Dermatologist Certificate Practice Test

Dermatologist Certificate Exam at a Glance

What the Dermatologist Certificate is and how it works

According to American Board of Dermatology, “It consists of four modules covering dermatology’s major clinical areas – medical, pediatric, surgical and dermatopathology. Each 2-hour module consists of 75-100 multiple-choice items.”^[1]

The American Board of Dermatology certification pathway includes CORE modules and the APPLIED Exam. To become eligible for APPLIED, candidates must pass all 4 CORE modules and complete residency. Candidates have 5 years after residency to pass APPLIED and become board certified. The ABD General Exam Information page is the official source for these eligibility and reattempt rules.

CORE covers medical dermatology, pediatric dermatology, surgical dermatology, and dermatopathology. Each module contains 75–100 multiple-choice items and allows 2 hours. Candidates may take CORE at a Pearson test center or through OnVUE online proctoring. APPLIED is administered at Pearson VUE test centers. Do not assume that CORE's online option also applies to APPLIED.

The supplied official facts do not specify a passing score, scoring method, or APPLIED question count and time limit. Consult the ABD's current exam information for those details; a practice-set result should not be treated as an official passing threshold.

Eligible candidates receive APPLIED registration invitations in April. Each APPLIED attempt requires a new fee. Written cancellation requests must be submitted 2 weeks before the exam for a refund minus $500. Check the ABD General Exam Information page before cancelling or arranging a reattempt within your eligibility window.

Dermatologist Certificate content outline and where to practise each area

The content areas below are copied from the official Dermatologist Certificate content outline published by American Board of Dermatology, with the share of the exam each area carries. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.

Worked examples: how to reason through Dermatologist Certificate questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: What is the pathognomonic skin finding of Kawasaki disease in children?

1. Polymorphous exanthem with desquamation of fingertips in the recovery phase
2. Vesicular eruption on palms and soles
3. Palpable purpura on the lower extremities
4. Target lesions on the trunk and extremities

Answer: A. Polymorphous exanthem with desquamation of fingertips in the recovery phase

Explanation:

A is the best available answer, but the stem needs correction: this finding is characteristic, not pathognomonic. Kawasaki disease can cause a polymorphous rash, followed by peeling around the fingertips during recovery. These findings support the diagnosis in the appropriate clinical context; they do not establish it alone. Vesicles on the palms and soles suggest an alternative such as hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Palpable purpura suggests a small-vessel vasculitis. Target lesions suggest erythema multiforme, although Kawasaki rashes can have overlapping appearances. Remember: interpret the rash alongside fever and other clinical findings, rather than treating peeling as diagnostic proof.

Example 2

Question: A port-wine stain (nevus flammeus) on the face in a V1 trigeminal distribution should prompt evaluation for which syndrome?

1. Sturge-Weber syndrome
2. Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome
3. PHACE syndrome
4. Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome

Answer: A. Sturge-Weber syndrome

Explanation:

A, Sturge-Weber syndrome, is correct. A facial port-wine stain involving the forehead or upper eyelid raises concern for associated brain and eye vascular abnormalities. The question uses V1 terminology, but forehead involvement is a more useful risk clue than a rigid trigeminal map. Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome is associated with limb vascular malformations and overgrowth. PHACE syndrome is associated with a large segmental infantile hemangioma rather than a port-wine stain. Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome is an overgrowth disorder, not the characteristic association here. Remember: distinguish the type and location of a vascular birthmark before choosing its syndrome association. The birthmark warrants evaluation; it does not establish the syndrome.

Example 3

Question: Which vitamin, when severely deficient, causes pellagra with its classic triad of dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia?

1. Niacin (B3)
2. Riboflavin (B2)
3. Pyridoxine (B6)
4. Thiamine (B1)

Answer: A. Niacin (B3)

Explanation:

A, niacin (B3), is correct. Severe niacin deficiency causes pellagra, linking photosensitive dermatitis with diarrhea and dementia. Inadequate tryptophan can also contribute because the body can use it to produce niacin. Riboflavin (B2) deficiency more typically causes changes such as angular cheilitis and glossitis. Pyridoxine (B6) deficiency can cause dermatitis and neurologic symptoms but is not the cause of classic pellagra. Thiamine (B1) deficiency is associated with beriberi and Wernicke encephalopathy. Remember: a skin finding alone may overlap across nutritional deficiencies; the accompanying gastrointestinal and cognitive symptoms make niacin the best answer here. See the [NIH niacin fact sheet](https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Niacin-HealthProfessional/).

How to use these practice tests

Start with the ABD's official content outline and identify whether you are preparing for CORE or APPLIED. Keep the relevant eligibility requirements, delivery arrangements, and registration information beside your study notes. Use the listed content weights to allocate attention, while giving extra review to topics where your reasoning is uncertain.

Try the General practice set to identify gaps. For each missed or guessed answer, record the clinical clue you overlooked, why your chosen option seemed plausible, and what distinguishes the correct answer. Check uncertain explanations against your study references before retaining them.

Choose a focused set that matches the gap: Dermatopathology and Histology, Dermatopharmacology and Topical Therapy, or Skin Cancer Pathology and Oncology. Explain your choice before revealing the answer, then revisit missed concepts in mixed practice. Before test day, confirm your arrangements through ABD and Pearson. Use practice results to direct review, not to predict certification.

Sources & last verified

1. American Board of Dermatology — number of questions (official source). “It consists of four modules covering dermatology’s major clinical areas – medical, pediatric, surgical and dermatopathology. Each 2-hour module consists of 75-100 multiple-choice items.” Verified Oct 22, 2026 · source checked Oct 18, 2026.
2. American Board of Dermatology — exam fee (official source). “The fee to take the CORE Exams is $200 and the APPLIED Exam fee is $2,250.” Verified Oct 23, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.
3. American Board of Dermatology — retake fee, retake policy, eligibility (official source). “The exam fee for the APPLIED and Subspecialty certification exams entitles the candidate to one attempt for the exam. Reattempts will require additional payments.” Verified Oct 22, 2026 · source checked Oct 18, 2026.
4. American Board of Dermatology — renewal (official source). “The $150 annual fee is due by the end of each calendar year.” Verified Oct 23, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.
5. American Board of Dermatology — delivery, next exam date (official source). “This exam will be administered at Pearson Testing Centers.” Verified Oct 22, 2026 · source checked Oct 22, 2026.
6. pearsonvue.com — delivery (official source). “Candidates have the option to take the CORE Exam in person at a Pearson test center or online with OnVUE” Verified Oct 24, 2026 · source checked Oct 24, 2026.
7. American Board of Dermatology — testing window (official source). “CORE Exam - 2027 Winter Administration (February 3 - 17)” Verified Oct 22, 2026 · source checked Oct 22, 2026.
8. American Board of Dermatology — registration opens (official source). “Eligible candidates will be invited to register for the APPLIED Exam in April of each year.” Verified Oct 23, 2026 · source checked Oct 23, 2026.
9. American Board of Dermatology — other (official source). “dermatopathology 15%” Verified Oct 26, 2026.

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