Additional Requirements for Subspecialty Certificates

In addition to the requirements of this Section 2, no Applicant/Candidate will be admitted to an initial Certification examination in a Subspecialty or have a Subspecialty Certificate granted unless the Applicant/Candidate establishes to the satisfaction of the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, that the Applicant/Candidate has received special training or experience as specified in this Policies and Procedures Manual and, specifically in the Subspecialty for which Certification is being sought.

Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine

The special training required of an Applicant/Candidate for a Certificate in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine shall include successful completion of a minimum of twelve (12) months of ACGME-accredited fellowship training in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine or in a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)-accredited or College of Family Physicians Canada (CFPC)-accredited residency program located in Canada. In addition, an Applicant/Candidate for a Certificate in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine must hold a valid certificate from an ABMS member board.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this subsection 2.4.1, those Applicants holding a primary certification through the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) and seeking Certification in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine must apply for Certification in Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine exclusively through the ABEM.

Medical Toxicology

The special training required of an Applicant/Candidate for a Certificate in Medical Toxicology shall include successful completion of a minimum of twenty-four (24) months of: (i) an ACGME-accredited fellowship in Medical Toxicology; (ii) an ACGME-accredited residency in Medical Toxicology; (iii) an RCPSC-accredited residency program in Medical Toxicology; or (iv) a CFPC-accredited residency program in Medical Toxicology. In addition, an Applicant/Candidate for a Certificate in Medical Toxicology must hold a valid Certificate in at least one of the Specialty areas of Preventive Medicine. The initial Certification examination for Medical Toxicology is administered by the ABEM and as such, Applicants/Candidates seeking Certification in Medical Toxicology are also subject to the policies and procedures of the ABEM as applicable to Applicants, Candidates and Diplomates seeking Certification in Medical Toxicology.

Clinical Informatics

An Applicant who holds a valid certificate from an ABMS member board is eligible to apply to ABPM for a Certificate in Clinical Informatics. Beginning with the 2013 Examination Cycle and continuing through the 2025 Examination Cycle, an Applicant may become eligible to sit for the Clinical Informatics initial Certification examination via one of the Pathways identified in this Subsection 2.4.3. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this subsection 2.4.3, those Applicants holding a primary certification through the American Board of Pathology (ABPath) and seeking certification in Clinical Informatics must apply for certification in Clinical Informatics exclusively through the ABPath.

The Pathways for Clinical Informatics beginning with the 2013 Examination Cycle and continuing through the 2025 Examination Cycle are as follows:

1. Practice Pathway: An Applicant for a Certificate in Clinical Informatics may seek admission to the Clinical Informatics examination via the Practice Pathway by submitting to ABPM documentation of thirty-six (36) months of non-contiguous practice of Clinical Informatics in the sixty (60) months prior to the Applicant submitting the application to the ABPM. The minimum of thirty-six (36) months of practice time need not be continuous; however, all practice time must have occurred in the sixty (60)-month interval immediately preceding the Applicant’s submission of an application to ABPM for Certification in Clinical Informatics. The Applicant’s Clinical Informatics practice must be at least twenty-five percent (25%) of a full-time equivalent.

2. Non-Accredited Fellowship Training: Credit for completion of training in a non-ACGME accredited fellowship program may be substituted for the Practice Pathway requirements. In order to meet the requirements of this Non-Accredited Fellowship Training Pathway, prior to submission of an application, the Applicant must have successfully completed a Clinical Informatics fellowship of at least twenty-four (24) months in duration and which fellowship is acceptable to the ABPM. The fellowship training curriculum as well as a description of the actual training experience must also be submitted to the Board by the Applicant. Fellowship training of less than twenty-four (24) months may be applied towards the practice requirements of the Practice Pathway set forth above.

3. ACGME Fellowship Training: The successful completion of a minimum of twenty-four (24) months of an ACGME-accredited fellowship training in Clinical Informatics is required.

