Steps of the Certification Process

A graduate of an accredited pediatric dentistry program can become board certified through the voluntary examination process that involves four (4) phases:

  • Phase I: Validation of Credentials
  • Phase II: Qualifying Written Examination (QWE)
  • Phase III: Case Presentation Examinations (CPE)
  • Phase IV: Clinical Oral Review Examination (CORE)

Upon completing Phase I Validation of Credentials, an applicant has two (2) years to initiate Phase II Qualifying Written Examination of the certification process. After completing Phase I, an applicant will be referred to as Candidate.

The Candidate must take Phase II, III and IV consecutively. The Qualifying Written Examination (QWE) must be successfully taken prior to the Case Presentation Examination (CPE). The Case Presentation Examination must be taken prior to the Clinical Oral Review Examination (CORE).

An applicant must take the Phase II Qualifying Written Examination within 2 years of passing Phase I Validation of Credentials of the certification process. Upon sitting for the Qualifying Written Examination a candidate has six (6) years from the date of taking his first Qualifying Written Examination to complete the certification process.

The Candidate has the maximum of 8 years to complete the diplomate process from the initial application to Phase I Validation of Credentials. The Candidate has six years from the date of the first examination (Phase II QWE) to successfully complete Phase II, Phase III and Phase IV examination and thereby achieve Board Certification. Failure to achieve Board Certification within the six (6) year period will necessitate reinitiating the complete examination process (from Phase I to Phase IV).

Phase I – Validation of Credentials

  1. The applicant should be educationally qualified to apply for the Certification Process. Please refer to Requirements of the PBPD website.
  2. He shall request for the Phase I application form and list of required documents from the PBPD Secretariat via email (philboardofpediatricdentistry@gmail.com).
  3. He shall submit completed forms and documents electronically and thumb drive with the corresponding application fee for Verification of Credentials to the Secretariat on or before August 15. Please note that only the completed Verification of Program Completion from your Program should be submitted in a sealed envelope direct from the institution of training via mail or courier on or before August 15. Incomplete documents shall not be processed and will be returned to the applicant without refund of the application fee.
  4. The Secretariat shall inform the applicant if he has successfully passed the Phase I Validation of Credentials and is eligible to take Phase II Qualifying Written Examination 30 working days upon receipt of completed documents. He should await for the letter informing that he has passed Phase I Validation of Credentials and is eligible for Phase II Qualifying Written Examination before applying for the Phase II Qualifying Written Examination.
  5. The applicant is not considered to be in the certification process until he has passed the Phase II Qualifying Written Examination.
  6. Upon completing Phase I Validation of Credentials, an applicant has 2 years to initiate Phase II Qualifying Written Examination of the examination process.

Phase II – Qualifying Written Examination (QWE)

The Qualifying Written Examination is intended to assess the applicant’s understanding of the scientific and biological principles that support the practice of pediatric dentistry as well as current literature related thereto. The successful applicant must demonstrate a well-rounded in-depth knowledge of pediatric dentistry.

  1. The applicant shall fill out and submit the Phase II Qualifying Written Examination Application Form and corresponding proof of payment to the Secretariat.
  2. Applications must be received on or before November 15 for the Qualifying Written Examination scheduled every third Monday of February of the following year.
  3. The Secretariat shall inform the applicant of the date of Phase II Qualifying Written Examination 30 working days after receipt of the QWE form.
  4. The applicant will sit for Qualifying Written Examination day from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on the designated exam date and venue to be announced.
  5. Result of the QWE shall be released 30 days after the examination date. The applicant will be informed by registered mail of the results of Phase II and if they are eligible to apply for Phase III Case Presentation Examination.

Phase III – Case Presentation (CP)

The purpose of the Phase III Case Presentation Examination is to assess the candidate's treatment planning ability and knowledge of various aspects of treatment. Comprehensive patient care must be documented.

