Rosales, Jaeniele A.

BS Pharmacy IV-A

American Board of Toxicology

The American Board of Toxicology (ABT) was founded in 1979 to establish a process for certification
which would evaluate and document competency in the field of toxicology. The goal was to pass the
first certification examination given by the newly created American Board of Toxicology. Success in
passing the examination would convey the coveted title of “Diplomate,” and thus the distinction of
being recognized as an expert in the discipline of toxicology. It is necessary to certify toxicologists
because in the mid 1970s, the Food and Drug Administration had been stung by several incidents in
which the agency had received some unreliable or outright fraudulent reports on the evaluation of
chemicals for safety. This prompted the FDA to issue guidelines on “Good Laboratory Practice.” If
these guidelines were not adhered to in the conduct of toxicity studies, the results would not be
acceptable to the FDA.
The first examination was given in Washington, D.C., Indianapolis, Indiana, San Francisco, California,
and London, England on August 4, 1980. Out of the approximately 400 examinees, 217 Diplomates
certified in all 3 parts. In January 1981, the Board elected Drs. James Beall, John Moore, Fred Oehme,
and Charles Reinhardt for four-year terms as new Diplomates to the Board. In late 1981 and 1982, the
rotation of the original Board began, leaving the incoming Diplomates to wrestle with keeping things
running and addressing the heavy issues of re-certification, etc.

The American Board of Toxicology (ABT), the largest professional toxicology credentialing
organization in the world, strives to identify, maintain, and evolve a standard for professional
competency in the field of toxicology. It is the vision of ABT to establish a globally recognized
credential in toxicology that represents competency and commitment to human health and the
environmental sciences. The purpose of ABT is to: 1) encourage the study and science of toxicology, 2)
stimulate advancement in the field of toxicology by establishing standards of practice and keeping
these standards current with advances in toxicology, and 3) confer recognition upon members of the
profession who, when measured against such standards, demonstrate competence in the science and
practice of toxicology.