Evolving standards in orthodontic certification: The American Board of Orthodontics role in defining competency, advancing the specialty, and serving the public.

As a credentialing organization, the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) has the responsibility to continually evaluate and refine its format and structure to ensure that they remain relevant to its stakeholders, including examination candidates, current board-certified orthodontists, and the general public. This article describes how the ABO's current credentialing process has evolved to align with contemporary credentialing trends, particularly within the broader healthcare field. Furthermore, the ABO explains its role regarding the concepts of standardization, curriculum validation, public protection, certification, and licensure. This article highlights the ABO's collaborative efforts with orthodontic educators and residency programs to develop fair, defensible, and evidence-based examination criteria. Examination development, psychometric analyses, and operational demands are outlined, along with future considerations and options to provide increased value during the certification renewal process.