This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected by ABOPM through its website, certification and examination processes, applications, registrations, surveys, communications, events, and other related services or activities operated by or on behalf of ABOPM.

In some cases, additional agreements, notices, or participation terms may apply to a specific ABOPM activity. If those separate terms conflict with this Privacy Policy, the more specific terms will govern for that activity.

ABOPM collects personal information to identify individuals, evaluate eligibility, administer examinations and certification activities, communicate with participants, maintain records, improve services, and fulfill its responsibilities as a certifying organization.

ABOPM recognizes the sensitive nature of personal and professional information and is committed to using reasonable care to protect the confidentiality of the information entrusted to it.

Depending on how you interact with ABOPM, we may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide, including:

• Full name — used to identify you in ABOPM records and communications.
• Mailing address — used for correspondence, documentation, and billing-related needs.
• Email address — used to send notices, updates, confirmations, and responses to inquiries.
• Telephone number — used when direct communication is needed regarding your account or participation.
• Date of birth — used for identity verification and eligibility review where appropriate.
• Account login credentials — used to provide secure access to online systems, where applicable.
• Licensure and credentialing information — used to verify qualifications, standing, and eligibility.
• Education, training, and employment background — used to evaluate professional qualifications.
• Certification applications and supporting materials — used to process submissions and determine eligibility.
• Examination-related information — used to register candidates, administer testing, and maintain participation records.
• Program participation and continuing education records — used to monitor fulfillment of certification-related activities.
• Payment and billing information — used to process fees and maintain related financial records.
• Survey responses and feedback — used to improve programs, services, and user experience.
• Communications you send to us — used to respond to questions, support requests, and administrative matters.
• Any additional information you choose to provide — used for the purpose connected with your submission.

When you visit or interact with the ABOPM website, we may automatically collect certain technical and usage information, including:

• IP address — used for analytics, security monitoring, and fraud prevention.
• Browser type and version — used to improve site compatibility and user experience.
• Device type and operating system — used to understand how visitors access our website.
• Pages visited and time spent — used to assess which content is most useful and how users navigate the site.
• Date and time of access — used for analytics, auditing, and troubleshooting.
• Referring website or traffic source — used to understand how users find ABOPM online.
• Clickstream and navigation patterns — used to improve website performance and structure.
• Session and usage data — used to help maintain security, reliability, and functionality.

This information may be collected through cookies, analytics tools, log files, pixels, and similar technologies.

Yes. ABOPM may receive information from third parties when appropriate for certification, verification, operational support, or legal compliance, including:

• Training programs and educational institutions — to verify completion, participation, or eligibility information.
• Licensing and credentialing organizations — to confirm professional standing or qualifications.
• Continuing education providers — to validate course completion and participation records.
• Payment processors — to support secure financial transactions.
• Service providers and vendors — to support technology, communications, hosting, or administrative functions.
• Public databases and professional directories — to verify publicly available professional information.
• Business partners or collaborators — when involved in ABOPM program administration or related services.

ABOPM may use personal information for legitimate organizational, operational, and legal purposes, including:

• Evaluate eligibility — to determine whether an applicant qualifies for examinations, certification, recertification, or related programs.
• Administer examinations and certification activities — to manage registration, participation, review, scoring, and program completion.
• Maintain records and accounts — to create, update, and manage accurate participant files and internal systems.
• Communicate with participants — to send notices, reminders, updates, decisions, and support communications.
• Process applications and payments — to handle registrations, fees, billing, confirmations, and financial reconciliation.
• Verify identity and credentials — to confirm qualifications, licensure, training, and professional standing.
• Support certification verification — to provide public or third-party confirmation of certification status where appropriate.
• Deliver services and programs — to operate events, educational activities, and other ABOPM initiatives.
• Improve systems and user experience — to analyze site usage, performance, and feedback for service improvement.
• Prevent fraud and protect security — to detect, investigate, and respond to misuse, threats, or suspicious activity.
• Comply with legal, regulatory, and accreditation obligations — to meet requirements imposed by law, regulators, courts, or standards bodies.
• Conduct research and analysis — to evaluate performance, improve programs, and produce reports using aggregated or de-identified information where appropriate.

To identify and determine the qualifications of physicians and other participants seeking to sit for examinations or engage in certification-related activities, ABOPM may collect personal contact information, licensure information, professional background information, educational history, training history, supporting materials, and related records.

This information is used to identify the participant, review eligibility, administer certification activities, maintain records, and communicate about requirements and outcomes.

ABOPM may consider certain certification-related information to be public information where reasonably necessary for verification, transparency, credentialing, or public trust purposes, including:

• Participation status — whether an individual is currently participating in certain ABOPM certification processes.
• Stage of completion — whether components of a certification process have been completed.
• Certification status — whether an individual is certified, not certified, or has another status recognized by ABOPM.
• Certification history — prior or historical certification records where applicable.
• Verification information — information reasonably necessary for employers, payers, credentialing bodies, licensing boards, or similar entities to verify status.

