that examiners score against published standards for how teeth, bite, and jaw relationships should finish.

The credential is time limited. Diplomates renew certification periodically, roughly every ten years, by demonstrating continued competence. Because renewal is required, a current Diplomate has kept the credential active rather than earning it once and letting it lapse.

How it compares to board eligible

Patients often see the phrases “board certified” and “board eligible” and assume they mean the same thing. They do not. Board eligible means an orthodontist has finished residency and qualifies to sit for the exams but has not yet completed them. Board certified means the doctor finished the entire process and holds current Diplomate status. Both doctors are fully licensed and fully qualified to treat you. Certification is the more rigorous and demanding step.

Choosing a board-eligible orthodontist is a reasonable decision. Many excellent doctors are early in their careers or simply have not pursued the voluntary exams. The distinction tells you about a credential, not about whether a doctor can straighten your teeth well.

Why some patients look for it

• It shows a doctor volunteered to have finished results reviewed by outside examiners.
• It reflects a commitment to continued learning through periodic renewal.
• It gives you a verifiable, standardized way to compare credentials.
• It can add confidence for complex cases such as surgical or growth-related treatment.

Questions to ask

1. Are you a current ABO Diplomate, and when did you last renew your certification?
2. If you are board eligible rather than certified, are you working toward the exams?
3. Can I verify your status on the American Board of Orthodontics locator?