Alternate Pathway to Subspecialty Certification

Requirements

A diplomate of the ABR may attain subspecialty certification in neuroradiology, nuclear radiology, or pediatric radiology without taking an accredited fellowship if the diplomate meets the following requirements:

• Served on the subspecialty faculty at a single institution with an ACGME- or RCPSC-accredited fellowship in the discipline for:
  • two consecutive years at 1.0 FTE, with at least 75 percent of clinical responsibility in the discipline,
  or
  • three consecutive years at 1.0 FTE, with at least 50 percent of clinical responsibility in the discipline.
  Note: Part-time diplomates working  ≥ 0.6 FTE are also eligible. Please contact an ABR certification manager at information@theabr.org for details.
  Note: To be eligible for nuclear radiology subspecialty certification via this pathway, the institution must have either an ACGME- or RCPSC-accredited nuclear medicine residency (fellowship), nuclear radiology fellowship, or an established 16-month ABR Pathway in Nuclear Radiology for its diagnostic radiology residency or integrated interventional radiology residency.

Certified in general radiology, diagnostic radiology, or interventional radiology/diagnostic radiology.

An application form must be submitted to the ABR before a decision can be made regarding a candidate's qualifications. The application window for this pathway is July 1 through September 30. Please check back here on July 1, 2025, for the 2026 exam application.

Exams

Candidates with approved applications are eligible for the initial certification computer-based subspecialty exam in the subspecialty for which they applied.

Recognition of Successful Candidates

Successful candidates are awarded a continuous ABR subspecialty certificate in the subspecialty certification for which they applied.