The application for the 2023 initial certification exam is now open. To begin an application start here.
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:
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:
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.
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A Residency? | ![]() |
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An MPH Degree?* | ||||||
An ABMS Board Certification | ||||||
Practice Years Required | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
Credentials: MPH Degree, An ABMS Board Certification
Practice Years Required: 3
Credentials: Residency, An ABMS Board Certification
Practice Years Required: 3
Credentials: MPH Degree
Practice Years Required: 4
Credentials: Residency
Practice Years Required: 5
Credentials: An ABMS Board Certification
Practice Years Required: 6
Credentials: No MPH Degree, No ABMS Board Certification, No Residency
Practice Years Required: 8
*Without an MPH degree, you are still required to complete coursework (worth 3 credits each) in epidemiology, biostatistics, health services administration, environmental health sciences, and social and behavioral sciences. Total practice years refers to the amount of practice time in the specialty area for which certification is being sought.