Dear Diplomates,
Following the message from our president earlier this year, the ABGC Board of Directors would like to share several important updates regarding our certification activities and ongoing initiatives.
The overall ABGC Certification Examination pass rate from the August exam cycle was 81%. We extend our congratulations to all newly certified genetic counselors and our sincere appreciation to the many volunteers, committee members and staff whose efforts ensure the integrity and rigor of the certification process.
We recognize that concerns have been raised about equity and accessibility of the ABGC exam — specifically, whether our assessment adequately serves all candidates fairly. These concerns are important to us, and we are committed to listening, investigating and acting on them. ABGC remains committed to promoting equity and fairness in all aspects of the certification process. Equally important, we are committed to maintaining transparent communication with the genetic counseling community as we continue this work.
Two key reports — each designed to enhance transparency and guide future actions — were released in 2025:
Exam Performance Task Force Report: This report summarizes findings and recommendations from the Exam Performance Task Force. This Task Force, comprised of multiple stakeholders in the field, including early-career Diplomates and representatives from different genetic counseling organizations, was convened to explore factors influencing exam outcomes and identify strategies for all genetic counseling organizations to adopt in the effort to promote equitable performance across all candidate groups.
Demographic Data Report: This annual report provides detailed data on candidate demographics, supporting ongoing evaluation to help us understand who is seeking certification and whether all groups have equitable access and success. In 2026, we will hire an independent statistician with expertise in disparities data analysis to review this information and provide meaningful analysis by the end of next year.
We encourage you to review these reports and welcome your questions and feedback at info@abgc.net.
Resources and Support
To address these challenges and support all candidates, ABGC has developed and expanded several resources to help candidates and training programs navigate the current exam, including:
- A comprehensive study guide to clarify exam structure and content areas
- Need-based scholarships for candidates to take the board exam
- Reduced Board exam fees
- An updated practice exam (new version releasing June 2026)
- Regular communication with GCEA and ACGC to ensure alignment across educational, accreditation and certification efforts
- A program director toolkit to help training programs better prepare students for certification.
Additionally, recognizing that early-career genetic counselors provide valuable perspectives on the experiences and challenges of those newest to the field, the Board has instituted a new policy that at least one member of the Board of Directors is an early-career genetic counselor to ensure that our decisions remain responsive to and focused on the interests of trainees and new practitioners.
These initiatives reflect ABGC’s ongoing commitment to responsiveness and accountability as we work to ensure certification supports the next generation of genetic counselors.
Looking Ahead
ABGC continues to evolve in response to the changing needs of the profession. As we continue our work on the 2025-2027 Strategic Plan, initiatives for 2026 include:
- Further review and evaluation of the practice analysis that provides the basis for Board exam content
- Investigation of innovative and effective techniques for recertification and advances in exam item writing
- Continued collaboration with key stakeholders to ensure that certification remains both relevant and inclusive.
ABGC’s work is guided by our connection to the genetic counseling community. We are dedicated to listening, learning and communicating openly as we pursue our shared goal of advancing excellence in genetic counseling. We acknowledge that overcoming significant challenges requires not just words but concrete progress. We are committed to providing regular updates on the actions outlined in our task force and demographics reports, and we welcome the opportunity to engage with you on these important matters.
On behalf of the ABGC Board of Directors, thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to our field.