The certification exam for the new subspecialty of addiction medicine will be held in fall 2017, the American Board of Preventive Medicine and the Addiction Medicine Foundation announced.
“We recognize the importance of providing certification in addiction medicine for physicians who have expertise and demonstrated knowledge in the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders,” ABPM President Marie Krousel-Wood, MD, said in a statement. “The advances in physician certification and training in addiction medicine set the stage to engage all of medicine as strong partners in addressing this critical public health issue.”
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1) Have an appropriate medical degree or its equivalent.
2) Have current certification by at least one American Board of Medical Specialties member board.
3) Complete specified education and training or experience in the subspecialty field through either the Practice Pathway or an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education–accredited fellowship training pathway.
4) Have a current, unrestricted, and valid license to practice medicine.
During the first 5 years the exam is administered, physicians will use the Practice Pathway to meet certification eligibility requirements. The includes a minimum of 1,920 hours engaged in the practice of addiction medicine occurring over at least 24 of the previous 60 months prior to the application, though the 24 months need not be continuous. Credit for completing a non-ACGME–accredited fellowship may be substituted for the time in practice requirements.
Dates and updates to the application process will be posted on ABPM’s website as they become available.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine announced a review course scheduled for July 27-29, 2017, in Dallas, to help prepare physicians for the certification exam.