Common errors in preparing for and completing the American Board of Orthodontics clinical examination.

Attaining Board Certification should be a goal of every orthodontic resident, orthodontic educator, and practicing orthodontist. The Board Certification process requires commitment, persistence, firmness of purpose, and sacrifice. Procrastination is the first error along the way to becoming certified. There are many reasons in support of achieving Board Certification, but undoubtedly the most salient is the inner satisfaction of knowing that one has done his or her best. From a practical perspective, certification will become increasingly important in the eyes of the public we serve. As directors of the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO), we receive ample testimonies to the value of the certification process from newly certified and recertified orthodontists. Many of these diplomates reflect their gratitude for the assistance of the ABO staff throughout the process, the information on the ABO Web site, and the preparation courses provided by the College of Diplomates. The value of the examination as a self-evaluation and self-improvement tool is probably the most frequent comment the ABO receives each year. The 3 components of the ABO Clinical Examination are the Case Report Examination, the Case Report Oral Examination, and the Board Case Oral Examination. The Case Report Examination and the Case Report Oral Examination are the portions of the ABO Clinical