One of the approved board certifications you can take to become qualified to be a high-complexity CLIA lab director is the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG).
There are currently three different certifications you can obtain, all of which will qualify you as a CLIA lab director. The certifications are Clinical Genetics and Genomics, Clinical Biochemical Genetics, and Laboratory Genetics and Genomics.
It is important to note that as of 2017, the ABMGG is no longer allowing new candidates to be solely certified in Clinical Cytogenetics and Genomics OR Clinical Molecular Genetics and Genomics. Both certifications are now merged into the Laboratory Genetics and Genomics certification. There are two additional subspecialties, Medical Biochemical Genetics, and Molecular Genetic Pathology, which can only be completed by those individuals who are already board certified.
In this guide, however, we will be focusing solely on the three board certifications that qualify an individual as a high-complexity CLIA lab director.
How to Apply
(Find the application portal here)
After completing your required fellowship training, your program director must verify successful completion of the training in order for you to receive “Active Candidate Status”. This will allow you to access the portal linked above and start your exam application. Requirements for the application are as follows:
- Select desired exam(s)
- List your demographic, degree, and contact information
- Training information
- See below for specific requirements
- Current Curriculum Vitae
- Prior Residency Documentation (MD Clinical Genetics and Genomics Applicants only)
– Completion of 12 months of ACGME residency training
– Letter from the director documenting completion of training
- Medical License (Clinical Genetics and Genomics and Medical Biochemical Genetics Subspeciality only)
- Official final transcript of doctoral degree
- Payment, due upon submission of the application
- Application for 1 Specialty- $750
- Application for 2 Specialties- $800
- Application for Re-examinees- $500
- General exam- $1000
- Specialty and Subspecialty exam- $1100
- Late fee- $400
Important note: Those who withdraw before the deadline will receive a refund of all fees minus a $250 administration processing fee. Candidates who withdraw after active candidate status has been granted will receive a refund of examination fees only. Those who withdraw after scheduling a testing appointment forfeit all fees.
- Endorsement Evaluation forms
- You must submit three names and corresponding email addresses of ABMGG or CCMG diplomates who have agreed to complete an online Endorsement Evaluation form. An email will be sent to these individuals for online submission.
- An attestation letter submitted by your program director confirming completion of training and meeting the requirements of certification.
Clinical Genetics and Genomics
(As stated by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics website Training Options | ABMGG)
- Earned an M.D. or D.O. degree or equivalent.
- Completion of 2 years of training in an ACGME-accredited medical genetics and genomics residency.
- Completion of a minimum of one year of training in an ACGME-accredited residency that includes at least 12 months of direct patient care.
Obtaining the above requirements imply that you possess the following abilities:
- Broad knowledge of medical genetics and genomics including heterogeneity, variability, and the natural history of genetic disorders.
- The ability to elicit and interpret individual and family, and to integrate clinical and genetic genomic information.
- Understanding the uses, limitations, interpretation, and significance of specialized laboratory and clinical procedures.
- Having expertise in genetic and mathematical principles to perform risk assessment.
- Skills in interviewing and counseling techniques.
Clinical Biochemical Genetics
(As stated by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics website Training Options | ABMGG)
- Earned an M.D. or D.O. degree/equivalent or hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in genetics, genomics, human genetics, or a related field within the biological sciences.
- Completion of training in an ABMGG or ACGME-accredited, 2-year laboratory genetics postdoctoral training program in one of the clinical laboratory specialties
Obtaining the above requirements imply that you possess the following abilities:
- The ability to supervise and direct operations of a clinical biochemical genetics diagnostic laboratory. This includes technical expertise and knowledge in quality control and quality assessment procedures.
- Broad knowledge of basic biochemistry and genetics. Knowledge of the application of biochemical techniques to aid in the diagnosis and management of genetic diseases. Additionally, knowledge of the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and management of human inherited biochemical disorders.
- An understanding of the heterogeneity, variability, and natural history of biochemical genetic disorders.
- Diagnostic and interpretive skills in a wide range of biochemical genetic problems.
- The ability to communicate biochemical laboratory results to medical genetics professionals, other clinicians, and directly to patients.
Laboratory Genetics and Genomics
(As stated by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics website Training Options | ABMGG)
- Earned an M.D. or D.O. degree/equivalent or hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in genetics, genomics, human genetics, or a related field within the biological sciences.
