Recertification

CBNC's certification is for a period of ten years, before the end of which diplomates must recertify in order to maintain their certification status. CBNC's recertification process allows candidates to sit for the recertification examination in years eight, nine and ten of their certification period. Candidates are permitted three opportunities to pass the recertification exam within their eligibility period without losing their certification status. For example, if a physician obtained initial certification in 2001, he or she may take the exam in 2009 (the first year of admissibility), 2010 and/or 2011.

Should a Diplomate not successfully sit or does not take the recertification examination prior to the expiration of his/her certification period, his/her certification will lapse and his/her certification will be published as expired. However, individuals in this situation may apply to sit for the recertification examination by meeting the recertification requirements for up to 5 years following the lapse of his/her certification. There will be no back-dating of one's certification; there will simply be a gap between certifications.

Regardless of when the physician recertifies within the valid certification period, his or her certification will remain valid for ten years from the expiration of the original certification date, or most recent recertification date. For example, if certification expires December 31, 2009 and the physician recertifies in 2008, the new certification would still be valid through December 31, 2019.

The recertification examination differs from the certification examination in that it will be approximately two-thirds length of the certification exam. With two exceptions, the content areas will remain the same, incorporating the same percentage mix and difficulty levels as in the certification exam. The modifications to content are that the areas of Instrumentation and Physics and Radiation Safety, each comprising ten percent of the questions in the regular certification exam, will constitute five and fifteen percent of the total in the recertification examination respectively.

See this year's recertification eligibility requirements and application.