{"id":294,"date":"2022-03-22T17:49:31","date_gmt":"2022-03-22T17:49:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/?page_id=294"},"modified":"2025-06-09T15:09:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T15:09:14","slug":"subspecialty-certification","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/abpath.org\/subspecialty-certification\/","title":{"rendered":"Subspecialty Exam Descriptions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:29px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\">\n<div style=\"height:5px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iStock-1159844192-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iStock-1159844192-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iStock-1159844192-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iStock-1159844192-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iStock-1159844192-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/abpath.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iStock-1159844192-2048x1367.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><a href=\"..\/about-certification\/\">About Certification<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"..\/requirements\/\">Requirements for Certification<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/exam-preparation\/\">Exam Preparation<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><a href=\"..\/primary-certification\/\">Primary Exam Descriptions<\/a> <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/..\/exam-dates-deadlines-and-fees\/\">Exam Dates, Deadlines and Fees<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"..\/exam-blueprints\/\">Exam Blueprint and Daily Schedules<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/content-specifications-for-examinations\/\">Exam Content Specifications<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><a href=\"..\/subspecialty-certification\/\">Subspecialty Exam Descriptions<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"..\/exam-dates-deadlines-and-fees-subspecialty\/\">Exam Dates, Deadlines and Fees<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/exam-blueprints-and-daily-exam-schedules-ss\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Exam Blueprints and Daily Schedules<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/content-specifications-for-examinations\/\">Exam Content Specifications<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><a href=\"..\/focused-practice-designations\/\">Focused Practice Designations<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/abpath.org\/abp_boi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Booklet of Information<\/a><\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:15px\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Subspecialty Exam Descriptions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The ABPath uses criterion-referenced tests for its certification examinations.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Criterion-referenced tests (CRTs) are intended to measure how well a person has learned a specific body of knowledge and skills. On a CRT, the passing or &#8220;cut-off&#8221; score is determined in advance by a committee of experts in the field. The candidate\u2019s performance (i.e. mastery of the subject matter) is compared to the cut-off score and not to other test takers. Theoretically, all candidates could pass or fail depending on how they performed relative to the passing score. Driving tests are an example of CRTs, because the goal is to see whether the test taker is skilled enough to be granted a driver\u2019s license, not to see if one test taker is more skilled than another test taker. In contrast, norm-referenced tests (NRTs) compare test takers to each other. Scores are reported as a percentage rank with half scoring above and half below the mid-point. NRTs are designed to sort and rank students &#8220;on the curve,&#8221; not to see if they met a standard or criterion. The ABPath does NOT use NRTs for its certification examinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"..\/subspecialty-certification\/blood-banking-transfusion-medicine\/\">Blood Banking\/Transfusion Medicine<br><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"..\/chemical-pathology\/\">Chemical Pathology<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"..\/subspecialty-certification\/clinical-informatics\/\">Clinical Informatics<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(in cooperation with the American Board of Preventive Medicine)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"..\/subspecialty-certification\/cytopathology\/\">Cytopathology<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"..\/subspecialty-certification\/dermatopathology\/\">Dermatopathology<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(in cooperation with the American Board of Dermatology)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"..\/subspecialty-certification\/forensic-pathology\/\">Forensic Pathology<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"..\/subspecialty-certification\/hematopathology\/\">Hematopathology<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"..\/subspecialty-certification\/medical-microbiology\/\">Medical Microbiology<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"..\/subspecialty-certification\/molecular-genetic-pathology\/\">Molecular Genetic Pathology <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">(in cooperation with the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"..\/subspecialty-certification\/neuropathology\/\">Neuropathology<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"..\/subspecialty-certification\/pediatric-pathology\/\">Pediatric Pathology<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:34px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:57px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:43px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:49px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>About Certification Requirements for Certification Exam Preparation Primary Exam Descriptions Exam Dates, Deadlines and Fees Exam Blueprint and Daily Schedules Exam Content Specifications Subspecialty Exam Descriptions Exam Dates, Deadlines and Fees Exam Blueprints and Daily Schedules Exam Content Specifications Focused Practice Designations Booklet of Information&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-294","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - 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