Certification Exam Logistics
Exam FAQs
Get answers to your questions about scheduling your certification exam and what to expect when you arrive at the testing center.
Exam Registration & Scheduling
1) The ABPM notifies the candidate that their application has been approved.
2) The candidate logs into their account on the ABPM’s Physician Portal to register and pay for the initial certification exam.
3) Within ten business days of registration, the candidate will receive an Authorization-to-Test email from Pearson VUE with instructions to schedule their exam.
Candidates should secure a testing appointment with Pearson VUE as soon as possible.
Required Documents for Testing
Candidates must bring TWO pieces of identification to take the examination at a Pearson VUE testing center.
- Primary ID: Government-issued identification that includes BOTH a photo and a signature (e.g., driver’s license, passport)
- Secondary ID: Any identification that includes your name and either a photo or a signature
- The names on both IDs must match each other and they must match the name you used to register for the examination.*
*Please contact ABPM immediately if the name on your scheduling confirmation is misspelled or differs from your name as it appears on your identification. Name changes and corrections must be made at least five days before your scheduled testing appointment.
Candidates will also need to agree to Pearson’s Professional and Regulatory Candidate Rules Agreement prior to testing.
Exam Accommodations
ABPM recognizes that candidates may need reasonable accommodations pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Candidates who need testing accommodations for the 2026 initial certification examinations must contact the ABPM at [email protected] no later than July 14, 2026.
Testing accommodations encompass any modifications in the administration, procedures, or settings of the examinations. Please note all accommodations must be approved prior to scheduling your exam with Pearson VUE.
Please see the Special Accommodation FAQS for additional information.
Exam Results
The results of the initial certification examinations will be posted in the online Physician Portal in February following the exam. ABPM will notify examinees by email when their results are available. Examinees will not be notified by phone and ABPM staff cannot deliver results by phone; therefore, please do not call the ABPM office for exam results.