Administrative Medicine Eligibility Requirements

Updated February 2018

To be eligible for certification in Administrative Medicine through the American Board of Administrative Medicine® (ABAM), the applicant must:

ABPS General Requirements:

1. Be in conformity with the Code of Ethics of the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), be known in his/her community as an ethical member of the profession.
2. Be a graduate of a recognized U.S., Canadian, or international allopathic or osteopathic college of medicine. International graduates must also hold a valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Certificate.
3. Hold a valid and unrestricted license(s) to practice medicine in the United States, its territories, or Canada.
4. Have completed residency training in a program approved by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). Applicants without a completed residency may also be eligible if they hold current Board Certification by an ABMS, AOA, or ABPS board that was granted on or before December 31, 2001.
5. Hold, or have previously held, board certification granted by an ABPS, American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), American Osteopathic Association (AOA), Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), or College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) Board. Well-qualified candidates meeting Residency and ALL other requirements except current or previous board certification will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Candidates asking the board to waive the requirement for board certification must submit a completed application for board review and include a brief letter to the board detailing the education, experience, or other factors that the candidate feels should serve in lieu of board certification.

Administrative Medicine Training and Experience:

Evidence of medical administrative experience as defined by one of the following (either 1, 2, 3, or 4):

1. 1. A. Master’s degree in Business Administration, Medical Management, Health Administration or other advanced degree in healthcare management/administration
   2. Healthcare management certification including but not limited to the Certified Physician Executive (CPE) or American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) certifications
   3. At least 5 years of cumulative experience in an administrative position to include additional training in management related functions consistent with core competencies outlined in the exam Blueprint. Requires:
      • Completion of ABAM Qualification Assessment Form by each employer (e.g. HR), practice administrator, or partner AND
      • Documentation (or self-attestation) of coursework or training, such as:
        • ACPE
        • ACHE
        • Academic or university programs
        • Professional organizations
        • CME related to medical administration
   4. At least 2 years of cumulative experience in an administrative position and currently enrolled in a Master’s degree program in Business Administration, Medical Management, Health Administration or other advanced degree program in healthcare management/administration. Requires:
      • Letter of current enrollment status from institution AND
      • Completion of ABAM Qualification Assessment Form by each employer (e.g. HR), practice administrator, or partner.

Additional Requirements:

1. Letters of Reference or Qualification Assessment forms from three (3) individuals who can verify and describe directly observed skills, abilities, and interest in the areas of medical administrative experience.
2. All U.S. physicians must perform a self-query of the National Practitioner Data Bank and submit the report. Get your self-query report at www.npdb-hipdb.hrsa.gov. All Canadian physicians must request a Testament Statement from each province in which a license is held, verifying that there have been no disciplinary actions against the applicant.
3. Submit a current curriculum vitae, which includes medical school, degrees earned, and work experience, in chronological order.