About ABGC

ABGC is a not for profit organization incorporated in 1993. It is led by a ten member Board of Directors comprised of certified genetic counselors elected to a five year term. ABGC Diplomates elect the Board of Directors and also support the activities of ABGC by volunteering in many different capacities such as item writers, site visitors, and as ad hoc committee members.

Currently there are 3,026 ABGC Certified Genetic Counselors

There are 33 ABGC Accredited Graduate Programs in genetic counseling - 30 in the United States and 3 in Canada.

Mission Statement

The American Board of Genetic Counseling establishes standards of competence through accreditation of graduate training programs and certification and recertification of genetic counselors to advance the profession and protect the public.

Vision Statement

ABGC will establish standards of competence to protect the public and promote the ongoing growth and development of practitioners in the Genetic Counseling Profession.

Value of Credentialing

Credentialing is the process by which a qualified, recognized body grants formal recognition to those who have met predetermined standards and criteria. For genetic counselors, ABGC credentialing process establishes quality standards for knowledge and performance for individuals entering the profession, as well as for experienced practitioners throughout their genetic counseling career.

Credentialing of a professional group serves many purposes. Foremost, credentialing protects the public by identifying individuals who have met established standards of knowledge, skills and practice for their profession. These individuals have demonstrated a commitment to excellence by meeting the standards required to achieve and maintain their professional credential. Credentialing allows employers, other professionals, third party payers and governmental regulators, such as licensing boards, to clearly identify individuals with the specialized training, knowledge and skills necessary to expertly meet the needs of their constituents. Credentialing also helps to define a professional identity and opportunities for advancement for those meeting these standards. 

ABGC was incorporated in 1993 as the credentialing body for the genetic counseling profession. The ABGC credential, Certified Genetic Counselor (CGC®), recognizes individuals who have met established standards for graduate training and clinical experience, successfully completed a comprehensive genetic counseling examination and genetic counseling specialty examination, and committed to maintaining their knowledge and skills in a rapidly evolving field through recertification. Whether in a hospital clinic, government agency, biotechnology company, or other professional setting, a CGC® has attained a recognized professional benchmark of expertise and quality.