Preparing for American Board of Dermatology certification involves understanding the CORE and APPLIED exam requirements as well as studying dermatology. This page brings together free topic practice sets, worked explanations, and a study plan for candidates preparing for that pathway. Practice Test Geeks uses AI tools to write its content. These practice questions are our own, not real ABD exam questions; use them alongside the official exam outline and requirements.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (CORE Exam) | 4 modules, 75–100 items each, 2 hours per module[1] | American Board of Dermatology · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Exam fee (APPLIED Exam (International Pathway)) | $2,250 (CORE Exams $200)[2] | American Board of Dermatology · Oct 23, 2026 |
| Retake fee (APPLIED Exam) | Each attempt requires a new fee[3] | American Board of Dermatology · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Retake policy (APPLIED Exam) | Retakes allowed within 5-year eligibility; $500 cancellation charge[3] | American Board of Dermatology · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Renewal | Continuing Certification: CertLink + $150 annual fee[4] | American Board of Dermatology · Oct 23, 2026 |
| Delivery (APPLIED Exam) | Pearson VUE test centers[5] | American Board of Dermatology · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Delivery (CORE Exam) | Pearson test center or OnVUE online proctoring[6] | pearsonvue.com · Oct 24, 2026 |
| Eligibility (APPLIED Exam) | Pass all 4 CORE modules + complete residency; 5-year window[3] | American Board of Dermatology · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Next exam date (APPLIED Exam) | July 15, 2027[5] | American Board of Dermatology · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Registration opens (APPLIED Exam) | Invitations sent in April each year[8] | American Board of Dermatology · Oct 23, 2026 |
| Testing window (CORE Exam) | Feb 3–17, 2027 (winter administration)[7] | American Board of Dermatology · Oct 22, 2026 |
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.
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.
| Official content area | Weight | Practice on this site |
|---|---|---|
| Dermatopathology[9] | 15% | Dermatologist Certificate Dermatopathology... Practise connecting histologic findings with clinical presentation and distinguishing similar diagnoses. |
| Medical Dermatology[9] | 55% | Dermatologist Certificate Skin Disorders a... Practise using lesion appearance, distribution, and associated symptoms to choose a diagnosis and appropriate management. |
| Pediatric Dermatology[9] | 15% | Dermatologist Certificate Pediatric and Sp... Practise childhood eruptions, birthmarks, and skin findings that suggest systemic disease. |
| Surgical Dermatology[9] | 15% | Dermatologist Certificate Dermatological P... Practise selecting procedures and recognizing treatment indications, complications, and aftercare needs. |
Prepare for the Dermatologist Certificate exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
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.
Question: What is the pathognomonic skin finding of Kawasaki disease in children?
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.
Question: A port-wine stain (nevus flammeus) on the face in a V1 trigeminal distribution should prompt evaluation for which 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.
Question: Which vitamin, when severely deficient, causes pellagra with its classic triad of dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia?
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/).
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.
Candidates must pass all 4 CORE modules and complete residency before taking APPLIED. They have 5 years after completing residency to pass APPLIED and become board certified. Eligible candidates are invited to register in April each year. Consult the American Board of Dermatology's APPLIED Exam Requirements and General Exam Information pages for the official requirements.
CORE candidates may choose a Pearson test center or OnVUE online proctoring. APPLIED is delivered at Pearson VUE test centers. The online option therefore depends on which exam you are taking. Pearson's ABD page describes CORE delivery options, while the ABD APPLIED calendar entry specifies test-center delivery.
The listed CORE winter administration runs February 3–17, 2027, and the listed APPLIED Exam date is July 15, 2027. Eligible candidates receive APPLIED registration invitations in April each year. Use the corresponding American Board of Dermatology calendar entries and APPLIED Exam Requirements page to confirm the administration relevant to your preparation.
The supplied International Pathway fee is $2,250 for APPLIED; that pathway lists CORE Exams at $200. These figures should not be presented as fees for every pathway. Each APPLIED attempt requires a new payment, and reattempts must fall within the 5-year eligibility window. Written cancellation requests submitted 2 weeks before the exam receive a refund minus $500.
The supplied Continuing Certification information includes CertLink and a $150 annual fee, due by the end of each calendar year. These are continuing certification requirements rather than an APPLIED registration fee. Consult the American Board of Dermatology's Continuing Certification Requirements page for the official requirements.
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