  1. The Candidate shall fill out and submit the Phase III Case Presentation Application Form and corresponding proof of payment to the Secretariat.
  2. All applications must be received on or before April 15 to be considered for the submission of the Case Presentation on June 15 of the same year.
  3. Digital copy sent via email and thumb drive of the completed Case Presentation Examination cases must be submitted to the PBPD Secretariat email on or before June 15.
  4. Results will be released 30 working days after the submission of the case presentation examination folders. The candidate will be informed by registered mail of the results of Phase III and if they are eligible to apply for Phase IV Case and Oral Review Examination.

Phase IV – Case and Oral Review Examination (CORE)

The Clinical Oral Review Examination shall determine the Candidate’s high standard of diagnosis, treatment planning, and quality of care in selected cases.

  1. The Candidate shall fill out and submit the Phase IV Case and Oral Review Application Form and corresponding proof of payment to the Secretariat.
  2. All applications must be received by August 15 for the CORE scheduled on the 3 Monday of November. The Secretariat will inform the Candidate the date of the Phase II – Qualifying Written Examination after 30 working days.
  3. The candidate will sit for the Case and Oral Review Examination at the date, time and venue to be announced.
  4. Results will be released 30 working days after the exam is given. The candidate will be informed by registered mail of the results of Phase IV Case and Oral Review Examination.

After successful completion of all four (4) phases of the certification process, board certification has been achieved. The Candidate will be awarded by the Philippine Board of Pediatric Dentistry a ten-year time-limited Certificate of Diplomate of the Philippine Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Their status also changes from Candidate to Diplomate. The diplomate status is then kept active by annually submitting documents and payment of annual dues until the end of the 10 year cycle.

Renewal of Certification Examination (ROCE)

Renewal of Certification Process (ROCP) is a four-part renewal of certification process every 10 years that assures the public of a Diplomates’ competency in the specialty of Pediatric Dentistry.

ROCP is a continuous, rolling process-documenting achievement in four critical areas of Pediatric Dentistry. Completion of the four areas is required of all Diplomates

  • Part 1: Professional Standing (Your unrestricted license to practice dentistry and the credentials survey)
  • Part 2: A commitment to lifelong learning, continuing scholarship and improvement (Your dentistry knowledge is current because you engage in self-assessment and learning activities, e.g. Continuing Education)
  • Part 3: Cognitive expertise measured by examination - (ROC examination)
  • Part 4: Satisfactory performance in practice/continuous quality improvement (Your active involvement in measuring and improving the quality of patient care)
  1. Check the schedule of the Renewal of Certification Examination for the year.
  2. Request for the ROCE application form from the Secretariat.
  3. Submit ROCE application form and corresponding fee to the Secretariat.
  4. All applications must be received on or before November 1 to be considered for the next Renewal of Certification Examination in Feb of the next year.
  5. After 10 working days, a letter will be sent with the date of the ROCE.
  6. Sit for the ROCE and results will be released 30 days after the exam is given. A letter will be sent that you have passed ROCE.

Maintaining Candidate Status

  1. To maintain Candidate status, you have to annually file an Annual Credentials Survey – Candidates and pay the maintenance fee to the Secretariat by November 30 of the calendar year.
  2. Failure to pay the fee results in loss of Candidate status. Candidate status can be regained by completion of reactivation application and payment of delinquent fees.
  3. The Candidate is given 6 years to complete the Certification Process from the time he/she takes the Qualifying Written Examination.
  4. The Candidate is not considered a Diplomate until he/she has finished all the phases of the Certification Process.

Maintaining Diplomate Status

  1. To maintain Diplomate status, Diplomates must complete the Annual Diplomate Renewal Process. It includes filing the Annual Credentials Survey – Diplomate, submit Continuing Education seminars attended complete the CQI module and pay the Diplomate maintenance fee with proof of payment emailed to the Secretariat by November 30 every year.
  2. Diplomates will be notified by the PBPD secretariat only during their ninth year that they must complete the ROC prior to the termination of their ten-year, time-limited certificate.