Find Your Specialty 813-433-2277

Administrative Medicine Examination Description

Physicians certifying or recertifying in Administrative Medicine must successfully complete a Computer-Based (Written) Examination.

The Written Examination

The written certification examination consists of 150 multiple-choice items and is administered over a three-hour session. The written recertification examination consists of 100 multiple-choice items and is administered over a two-hour session. Each question has four potential responses, but only one correct answer. Each response to a question is scored as correct or not correct.

The outline below provides details of the subject areas (domains) covered on the examinations and the approximate number of items from each area. This domain listing is provided to help candidates prepare for the examination and is based on a comprehensive practice analysis of the key topics and knowledge in the specialty, as identified by practitioners, instructors, and other leaders in Administrative Medicine. Candidates should review this outline carefully and focus study on the areas listed. Each item on the examination is linked to a specific domain. The information in the outline is meant to serve as a study aid only and not as a guarantee of success in taking the examination.

    Approximate Percentage of Questions on Exam
Section I: Health Care Management and Operations

Governance (10%)
Organizational structures (e.g. flat vs. hierarchical, form vs. function)
Building effective teams
Relationships between boards & operations
Community Relations
Medical Staff

Professionalism/Leadership (10%)
Appropriate span of control
Supervision of non-physician providers (e.g. GME, NP’s, PA’s, etc.)
Delegation/ time management
Communications
Change/ crisis management
Media relations
Culture
Advocacy
Business ethics

Human Potential (10%)
Labor force
Talent/performance management
Disability management
Compensation & Benefits
Disruptive behavior

Marketing,  Strategy, and Business Development (10%)
Business plans
Marketing
Product development
Advertising

 40%
Section II: Finance and Health Policy

Finance (15%)
Accounting
Revenue cycle
Payor contracting
Resource utilization
Supply chain
Budget Management

Health Policy (10%)
Models of Care Delivery (e.g. ACO’s, ACA, clinical integration, etc.)
Economics
Payor relations (Commercial/Government)
Population health/Public Health
Payment Models
Utilization Management (e.g. basics re: admission status, readmissions, etc.)

 25%
Section III: Quality

Quality and Safety (15%)
Performance improvement
Joint commission
Managing sentinel events
Disaster management

Data Analytics and Information Integration (10%)
Data standards, security and oversight (e.g. PHI)
EHR and business application evaluation and oversight
Virtual health (e.g. e-health, telemedicine, e-prescribing, internet-based/cloud-base information systems)
Valuation of hardware and software
Business Intelligence & Decision Support
Impact of innovation/technology on care models

 25%
Section IV: Health Care Law/ Corporate Compliance

Health Law/Corporate Compliance (10%)
Regulatory compliance (e.g. Stark, HIPAA, Fair market value, EMTALA)
Corporate Risk Management
Human Research (e.g. clinical trials w/external partners/vendors)
CMS provider-based regulations
Malpractice

 10%

 References

A candidate should focus their examination preparation on the content provided in the examination blueprint. The Reference list is not meant to be a list of comprehensive study materials but rather to aid candidates who may wish to prepare more in a specific area of the examination blueprint that they may not be as familiar with. You may wish to use the study materials to prepare for the written certification examination. All items appearing on our examinations have been written based on the material presented in these study references.

Click here for list of Study References

Sample Questions

These are provided to candidates as an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the format of the test questions on the ABAM Certification Examination. It is important to note that performance on the sample questions is not a predictor of whether a candidate will pass or fail the ABAM Certification Examination.

Click here for Sample Questions

Examination Administration

Click here for Exam Schedule

Examination Results

Candidates will receive score reports indicating their pass/fail status on the written examination. Candidates who fail are provided a breakdown of their performance by subject content domains. ABPS sends examination results to candidates within 60 days of the last day of the administration window. Each examination is scored against predetermined standards of acceptable performance, utilizing modified Angoff procedures for establishing the minimum acceptable scores. A candidate who is successful in passing the written examination is then certified and attains Diplomate status within ABPS and AAPS.

Retaking Examinations

A candidate may take the written examination as many as three times to attain a passing score. Candidates who are not successful in passing the examination within the number of allowable attempts may reapply for certification by completing a new application and meeting all the requirements in effect at the time the new application is submitted.

Accommodations for Religious Reasons and Disabilities

Click here to see the complete policy for accommodations.

Save the Date
House of Delegates & Annual Scientific Meeting
Innovation & Overcoming Challenges
June 10-15, 2022
Plan Your Visit. Meeting Information
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.

Far too often, medicine is led by less than 5% of non-practicing physicians taking away and replacing the voice of the 95% of physicians practicing and placing patient safety and care first on the front lines every day. The American Board of Physician Specialties has raised the standards in physician board certification not only in the quality of their boards of certification, but in hearing and allowing for the voice of those active physicians caring directly for patients. Having been a part of the ABPS over the last 28 years has allowed me to grow as a woman leader in a field often wrought with challenges. It helped me and others raise the bar of the standards of care in my specialty, Emergency Medicine, through their Board Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM). ABPS also helped raise the standards of care for 21st century medicine through their certifications in other specialties, particularly in Integrative Medicine & Disaster Medicine. Having physician voices heard matters to medicine and is essential in the betterment of patient safety and care.

Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Emergency Medicine
On October 18, 2007, President George W. Bush released Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21 (HSPD-21), calling on our nation, among other initiatives, to “collectively support and facilitate the establishment of a discipline of disaster health”. It is a great testament to the wisdom and foresight of the American Board of Physician Specialties that it immediately set to work and created, within the short span of only one year, an educational blueprint and set of certification examinations, both written and oral, for a new subspecialty of disaster medicine—and it is why I chose to be part this vital initiative and this wonderful organization. This is but one of the many innovative programs initiated by the American Board of Physician Specialties over the years, and why I am proud to support its work on behalf of our nation’s public health.

Art Cooper, MD
Disaster Medicine
When the American Board of Physician Specialties offered to host the American Board of Integrative Medicine, ABPS became a landmark organization working to move medicine into the twenty first century. Certifying physicians who have completed rigorous academic training in Integrative Medicine ensures that the field of Integrative Medicine will continue to develop academically, clinically, and professionally. The leadership of ABPS continues to impress me - they are diligent in constantly innovating to provide certifications for physicians who want to advance their careers and their areas of expertise. I am honored to be a part of this organization.

Ann Marie Chiasson, MD
Integrative Medicine
There are many ways board certification advances a physician career. ABPS Board examination verifies your accuracy, precision, and reflects your mastery of your residency training verifying your expertise. ABPS Board certification demonstrates your level of expertise beyond your practice experience, primary education degrees, and training which are necessary for insurance reimbursement and practice privilege requirements. Attaining your ABPS Board Certification will clarify your purpose, secure your practice growth, and expand into leadership positions. Board certification can serve as an indication of a physician’s commitment to medicine, beyond the minimal standards and competency of training, their measurement to quality of care, and attaining an award for excellence.

Chris Kunis MD
Internal Medicine
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
Meet Our Staff Read All Reviews
Boards
Careers
Login
Contact