Certification in Clinical Informatics Beginning in 2026

Beginning with the 2026 Examination Cycle, the special training required of an Applicant/Candidate for a Certificate in Clinical Informatics shall exclusively include the Applicant’s successful completion of: (i) a minimum of twenty-four (24) months of ACGME-accredited fellowship training in Clinical Informatics; (ii) an RCPSC-accredited residency program in Clinical Informatics; or (iii) a CFPC-accredited residency program in Clinical Informatics.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.4.3, any physician who began training in Clinical Informatics pursuant to the terms and conditions of either the Practice Pathway or the Non-Accredited Fellowship Training Pathway will be eligible to apply for ABPM Certification in Clinical Informatics through the 2026 Examination Cycle.

Mid-Residency Training Program

Residents of the American Board of Surgery (ABS) who have not yet completed surgical training and thereby, do not yet possess the required underlying primary certification may, nevertheless, apply to the ABPM for Certification in Clinical Informatics via the Mid-Residency Training Program (MRTP). In order to participate in the MRTP, an ABS resident must, at the time of applying to the ABPM: (i) have a guaranteed training slot to complete the requirements for ABS certification; and (ii) meet all other then-current ABPM eligibility requirements for Certification by the ABPM in Clinical Informatics. Upon graduation from the ACGME-accredited fellowship in Clinical Informatics, the ABS resident, assuming all other then-current ABPM eligibility requirements are met, shall become eligible to sit for the initial Certification examination in Clinical Informatics. ABPM will not issue an ABS resident a Certification in Clinical Informatics under the MRTP until such time as the ABS resident would take and pass both the ABS Qualifying and Certifying Examinations in Surgery. Upon taking and passing the ABS Qualifying and Certifying Examinations in Surgery, the ABS resident who had previously passed the initial Certification examination and who continues to meet all then-current ABPM eligibility requirements would then be awarded an ABPM Certificate in Clinical Informatics. The MRTP shall include safeguards determined by the ABPM in its sole and absolute discretion to ensure that the ABS resident prove ABS certification before issuance by ABPM of a Certificate in Clinical Informatics pursuant to this MRTP.

Addiction Medicine

An Applicant who holds or, subject to certain requirements as set out in subsection 2.4.4(3) below, previously held a valid certificate from an ABMS member board is eligible to apply to ABPM for a Certificate in Addiction Medicine. Beginning with the 2017 Examination Cycle and continuing through the 2025 Examination Cycle, an Applicant may become eligible to sit for the Addiction Medicine initial Certification examination via one of the pathways identified in this Subsection 2.4.4.

The pathways for Addiction Medicine beginning with the 2022 Examination Cycle and continuing through the 2025 Examination Cycle are as follows:

1. Time in Practice: An Applicant for a Certificate in Addiction Medicine may seek admission to the Addiction Medicine examination via the Practice Pathway by submitting to ABPM documentation of a minimum of 1,920 hours in which the Applicant was engaged in the practice of Addiction Medicine at the Subspecialty level; this minimum of 1,920 hours must occur over at least twenty-four (24) of the previous sixty (60) months prior to the Applicant submitting the application to ABPM. The minimum of twenty-four (24) months of practice time need not be continuous; however, all practice time must have occurred in the sixty (60-month interval immediately preceding the application to ABPM for Certification in Addiction Medicine. The Applicant’s practice must consist of broad-based professional activity with significant Addiction Medicine responsibility. Documentation of Addiction Medicine teaching, research and administration activities, as well as clinical care or prevention of, or treatment of, individuals who are at risk for or have a substance use disorder will be considered by the Board.

2. Non-Accredited Fellowship Training: Credit for completion of training in a non-ACGME accredited fellowship program may be substituted for the Time in Practice track. In order to meet the requirements of this Non-Accredited Fellowship Training track, prior to submission of an application, the Applicant must have successfully completed an Addiction Medicine fellowship of at least twelve (12) months in duration and which fellowship is acceptable to the ABPM. The fellowship training curriculum as well as a description of the actual training experience must also be submitted to the Board by the Applicant. The Non-ACGME accredited fellowships are those currently accredited through the American College of Academic Addiction Medicine (ACAAM), formerly known as The Addiction Medicine Foundation (TAMF). Fellowship training of less than twelve (12) months may be applied towards the Time in Practice hour requirements of the Practice Pathway requirements set forth above.

