An orthodontist is a licensed dentist who has completed an accredited graduate program in the specialty of orthodontics. Orthodontic specialists who limit their practice to Orthodontics are eligible to become board certified through the voluntary examination process of The Philippine Board of Orthodontics (PBO). The conferment of a diplomate status to an orthodontist certifies that the practitioner is practicing within the stringent standards set by the orthodontic community worldwide as mandated by the World Federation of Orthodontists.

The certification process involves 4 phases:

PHASE I: INTERVIEW AND DEXTERITY SKILL EXAMINATION

  1. Applicant should submit the following to the Examination Committee Secretary via email (pbo.examcom@gmail.com)
  • Application form (available online)
  • Application fee proof of payment (please contact the PBO Examination Committee Secretary for bank details) *please note that the application fee is non-refundable*
  • College Diploma/Dental degree certificate
  • PRC Certificate (for local applicants)
  • Certificate of Proficiency in Orthodontics from a university-based full time program (2-3 years)

*Graduating students who expect to be conferred the Certificate of Proficiency in Orthodontics may submit their Transcript of Records for determination of eligibility to undergo the Phase I examination.

  • Signed Agreement to Rules of Examination document (to be emailed to the applicant by the PBO Examination Committee Secretary)

**Hard copies of the above documents must also be given to the Examination Committee Secretary.

2. Graduates and graduating students of accredited university-based programs, both local and international, are exempted from taking the Phase I examination and may proceed to Phase II Written Examination. (Graduates of the American Association of Orthodontists accredited programs may proceed to Phase 2. You may find the AAO list in the AAO website. For graduates of other international orthodontic programs, you may send your inquiries to the Exam Committee Secretary at pbo.examcom@gmail.com.

3. Graduates of non-accredited university-based programs must undergo the interview and dexterity skill examination.

4. Foreign students/graduates are welcome to take the Phase I examination upon submission of the documents above for self-assessment.

*For further clarification, kindly contact the PBO Examination Committee Secretary at pbo.examcom@gmail.com.

PHASE II: WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS

  1. For those who passed Phase I, the applicant should submit the following via email (pbo.examcom@gmail.com) to the PBO Examination Committee Secretary:
  • Application form (available online)
  • Application fee proof of payment (please contact the PBO Examination Committee Secretary for bank details) *please note that the application fee is non-refundable*
  1. For those who were exempted from Phase I, the applicant should submit the following via email (pbo.examcom@gmail.com) to the PBO Secretary or the Examination Committee Secretary:
  • Application form (available online)
  • Application fee proof of payment (please contact the PBO Examination Committee Secretary for bank details) *please note that the application fee is non-refundable*
  • College Diploma/Dental degree certificate
  • PRC Certificate (for local applicants)
  • Certificate of Proficiency in Orthodontics from a university-based full time program (2-3 years)

*Graduating students who expect to be conferred the Certificate of Proficiency in Orthodontics may submit their Transcript of Records for determination of eligibility to undergo the Phase II examination.

*Graduating students who have completed eighteen months (for two year programs) or thirty months (for three year programs) of their program at the time of examination may submit their Transcript of Records for determination of eligibility to undergo the Phase II examination.

  • Signed Agreement to Rules of Examination document (to be emailed to the applicant by the PBO Secretary or Examination Committee Secretary)

** Hard copies of the above documents must also be given to the Examination Committee Secretary.

  1. Graduates of AAO accredited orthodontic programs, who have successfully passed the American Board of Orthodontics written examinations, are exempted from taking Phase 2 and may proceed to Phase 3 Clinical Examinations.
  2. Foreign students/graduates are welcome to take the Phase II examination upon submission of the documents above for self-assessment.
  3. Phase II is an examination designed to cover all aspects of orthodontics and the allied basic sciences.

*Upon satisfactory completion of the Phase II examination, the name of the candidate shall be forwarded to the Association of Philippine Orthodontists (APO). The candidate, then, has the privilege to apply for membership to the APO as an Associate Member. This does not apply to foreign candidates.

PHASE III: CLINICAL EXAMINATION

  1. Satisfactory completion of Phase II Examination.
  2. Applicant should submit the following via email (pbo.examcom@gmail.com) to the PBO Examination Committee Secretary:
  • Application form (available online)
  • Application fee proof of payment (please contact the PBO Examination Committee Secretary for bank details) *please note that the application fee is non-refundable*
  • Signed Agreement to Rules of Examination document (to be emailed to the applicant by the PBO Examination Committee Secretary)
  1. A minimum of 5 clinical case reports of treatment rendered by the examinee adhering to guidelines set by the PBO will be submitted on a designated examination date for evaluation.
  2. Phase III examination is a two-part examination:
    a. Evaluation of the cases for presentation
    b. Oral examinations to assess the candidate’s treatment planning ability and knowledge of various aspects of treatment particularly on the cases presented by the candidate and on cases presented by the PBO.

• Upon successful completion of the Phase III Examinations, the name of the candidate shall be forwarded to the Association of Philippine Orthodontists for recommendation for elevation to the status of Active Member, subject to other requirements set by the APO.

PHASE IV: CLINICAL EXAMINATION

  1. Must be in EXCLUSIVE Practice of Orthodontics and a Fellow of APO.
  2. Satisfactory completion of Phase III.
  3. Applicant should submit the following to the PBO Examination Committee Secretary via email (pbo.examcom@gmail.com):
  • Application form (available online)
  • Application fee proof of payment (please contact the PBO Examination Committee Secretary for bank details) *please note that the application fee is non-refundable*
  • Signed Agreement to Rules of Examination document (to be emailed to the applicant by the PBO Examination Committee Secretary)
  1. Clinical Case Reports: A minimum of 6 special (based on the discrepancy index provided by PBO) case reports of treatment rendered by the examinee will be submitted on a designated date for evaluation.
  2. Phase IV examination is a two-part examination:
    a. Evaluation of the cases for presentation
    b. Oral examinations to assess the candidate’s treatment planning ability and knowledge of various aspects of treatment particularly on the cases presented by the candidate and on cases presented by the PBO.

• After successfully passing Phase IV, a Fellow is conferred the title “Diplomate of the PBO (DPBO).”

• After successfully passing Phase IV, Associate, Affiliate and Active members are recommended for elevation, subject to all the requirements of the APO. They are then conferred the title “Diplomate of the PBO (DPBO)” after they have become Fellows.

** PORTIONS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN ADAPTED FROM THE SUGGESTED GUIDELINES OF THE World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO) AND THE AMERICAN BOARD OF ORTHODONTICS(ABO) FOR THE PURPOSE OF HAVING GLOBAL STANDARDS WITH REGARDS TO DIPLOMATE CERTIFICATION.

Examination Fees:

  • Phase 1 ~ P8,000
  • Phase 2 ~ P8,000
  • Phase 3 ~ P15,000
  • Phase 4 ~ P15,000

** For further clarification, kindly contact the PBO Secretary or Examination Committee Secretary.