The American Board of Urology (ABU) notes that many senior Diplomates being 30 years post training and nearing retirement are choosing certificate expiration in lieu of undertaking the logistics of the practice log requirement and the burden of the knowledge assessment. Therefore to encourage certificate retention the ABU will offer the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) newly instituted Retired Status to support currency in urology among senior Diplomates and affirm their continued value to the ABU and the public.
Eligibility requirements for the Retired certificate designation include:
- Possession of an active certificate at the time of retirement.
- Unrestricted license in any jurisdiction at the time of retirement.
- Attestation to complete disengagement in patient care with no future plans to return to practice.
- Non-performance of any function for which Board certification is required.
Individuals who expired or forfeited their certificates since January 2015 and who met and continued to meet the above requirements may also apply for the Retired status designation.
Those Diplomates of the American Board of Urology who also possess Subspecialty Certification are eligible to apply for the new certificate status providing they retire in both the subspecialty and the general specialty.
There is no application or maintenance fee to achieve and retain Retired status.
A Diplomate with the Retired status will be listed publicly as Retired with the ABU and on the ABMS Certification Matters™ website.
If you are a retired urologist and would like to take advantage of this status, please complete the Diplomate Request for Retired Status and Attestation. Once received, an ABU team member will contact you to schedule a brief exit interview..
NOTE: If a Diplomate’s certificate has been converted to Retired Status and regaining active certification is desired, the Board will consider individual requests to re-enter on a case-by-case basis. The applicant may be required to undergo a professional competency and/or educational assessment in a program approved by the ABU. These evaluations will be performed at the expense of the candidate. Specific CME activity evaluations and other requirements may also be assigned at the expense of the candidate. If re-entry criteria are met and supported by the assessing program the applicant will be allowed to apply to take the exam (Qualifying Exam or the Knowledge Assessment Exam as determined on a case-by-case basis). In addition the applicant must complete all other outstanding CUC activities and may be required to submit a practice log. Approved re-entry applicants are expected to take either the Qualifying or Knowledge Assessment Exam the next time it is administered. Failure to do so requires a written excused absence from the ABU and only one such excused absence will be allowed. A re-entry fee of $ 1,500 will be assessed.