3. ACGME Fellowship Training: The successful completion of: (i) a minimum of twelve (12) months of an ACGME-accredited fellowship training in Addiction Medicine; (ii) a minimum of twelve months of an RCPSC-accredited residency program in Addiction Medicine or; (iii) a minimum of twelve months of an CFPC-accredited residency program in Addiction Medicine is required.

Certification in Addiction Medicine beginning in 2026

Beginning with the 2026 Examination Cycle, and subject to the provisions in paragraph two of Section 2.4.4.1 above, the special training required of an Applicant/Candidate for a Certificate in Addiction Medicine shall exclusively include the Applicant’s successful completion of a minimum of twelve (12) months of an ACGME-accredited fellowship training in Addiction Medicine.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.4.4.1, any physician who began training in Addiction Medicine pursuant to the terms and conditions of either the Time in Practice or Non-Accredited Fellowship Training pathways will be eligible to apply for ABPM Certification in Addiction Medicine through the 2026 Examination Cycle.

AOA Certification & Eligibility for Subspecialty Certification

Beginning with the 2020 Examination Cycle, those physicians who have successfully completed a residency accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), are at the time of application with ABPM certified by at least one (1) AOA member board and who at the time of application to the ABPM have also successfully completed an ACGME-accredited fellowship in any of the ABPM’s Subspecialties, shall, assuming all other eligibility criteria are met, be eligible to sit for the initial Certification examination in the Subspecialty in which the physician completed an ACGME-accredited fellowship.

AOA Certification & Subspecialty Certification Eligibility through the Practice Pathway

1. For Addiction Medicine
Beginning with the 2024 Examination Cycle and ending at the close of the Practice Pathway for Addiction Medicine, those physicians who, at the time of their application for the Addiction Medicine Certification exam to the ABPM, are certified by the AOA, shall, assuming all other eligibility criteria are met, be eligible to sit for the initial Certification examination in Addiction Medicine through the Practice Pathway.

2. For Clinical Informatics
Beginning with the 2024 Examination Cycle and ending at the close of the Practice Pathway for Clinical Informatics, those physicians who, at the time of their application for the Clinical Informatics Certification exam to the ABPM, are certified by the AOA, shall, assuming all other eligibility criteria are met, be eligible to sit for the initial Certification examination in Clinical Informatics through the Practice Pathway.

Subspecialty Certification for Canadian-Trained Physicians

Beginning with the 2021 Examination Cycle, Physicians trained in Canada, who possess appropriate primary certification by the RCPSC or CFPC and who have successfully completed an ACGME-accredited fellowship training in any ABPM Subspecialty (and meeting all other eligibility criteria) will be considered eligible to sit for the ABPM’s initial Certification examination in the Subspecialty in which the Applicant completed an ACGME-accredited fellowship.

Subspecialty Certification Eligibility through the Practice Pathway for Canadian-Trained Physicians

1. For Addiction Medicine
Beginning with the 2024 Examination Cycle and ending at the close of the Practice Pathway for Addiction Medicine, those physicians who, at the time of their application for the Addiction Medicine Certification exam to the ABPM, possess appropriate primary certification by the RCPSC or CFPC, shall, assuming all other eligibility criteria are met, be eligible to sit for the initial Certification examination in Addiction Medicine through the Practice Pathway.

2. For Clinical Informatics
Beginning with the 2024 Examination Cycle and ending at the close of the Practice Pathway for Clinical Informatics, those physicians who, at the time of their application for the Clinical Informatics Certification exam to the ABPM, possess appropriate primary certification by the RCPSC or CFPC, shall, assuming all other eligibility criteria are met, be eligible to sit for the initial Certification examination in Clinical Informatics through the Practice Pathway.