Primary Certification in Obstetrics & Gynecology

The American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AOBOG) pathway to primary certification in Obstetrics & Gynecology has two examination components: the Obstetrics and Gynecology Primary Written Exam and the Obstetrics and Gynecology Oral Exam. After successful completion of the required components, AOBOG recommends certification to the American Osteopathic Association (AOA); the AOA must approve the award.

This guide covers initial primary certification. AOBOG administers subspecialty examinations separately, and Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC) is a separate certification-maintenance process. A passed ABOG Obstetrics and Gynecology Qualifying Exam may satisfy an alternative prerequisite for applying to the AOBOG oral examination; it does not replace that AOBOG examination.

For the oral examination, candidates explain history and physical assessment, including osteopathic diagnosis, workup and evaluation, expected outcomes, and benefits and risks of treatment options. The written examination is generally offered once yearly; the oral examination is offered in spring and fall. Check AOBOG’s current schedule for cycle-specific details.

AOBOG publishes percentage ranges for written content categories rather than fixed item counts. Representative topics below are drawn from its outline.

OMM/OPP appears in multiple written categories. AOBOG’s oral topic list includes general obstetrics and gynecology; gynecologic oncology; urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery; reproductive endocrinology and infertility; maternal-fetal medicine; and professionalism, communication skills, and lifelong learning. The oral page does not assign percentage weights to these domains.

Written examination: AOBOG lists graduates of COCA-accredited osteopathic medical schools or LCME-accredited medical schools in the United States or Canada, and permits candidates who have graduated from or are in the third or fourth year of an AOA-approved or ACGME-accredited OB-GYN residency. The page also describes an ECFMG route for graduates of medical schools outside the United States and Canada. Candidates applying during residency submit a program-director residency-status verification letter. AOBOG states that Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) is not a prerequisite for its primary certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Oral examination: Candidates must have confirmation that their AOA-approved or ACGME-accredited residency is complete; pass either the AOBOG Primary Written Exam or the ABOG Obstetrics and Gynecology Qualifying Exam; hold an active license to practice in the United States, its territories, or Canada; and meet the other listed education and AOA Code of Ethics requirements. The ABOG exam is an alternative prerequisite for applying to this AOBOG examination, not a substitute for the AOBOG oral exam.

Training and award requirements: Osteopathic physicians who completed allopathic residency training must obtain AOA recognition of that training. AOA board policy separately lists an active license in a U.S. state, commonwealth, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory for board certification. Because the AOBOG oral page also lists Canadian licensure for that examination stage, candidates with Canadian licensure should confirm the requirements for the certification award directly with AOBOG. AOA policy states that board eligibility ends on December 31 of the sixth year after specialty training is completed.

• Give the largest study share to Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine, then Gynecology, in line with their published written-exam ranges. Schedule review of the three smaller written categories as well.
• Revisit OMM/OPP across the clinical categories in which AOBOG includes it, rather than treating it only as a standalone topic.
• Use timed multiple-choice practice in blocks matching the published written structure: 75 questions in 80 minutes. Review errors against the outline categories to identify content areas for further study.
• For oral practice, explain a case aloud in an organized sequence: history and physical assessment, including osteopathic diagnosis; workup and evaluation; expected outcomes; and treatment options with their benefits and risks.
• Rotate oral practice across every published domain. When a scenario includes visual material, practice explaining how it informs your evaluation and discussion. Include professionalism, communication, protocols, electronic health records, patient safety, and drills in oral review.

Use AOBOG’s current exam-date listings and Applications and Payment information for the applicable cycle’s schedule, application instructions, fees, and deadlines. The linked schedule document is cycle-specific and notes that details may change; do not rely on dates from a past cycle. AOBOG states that the oral examination has a candidate cap and its application period may close when that cap is reached.

For written-exam accommodations, AOBOG instructs candidates to submit requests with the application and at least 45 days before the exam window. For the in-person oral exam, candidates must register before their assigned appointment, present current government-issued photo identification, and attend orientation. Check the current AOBOG instructions for the assigned location and session.

OCC is separate from initial certification. AOBOG lists active licensure, lifelong learning and continuing medical education, cognitive assessment, and practice-performance assessment among its maintenance components.