Board Eligibility

Definition of Board Eligibility

The designation “Board Eligibility” is defined as that status granted by the AOA, registered through this Board, to candidates who:

  1. Have documented program complete status by the ACOS.
  2. Have met all the requirements for this designation as established by this Board.
  3. Have made application and have been accepted as a candidate by this Board.
  4. Are and remain a member in good standing of the AOA or the Canadian Osteopathic Association.

Registration of Board Eligibility

  1. After a resident enters the last three months of an AOA-approved residency training program, an application for board eligibility status will be completed and registered by this Board. Upon documentation of program complete status from the Specialty College, the Board will establish the date of registration as the date of completion of the training program.
  2. The Board, upon determination that the candidate is board eligible, shall notify the candidate in writing. The notice shall include a statement that the status is limited to a maximum of six (6) consecutive years.
  3. The board eligibility registration form will be sent to the candidate, requesting date and signature of the candidate indicating that the information on the form is correct.
  4. After completing the registration form, the candidate must return a signed copy of the form to the Board.
  5. The Board shall maintain a verified and permanent list of candidates determined to be board eligible and, on an annual basis, shall provide the Bureau with an up-to-date list of eligible candidates.
  6. Board eligibility status shall terminate on December 31st of the sixth year following the year eligibility was established.
  7. If a candidate does not initiate examination within the six (6) year period of board eligibility, the board eligible status will be automatically lost and so recorded by the AOA and the Board. Loss of board eligibility does not preclude application for or completion of the certification process. The Board shall, upon termination of board eligibility, notify the candidate in writing. The notice must include the reason(s) for loss of status. A copy of each notice must be filed with the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists. The candidate receiving such notice has the right to appeal to the Bureau.

NEW Board Eligibility Process Effective July 1, 2009 (candidates who began the certification process prior to July 1, 2009 will remain under the previously established B.E. policy).

  1. To achieve board eligibility, candidates must apply to the Board and meet the requirements set forth by the Board.
  2. A candidate for certification will have six (6) yeas to be board eligible and complete the certification process.
  3. At the end of the six years of board eligibility, if the candidate has not obtained final certification, the candidate must petition the Board to reenter the certification process. On being granted the ability to re-enter the certification process, the candidate must begin at the beginning of the certification process and must participate in the first available administration of the examination. The candidate will have two attempts to pass each step of the examination process. If unsuccessful on a given administration, the candidate must participate in the next available examination administration.
  4. After exhausting the above process the candidate is not eligible to continue the process.
  5. In order for a candidate to be eligible to re-enter the certification process, a candidate must re-petition the Board. The Board will establish criteria that must be per prior to granting reentry, approved by the Standards Review Committee of the BOS. Upon approval, the applicant will follow the same process as outlined in Paragraph 2, above. If the candidate is unsuccessful in this attempt, there will be no further opportunities to become certified.
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