By Erik J. Stratman, MD*
In January 2026, the American Board of Dermatology (ABD) implemented its simplified and streamlined Continuing Certification Program. One change is that you no longer need to log your CME totals, Self-Assessment totals, and state licensure attestations within your Diplomate Dashboard.
Does this mean that the ABD no longer cares about your earning CME, self-assessments or unrestricted license? No! We absolutely do care! We just found a simpler way to collect the information.
As we evaluated our Continuing Certification Program, we concluded that CertLink provides an excellent opportunity for all diplomates to keep up to date on advances in our specialty. It provides access to important journal articles, and many questions serve to refresh knowledge. CertLink is all about continuing medical education and self-assessment that is relevant to certification.
You will also earn up to 15 (AMA Category 1) CME credits each year that you participate in CertLink. Because ABD CME credits are not enough to meet medical license requirements in most states, earning CME from other respected sources remains important. ABD encourages diplomates to participate in the many dermatology CME activities offered by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), local, state and regional dermatology societies, and dermatology specialty societies/organizations throughout the country. To simplify your Continuing Certification Program, you no longer need to report these additional CME credits to the ABD.
Saving you time and avoiding unnecessary steps has been a priority of the new Continuing Certification Program. Another way we have reduced your reporting burden is by establishing a data-sharing relationship with the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB). The FSMB now shares with us your official state license status, so you no longer need to attest separately. In rare cases where the FSMB is unable to verify your license, ABD staff will follow up with you individually. Often the problem is as simple as a misspelled name, or a delay of information getting from state medical boards to FSMB.
ABD’s focus is to offer you a high quality, efficient, affordable, relevant continuing certification experience. With our new 2026 Continuing Certification Program, designed with your input, we think we have done just that!
We appreciate the feedback we have received on the changes we’ve made to the Continuing Certification Program. Please keep your questions and suggestions coming. As we are able, we will respond to your insights.
Contact us by email or phone. Our Physician Experience Team (PET) will share your communications with the ABD Executive Team and respond to you as appropriate.
*About the Author
Dr. Stratman is the ABD’s Associate Executive Director for Continuous Program Improvement and Research. He also practices dermatology for the Marshfield Clinic - Sanford Health in Marshfield, WI. He is system-wide chairman of Dermatology, Dermatology Residency Program Director, and System Medical Director of Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Certification. He is a clinical professor in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. He is certified in general dermatology and in micrographic dermatologic surgery (MDS) and participates in ABD’s Continuing Certification Program.
With your simplified Continuing Certification Program, you no longer need to report CME credits to the ABD. Because ABD CME credits are not enough to meet medical license requirements in most states, earning CME from other respected sources remains important.
