Addiction Medicine
Learn more about the application process, continuing certification
process, and important dates and events.
Subspecialty Overview
Addiction Medicine is concerned with the prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery of persons with the disease of addiction, of those with substance-related health conditions, and of people who show unhealthy use of substances including nicotine, alcohol, prescription medications and other licit and illicit drugs. Physicians in this subspecialty also help family members whose health and functioning are affected by a loved one’s substance use or addiction.
Certification Requirements Overview
Find out easily if you may be qualified to apply by using the Addiction Medicine Requirements Table.
General Requirements
- Medical License – An unrestricted and currently valid license(s) to practice medicine in a State, the District of Columbia, a Territory, Commonwealth, or possession of the United States or in a Province of Canada is required. If the applicant has licenses in multiple states, no license may be restricted, revoked, or suspended or currently under such notice.
- Medical Degree – Graduation from a medical school in the United States which at the time of the applicant’s graduation was accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, a school of osteopathic medicine approved by the American Osteopathic Association, an accredited medical school in Canada, or from a medical school located outside the United States and Canada that is deemed satisfactory to the Board is required.
- Board Certification – Current primary specialty certification is a core requirement. Current primary specialty certification through an ABMS member board, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) will satisfy this requirement.
- For some ABMS member boards, diplomates who maintain their subspecialty certification are considered to be also meeting primary certification requirements. In those cases, the diplomate is deemed certified in the primary specialty. Primary specialty certification status is determined by each individual ABMS member board.
Pathway Requirements
ACGME-Accredited Fellowship Pathway
Requires successful completion of a minimum of 12 months in an ACGME-accredited Addiction Medicine fellowship program. If the program is longer than 12 months, the physician must successfully complete all years of training for which the program is accredited in order to meet the eligibility criteria for certification.
Full Requirements
Documents and Verifications
- Fellowship program verification, completed by the Program Director
- If 24 months or more since the fellowship completion date:
- CV/Resume
- One letter of reference written by a physician who is certified through an ABMS Member Board, the American Osteopathic Association, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, or the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
Subspecialty FAQS
Exam Information
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