When to Apply
Eligible candidates will be invited to register for the APPLIED Exam in April of each year. Those who have passed the 4 CORE Exam modules and have completed training by July 1 are eligible to sit for the APPLIED Exam in July.
General Qualifications
To sit for the APPLIED Exam, a candidate must:
• Graduate from a medical school in the United States accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), an accredited medical school in Canada, an accredited osteopathic school in the United States, or if a graduate of a foreign medical school, must possess the standard certificate of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
• Complete an accredited dermatology residency.
• Pass all four CORE Exam modules.
• Hold a currently valid, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or osteopathy in a state or jurisdiction of the United States or Canada, or provide evidence of an application in-progress for a medical license.
• Have a final evaluation submitted showing the program director's attestation of their qualifications for certification.
Special Circumstances
Extended Training
If a resident has an extended training period ending by October 1 (ex: those who exceed the limits outlined in the Leave of Absence Policy, or who undergo remediation) then the Program Director may submit a letter requesting approval for the resident to sit for the APPLIED Exam. The letter must indicate the training period's anticipated completion date. The resident will not receive exam results or a certificate until the program director completes the annual evaluation at the conclusion of the extended training period.
Special Accommodations
Candidates seeking extra time, nursing mother accommodations or other assistance during the APPLIED Exam administration may submit an Application for Special Accommodations.
License Exceptions
Residents entering an ACGME-accredited fellowship program are not required to provide proof of licensure before taking the APPLIED Examination. However, they will not be considered certified until they have a full and unrestricted license – and must be certified in general dermatology before taking the subspecialty certification exam after fellowship.