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. 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.
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Patient Care Is Our Priority

Medical organizations throughout North America understand that our rigorous certification standards prove that ABPS Diplomates are capable of delivering the best patient care possible.

When I think historically, advancement in medicine and patient safety and care has been driven by the diversity of people and scientific thought. That’s what I found at the ABPS and more. For over 60 years that is just who we are. I found a physician certifying body that provides a choice and voice to all physicians ensuring that patients are always placed first.

Jerry Allison, MD
Emergency Medicine
When I decided to pursue a full time role as a physician executive it was important to me to obtain additional professional training, education and work experience. Board certification through the ABPS in Administrative Medicine is validation of my efforts and a demonstration of dedication to professional development. We need more physicians to become full time health care executives, knowing there is a board certification option in Administrative Medicine encourages physicians to take the leap from full time clinical practice to healthcare organizational leadership.

Richard Paula, MD
Administrative Medicine
The American Board of Physician Specialties has provided me with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of internal medicine through board certification. As a hospitalist, board certification is an expected credential, and hospitals recognize the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) as one of the three standard credentialling bodies for Internal Medicine. Additionally, the ABPS has helped me develop leadership skills as a Board member and Committee Chairperson. ABPS has also helped me sharpen critical thinking skills as a test question developer and reviewer. The Allopathic (MD) and Osteopathic (DO) physicians in the ABPS are lifelong learners and frequently pursue multiple board certifications. I enjoy the camaraderie of my peers in ABPS.

Loren Jay Chassels, DO
Internal Medicine