American Board of Genetic Counseling

What American Board of Genetic Counseling does

American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) is the primary professional certification body for genetic counselors in the United States, awarding the Certified Genetic Counselor (CGC) credential and administering the related examination, recertification, and verification services. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the organization operates with a small headquarters staff of approximately six employees (including an Executive Director, coordinators, customer service, and marketing roles) governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and supported by standing committees (Certification Exam Committee, Continuing Competence Committee, DEIJ Committee).

ABGC's core offering is the CGC Certification Examination, delivered through Prometric testing centers globally, with candidates applying via the Learning Builder portal. Adjacent products include the CGC Practice Exam (100 questions on the Prometric platform), the ABGC Portal for recertification management, the CGC Directory for public credential verification, and Continuing Competence Learning Scenarios becoming mandatory in 2026 (25 scenarios per five-year recertification cycle, 0.1 CEU each). Digital Badges launched September 2024, and a Need-Based Certification Scholarship funded 42 candidates in its first cycle.

The business model combines one-time certification examination fees, recurring Certification Maintenance Fees (CMF) from the 6,900+ active Diplomates on staggered recertification cycles, practice exam fees, and transactional credential/primary source verification fees for employers and state licensure boards. ABGC generates additional reach through NSGC Annual Conference presence, email communications to its Diplomate base, and ABGC Spotlight content. Core technology dependencies are the Learning Builder platform for applications and the Prometric network for secure exam administration; recent investments have automated CEU processing (January 2025) and Active Candidate Status letter generation within the ABGC portal.

Name

American Board of Genetic Counseling

Legal name

American Board of Genetic Counseling, Inc.

Website

https://abgc.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The American Board of Genetic Counseling is the primary U.S. certifying body for genetic counselors, administering the CGC credential exam, recertification, and credential verification services to graduates of accredited programs and practicing Diplomates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPACALAC

Education & Credential Verification (Degrees, Licenses, Certifications)

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Background Screening & Pre-Employment Verification

SECONDARYBPAKAEAI

Credential, Education & Professional License Verification

Business & Public Services/Security & Investigations Services/Private Investigation & Background Screening

SECONDARYBPACANAJ

Credentialing, Certification Prep & Exam Training

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Training, Learning & Development Services

Keywords

• Genetic counselor certification
• Professional credentialing services
• Board certification examination
• Continuing competence assessment
• Primary source verification

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Examination Fees: Fees charged to candidates for taking the CGC certification examination
2. Recertification Fees (CMF): Certification Maintenance Fees charged to Diplomates for recertification cycles
3. Practice Exam Fees: Fees for the practice exam delivered via Prometric platform, designed to mimic the real certification test
4. Credential Verification Fees: Non-refundable fees for Primary Source Letter verification services provided to employers seeking formal verification of CGC credentials

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The American Board of Genetic Counseling administers the Certified Genetic Counselor (CGC) credential, providing board certification examinations through Prometric testing centers, recertification cycles through the ABGC Portal, a CGC Practice Exam, Continuing Competence Learning Scenarios for CEU credit, and a public CGC Directory for credential verification. Supporting offerings include the Need-Based Certification Scholarship, digital badges for credential promotion, and credential/primary source verification letters for employers and state licensure boards.

Product overview

The American Board of Genetic Counseling offers a portfolio of certification and professional development products centered around the CGC (Certified Genetic Counselor) credential. The core product is the CGC Certification Examination administered through Prometric testing centers. Supporting products include the CGC Practice Exam delivered on the same platform, the ABGC Portal for recertification management and credential tracking, and the CGC Directory for public verification of certified professionals. The organization provides Continuing Competence Learning Scenarios as part of the recertification requirement (25 scenarios over five years), the Need-Based Certification Scholarship for exam candidates, and Digital Badges for credential promotion. Additional offerings include exam preparation resources, a Program Director Toolkit for training programs, and Email/Research Survey distribution services for reaching the Diplomate community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CGC Certification Examination
• CGC Practice Exam
• ABGC Portal
• Continuing Competence Learning Scenarios
• CGC Directory
• Credential / Primary Source Verification
• Digital Badges
• Need-Based Certification Scholarship
• Program Director Toolkit
• Email and Research Survey Distribution

