Hospital Medicine Recertification

Updated January 2020

Beginning in 2018, physicians who are currently certified in Hospital Medicine must meet the following Continuous Competency in Certification® (CCC) Requirements:

  1. Submit a completed recertification application with required information and $200 application fee by December 1, bi-annually;
  2. Included with the application, submit documentation (copies of an official printout or copies of certificates) of 50 hours of CME, with at least 25 of those hours being related to Hospital Medicine, per year;
  3. Included in the CME, submit documentation of the completion of at least 15 hours of Hospital Medicine-related Self-Assessment CME** per year;
  4. Hold active and unrestricted medical license(s) to practice in the U.S. or Canada and provide a copy with current expiration date;
  5. Submit payment of annual CMF by January 1 of each year;
  6. Sixteen of the 400 CME hours completed during each eight-year period must be obtained through AAPS-sponsored programs;
  7. Complete 4 CME hours of AAPS-approved*** Medical Ethics every eight years.

Note: The first bi-annual application is due by December 1 of the year the current certification expires. The first bi-annual application needs to be accompanied by the applicable CME documentation for the full eight-year certification period. Applicants must document that the CME requirements that were in place from the year they were last certified or recertified through 2017 AND the above requirements from 2018 onward have been met.*  In the years following the first annual application, ALL of the above requirements must be met each year in order for certification to remain in good standing.

* Physicians who were newly certified or recertified in 2006 or later were required to meet the ABPS Standards for RecertificationClick Here to view a copy of the brochure or Click here to download a PDF copy of the brochure.

** CME activities that require you to pass a quiz or test to attain AMA PRA Category 1 creditsTM can be used to satisfy the requirement for completion of Self-Assessment questions. The following resources are available for on-line CME and self-assessments:

A list of CME/Self Assessment Resources compiled by Dr. Bernard Sklar (Online Continuing Medical Education) is available at http://www.cmelist.com.

Another resource for On-Line self assessments is NetCE at www.netce.com.

***AAPS-approved Medical Ethics courses include the AAPS-sponsored Medical Ethics course held annually in conjunction with the AAPS Scientific Meeting OR must contain the term “Medical Ethics” in the title or clearly in the syllabus of the course, must be intended for physicians, and cannot be the same course taken multiple times to meet the 4 credit requirement. CME hours attained from the AAPS-sponsored Medical Ethics course may be applied to the required AAPS-Sponsored CME.

Click here to download the recertification application.

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June 10-15, 2022
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.

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
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