IC RO Conditions / Reregistration

Conditions and Reregistration

Conditions

Computer-Based Examination

You are first eligible to take the Physics and Cancer Biology portions of the written exam after 36 months of training in radiation oncology. The Clinical examination may not be taken until after 48 months of training.

If you sit for multiple portions (Physics, Cancer Biology, Clinical) of the computer-based exam and neither pass all nor fail all of the portions you’ve selected to examine, you are considered to have “conditioned” that exam.

If you condition the computer-based exam, you are eligible to retake the examination during the next exam offering. (See exam dates for latest information)

Oral Examination

Failures
For the oral exam, if you fail three or more categories, you have failed the entire examination. A candidate who fails the oral examination may be reexamined on the next year's scheduled dates.

Conditions
If you fail one or two categories, you are considered to have "conditioned" the exam. A conditioned candidate will be examined by two examiners in each conditioned category on the next year's scheduled dates. The candidate must receive passing scores from both of these examiners to remove the condition.

Reapplications for Radiation Oncology (RO) Exams

As part of our efforts to improve the certification process, the ABR has replaced the three “opportunities” for examination participation per application with time limits for board eligibility. This gives candidates more flexibility in managing their examination process.  

According to the ABR’s Board Eligibility Policy, enacted in 2012, candidate applications no longer will expire because of a limited number of opportunities to take exams. Instead, candidates may continue the certification process throughout their board eligibility period.

Beginning July 1, 2013, all RO candidates out of training will be charged an annual administrative fee ($610 in 2013) to continue participating in the certification process.* Assuming no outstanding fees are owed, one initial certifying examination may be attempted every year at no additional charge. If a second initial certification examination is taken in the same calendar year, a $750 examination fee will be charged. Individuals may continue to participate in the certification process until their board eligibility period terminates. All RO candidates will be invoiced annually until certification is obtained or until board eligibility expires, whichever occurs first.

For RO, the termination dates for board eligibility status are listed in the table below.

Please be aware that all initial certification fees, including but not limited to outstanding annual fees, late fees, and  additional examination fees, must be paid in full before registering and participating in any ABR initial certification examination.

*Candidates who have not attempted both written and oral exams and have exam attempts left on their current application will be given a waiver for the upcoming annual fee.  Affected candidates will receive individual notices of fee waiver(s) as applicable.

*Please note, to continue the certification process, we require all candidates to sign the Candidate and Diplomate Agreement by logging into their accounts at www.abronline.org.

Download the Reregistration Form in .pdf format  (Not needed if your application is currently active and you have signed the Candidate and Diplomate Agreement at www.abronline.org.)

Re-registration forms will be accepted for those whose applications expired without attaining certification. As a result of the policy for board eligibility, adopted in 2012, candidates who successfully re-register (as well as those currently in the certification process) will have any previously passed Physics or Cancer Biology exams credited towards their current certification process. For example, if you previously passed both the Physics and Cancer Biology examinations, you would be eligible to take the Clinical Examination upon return to board eligibility.

Anyone who does reapply to continue the certification process during their board eligibility period may submit the re-registration at any time. However, for a candidate to be considered for an exam in any given year, the re-registration form must be submitted to the ABR at least six months before the date of the examination to allow sufficient time for processing and exam planning.