Quantifiable outcome

• 81% overall exam pass rate from August exam cycle
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NAGCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2024ABGC participates in North American Genetic Counseling Organizations (NAGCO), a collaborative group of genetic counseling organizations sharing ideas and creating ways to support the profession. Hosted joint DEIJ webinar in October 2024.
• PrometriccoreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2024Prometric is the test delivery partner for CGC certification exams and practice exams, providing standardized testing center infrastructure and exam administration.
• ConnectMyVariantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKathy Baker, ABGC Board public member, serves on the Executive Advisory Board of ConnectMyVariant, a nonprofit focused on hereditary cancer awareness and variant sharing.
• Say YES to HopecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKathy Baker, ABGC Board public member, serves on the Board of Directors of Say YES to Hope, supporting cancer awareness and patient advocacy.
• Myriad OncologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKathy Baker serves on the Advisory Board of Myriad Oncology, providing perspectives on genetic testing and hereditary cancer.
• ACS National Breast Cancer RoundtableminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKathy Baker serves on the Early Action Priority Team of the American Cancer Society National Breast Cancer Roundtable.
• CardioGenomic Testing Alliance (CGTA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDaria Ma, ABGC Board member, advises the CardioGenomic Testing Alliance (CGTA).
• Southern California Genetic Counselors (SCGC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDaria Ma, ABGC Board member, helped found the Southern California Genetic Counselors organization.
• GCEAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular communication with GCEA (Graduate College Evaluation Committee) to ensure alignment across educational, accreditation and certification efforts.
• ACGCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Accreditation Council for Genetic Counseling (ACGC) on educational standards and exam alignment. ACGC-accredited programs are eligible for CGC certification.
• NYMAC Regional Genetics NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnrique Lopez, ABGC DEIJ Committee co-chair, serves as a part-time consultant to the New York Mid-Atlantic and Caribbean (NYMAC) Regional Genetics Network, working to increase access to genetic services.
• NSGCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABGC maintains regular collaboration with National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) including joint DEIJ initiatives, NSGC Position Statement contributions, and conference presence. Daria Ma contributed to NSGC Position Statement on AI in Genetic Counseling.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC): NBRC credentials respiratory therapists through multiple exam-based credentials (CRT, RRT) with ongoing competency requirements. Directly comparable to ABGC in mission and operating model: entry-level credentialing exam, recertification, and a public registry for employer verification.
• National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM): NCCAOM administers diplomate-level certifications (Dipl. Ac., Dipl. C.H., etc.) for acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners. Comparable to ABGC in operating as the recognized national certifying body for a defined clinical profession, with exam delivery, recertification, and a Diplomate directory.
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT): ARRT certifies radiologic technologists via structured examinations, post-primary pathways, and biennial CE-renewed credentials. Comparable to ABGC for its exam-based credentialing model, large active Diplomate base, structured continuing-education requirements, and primary-source verification for state licensing.
• Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS): BPS board-certifies pharmacist specialists through specialty examinations and recertification. ABGC is highly comparable: a profession-defined credentialing authority using rigorous psychometric exams, recertification cycles, and competency-content validation tied to professional practice standards.
• American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG): The physician-side counterpart to ABGC, ABMGG certifies medical geneticists and genetic genomics professionals in the U.S. Both organizations serve the genetics workforce with board certification, recertification, and primary-source credential verification — directly comparable in mission, structure, and Diplomate-base business model.
• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): NBCC administers the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential and related specialty certifications for the counseling profession. Highly comparable to ABGC in scope: a single-credential certification body serving a defined helping profession with exam-based entry, recurring CE requirements, and a public verification directory.
• National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA): NCCPA is the sole certifying body for PAs in the U.S., administering the PANCE entry exam and PANRE/PANRE-LA recertification. Closely comparable to ABGC in being a profession-wide, exam-driven, recertification-based credential with primary-source verification services for employers and state boards.
• Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR): CDR credentials Registered Dietitian Nutritionists via a board exam plus recertification portfolio. Structurally analogous to ABGC — credentialing a defined allied-health profession with a single recognized entry credential, recertification cycles, and a Continuing Professional Education portfolio system.

Broad incumbents

• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC): ANCC is a broad-incumbent certification body within the American Nurses Association, offering numerous specialty credentials. Comparable to ABGC for exam-based nursing specialty certification and Magnet-recognized credentialing programs, though operating at far greater scale and scope.
• American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM): ABIM is one of the largest U.S. physician specialty boards, with a much broader Diplomate base and MOC portfolio. Comparable as a board-certification authority with secure exam delivery, recertification, and credential verification, though at substantially greater scale than ABGC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ABGCertifiedGCs
• Facebookfacebook.com/abgcertifiedgcs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abgcertifiedgcs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American Board of Genetic Counseling