ABOPM may publish or share such information on its website or with organizations that reasonably rely on certification verification.

Except as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy or required by law, ABOPM treats certain information as private or confidential, including:

• Individual examination scores — detailed performance results are not publicly disclosed.
• Non-public application materials — documents and materials submitted for review that are not intended for public release.
• Private communications — emails, requests, and correspondence sent directly to or from ABOPM.
• Confidential financial information — transaction or billing information collected in connection with fees or payments.

ABOPM may disclose aggregate or de-identified information for reporting, review, or research purposes in a manner that does not identify individuals.

Yes. ABOPM may use examination performance, participation records, and other available information for research, analytics, quality improvement, reporting, and organizational planning.

Whenever practical and appropriate, ABOPM will use aggregated, anonymized, or de-identified information for these purposes.

Yes. In limited situations, an individual may ask ABOPM to release information that would otherwise be treated as private or confidential.

Where ABOPM permits such disclosure, we may require a written authorization or waiver that clearly identifies the information to be released, the recipient, and the purpose of the disclosure.

ABOPM may disclose personal information in circumstances such as the following:

• To employees, contractors, consultants, or service providers — when they need the information to perform services or support ABOPM operations.
• To payment processors, website hosts, analytics providers, and technology vendors — when necessary to operate systems and services.
• To credentialing, accreditation, verification, or licensing entities — when reasonably related to certification, standing, or professional verification.
• To training programs or educational partners — when relevant to participation, oversight, or administration.
• To legal, regulatory, or administrative authorities — in response to court orders, subpoenas, lawful requests, or legal obligations.
• To protect rights, safety, or operations — when necessary to investigate misconduct, misrepresentation, rule violations, security issues, or threats.
• In connection with organizational changes — such as a merger, restructuring, financing, or transfer of assets.
• With your consent or at your direction — when you ask or authorize ABOPM to do so.

Where appropriate, ABOPM may notify the affected individual before complying with a compelled disclosure unless prohibited by law or legal process.

Yes. ABOPM may use cookies and similar technologies on its website to support site functionality, understand website usage, and improve user experience.

• Functionality cookies — help the website operate correctly and remember settings or preferences.
• Analytics tools — help ABOPM understand traffic patterns, page usage, and content performance.
• Performance technologies — help diagnose technical issues and improve site reliability.

You may be able to manage cookies through your browser or device settings. Disabling some cookies may affect how parts of the website function.

In connection with registrations, applications, examinations, fees, events, and related transactions, ABOPM may collect payment and billing information needed to process those transactions and maintain financial records.

ABOPM limits access to financial information to personnel, contractors, and service providers who need that information to conduct legitimate business functions such as payment processing, accounting, fraud prevention, or transaction administration.

ABOPM uses reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.

Even so, no method of internet transmission or electronic storage is completely secure, and ABOPM cannot guarantee absolute security.

ABOPM retains personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to provide services, administer certification activities, maintain records, comply with legal or regulatory obligations, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and protect ABOPM’s operational and legal interests.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the purpose for which it was collected.

If patient-related information is submitted to ABOPM, ABOPM expects that any protected health information or similar patient-identifiable information will be properly de-identified before submission unless ABOPM has expressly agreed in writing to receive such information under a valid legal framework.

The submitting party is responsible for ensuring that any information provided to ABOPM may lawfully be shared and, where required, has been properly de-identified.

If ABOPM receives individually identifiable protected health information that is subject to HIPAA or similar legal requirements, ABOPM will handle that information in accordance with applicable law and any governing written agreement, including a business associate agreement where required.

Depending on where you live and the laws that apply, you may have certain privacy rights regarding your personal information, including the right to:

• Request access — to know what personal information ABOPM maintains about you.
• Request correction — to ask ABOPM to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request deletion — to ask ABOPM to delete certain personal information, subject to legal or operational exceptions.
• Request restriction or object to certain processing — where applicable under law.
• Request portability — to obtain certain information in a transferable format where legally required.
• Withdraw consent — where processing is based on consent and withdrawal is permitted.

ABOPM may need to verify your identity before responding to a privacy request.

ABOPM is based in the United States. If you access ABOPM services from outside the United States or provide information from another country, your information may be transferred to, stored in, or processed in the United States or other jurisdictions where ABOPM or its service providers operate.

Where required by applicable law, ABOPM will take reasonable steps to protect personal information involved in cross-border transfers.

ABOPM’s website or communications may contain links to third-party websites, tools, or services. ABOPM is not responsible for the privacy, security, or content practices of third parties, and users should review the privacy policies of any external services they access.

ABOPM’s services are not directed to children, and ABOPM does not knowingly collect personal information from children in violation of applicable law. If you believe a child has submitted information to ABOPM improperly, please contact ABOPM so the matter can be reviewed and addressed.

Yes. ABOPM may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in law, operations, website practices, or services. When updates are made, ABOPM will post the revised version and update the “Last Updated” date shown on this page.

For questions about this Privacy Policy, requests relating to personal information, or other privacy-related inquiries, please contact ABOPM at: