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Case History Examination

There are important updates you should be aware of before preparing and submitting your portfolio for the May 2024 exam cycle. The information on this webpage will serve as a summary of the latest changes.  For a comprehensive guide to the case history examination process, as well as in-depth details on all the latest changes, please be certain to download the latest pdf version of the Case History Portfolio Examination Guidelines.  If you plan to challenge the exam it is crucial that you read this entire document and continue to use it as a reference as you prepare and submit your Portfolio.  

What is the update to the Case History Exam submission deadline and exam administration?
Beginning with the May 2024 exam cycle, portfolios will be evaluated only ONE TIME PER YEAR, with the submission deadline of May 1st each year.

Candidates will have access to the case history website to upload their portfolio at any time during the year. However, the recurring submission deadline will be at midnight, Central Time Zone, on May 1st. Any portfolio that has not been submitted in its entirety by the deadline will not be evaluated during that grading cycle.

A candidate’s period of eligibility to challenge the Case History Exam is six years.

What are the updated case requirements for my Portfolio?
Starting with the May 2024 exam cycle, the following are the five required cases for submission:

Case 1 - Nonsurgical Root Canal Treatment - Maxillary Molar
Case 2 - Nonsurgical Root Canal Treatment - Mandibular Molar
Case 3 - Nonsurgical Retreatment - Maxillary or Mandibular Molar
Case 4 – OTHER category
Case 5 - Periradicular Surgery - Maxillary or Mandibular Molar

It is extremely important that you carefully read the revised Case History Portfolio Examination Guidelines for updated requirements regarding the cases, including but not limited to, what will be acceptable for the new “Case 4 OTHER” category, and for all other components of your portfolio.

What are the updated requirements to the “First Review” portion of the exam?
The inclusion of a biopsy and an accompanying pathology report is now an absolute requirement for Case 5 – Periradicular Surgery. If Case 5 is submitted without this requirement, the portfolio will fail in “First-Review.”

What are additional updates that I should know about?
The following is a summary of the latest updates and new requirements.  Additional details and instruction regarding these important changes can be found in the Case History Portfolio Examination Guidelines.

  • Expansion of Case 4 to include molar and non-molar teeth; must include canal obturation and show sufficient complexity.
  • Completion date for Case 5 changed from suture removal to date of root-end resection, preparation, and filling.
  • New guidance for reporting pre-operative diagnostic test findings in a table format which should provide better consistency and clarity for examiners.
  • “Cover Sheet” and “List of Abbreviations” documents are optional; the length of each, if utilized, is limited to ONE page.
  • For each patient, ASA Classification is required for inclusion with the medical history.
  • The requirement for a one-year post-treatment evaluation remains for all five cases; this is consistent with the necessity to show acceptable outcomes associated with the treatment rendered.
    • Note: Prior versions of the Case History Guidelines indicated that an evaluation conducted within the 12th-month or later following case completion was acceptable. That will now only apply for cases completed prior to May 1, 2024.
    • The requirement for all cases completed after May 1, 2024, will be the evaluation must occur one year or later after case completion.
  • Clarification is provided regarding working length verification images. File, cone, or cone with sealer can be acceptable. If sealer is placed with the cone, ensuring the discernible extent of a cone in each canal is emphasized.

When will the case history website at www.amboardendo.org re-open so that I may register and submit my cases for the May 2024 exam cycle?
The registration and portfolio submission portion of the amboardendo.org website is currently under routine maintenance and should reopen by December 1, 2023.  However, candidates may visit the site to download the case history form, the Case History Portfolio Examination Guidelines, The Case History Exam Submission Instructions, and access other useful information.

Is there a limit to how many portfolios will be accepted per exam cycle?
Due to an ever-increasing number of portfolios submitted, the ABE may need to limit the number of submissions accepted for review in any given cycle. Any such limitation on submissions would be dynamic and based exclusively on available examiner resources. Any portfolio that meets the scheduled deadline that cannot be reviewed would be automatically held and reviewed the following cycle, with candidate notification by ABE staff. We recommend not waiting until the deadline to submit your portfolio because the sooner you submit your portfolio, the more likely you are to be included in the cycle for which you are submitting.

Where can I find instructional videos on registering for the Case History Exam and uploading my Case Portfolio?
A new library of videos are currently being developed to reflect the most recent updates to the exam and should be available by December 1, 2023. Please check back here for the link.

Who should I contact if I have additional questions?
If you have additional questions regarding the exam, please contact ABE staff at staff@amboardendo.org.