- Completion of training in an ABMGG or ACGME-accredited, 2-year laboratory genetics postdoctoral training program in one of the clinical laboratory specialties
Obtaining the above requirements imply that you possess the following abilities:
- Be able to supervise and direct the operations of a clinical molecular genetics or clinical cytogenetics diagnostic laboratory.
- Understanding the etiology, heterogeneity, variability, natural history, and clinical management of disorders with a cytogenetic or molecular basis
- Understanding basic molecular biology, chromosome biology, and genomic mechanisms of disease.
- Be able to select and apply the most appropriate technologies, including karyotype, FISH, microarrays, and next-generation DNA sequencing methodologies, to diagnose human disease.
- Be able to guide the development and validation of appropriate assays used in the evaluation of disorders with a chromosomal or molecular basis.
- Interpret a broad range of genetic diagnostic tests, including methodologies that assess for chromosomal aneuploidies, structural chromosome rearrangements, genomic copy number variants (CNVs), single nucleotide variants (SNVs), structural changes within single genes, and absence or loss of heterozygosity (AOH/LOH).
- Analyze various tissue types such as tumors, cell-free DNA, bone marrow, fibroblasts, and saliva.
- Integrate clinical data into an individualized interpretation of laboratory results
- Be able to communicate cytogenetic and molecular genetic laboratory results directly to patients.
How to Prepare for the ABMGG Exam
After your application has been approved, you will receive an email from the ABMGG granting Active Candidate Status. Three months prior to the exam, you will receive another email with instructions on how to schedule your exam. You will need to schedule your exam through Pearson VUE by either calling 1-800-507-7744 or visiting home.pearsonvue.com. Once scheduled, you will receive an email confirmation with the exam date, time, and location.
The ABMGG has created content outlines and blueprints for each certification. These are the only approved study guides. Please note that you must take both the general examination and the specialty examination within the same testing cycle. Only one specialty can be completed per testing cycle, however. After becoming certified, if you wish to obtain certification in an additional specialty, you do not need to take the general examination again.
General Examination Blueprint- 2023 General Blueprint.pdf (abmgg.org)
Clinical Genetics and Genomics Blueprint- 2023 Clinical Blueprint.pdf (abmgg.org)
Medical/Clinical Biochemical Genetics Blueprint- 2023 Biochem Blueprint.pdf (abmgg.org)
Laboratory Genetics and Genomics 2023 LGG Blueprint.pdf (abmgg.org)
On exam day, arrive a minimum of 30 minutes prior to your exam start time. You will need to bring two forms of ID; one must be a government-issued ID with a signature and a picture, and the other form of ID must have your signature, at a minimum, but does not necessarily also need to have your picture on it. During the exam, all personal belongings will be stored in a locker that Pearson VUE will provide for you.
Scores and Certification
After completion of both exams, those who are successful will receive their certificate within three months of the scores being released. This will become public information and will be listed in the official ABMS Directory of Board-Certified Medical Specialists and other publications. You will maintain your certificate as long as you actively participate and meet the requirements of the ABMGG Continuing Certification Program. Failure to maintain these requirements may result in the revocation of your certification.
Those who are not successful in passing the exam(s) have a six-year eligibility period to complete their board certification. There is a maximum of three certification examination attempts during this eligibility period. If you are still unsuccessful after the eligibility period, you must regain eligibility by reapplying for certification, and no portion of the examination will be carried over to any future examination cycle. If you are unsuccessful in one portion of the exam you must retake both parts in the next examination cycle.
Continuing Education
The ABMGG Continuing Certification Program is grouped into four parts designed to support the core competencies set by the ABMS. These activities are performed continuously within 3-year cycles; these four parts are linked below:
- Professionalism and Professional Standing
- Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment
- Assessment of Knowledge, judgment, and skills
- Improvement in Medical Practice
There is a continuing certification annual fee of $500 that must be submitted by May 31 of each year. Documentation of these activities’ completion must be submitted to ABMGG’s diplomate portal for credit. You can find a link to this portal here. If your certificate has expired, to become recertified you must take the secure exam and pay any penalty fees for reentry into the Continuing Certification Program.
Next steps
If you’ve successfully completed your ABMGG Certification Exam and are now seeking new career opportunities, Lighthouse would be happy to assist you! We have an extensive network of clients in need of lab directors to fill full- and part-time positions, including remote opportunities. Reach out to us at any time to schedule a free consultation with our Lab Director Services Team!