Integrative Medicine Board Certification Eligibility Requirements
While every specialty covered by the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) has its own eligibility requirements, there are a few requirements that are considered baseline “musts” for every candidate, regardless of specialty. These include owning an unrestricted medical license for every state in which the physician is licensed, annual attestation to the currency of those unrestricted medical licenses, adherence to the ABPS Code of Ethics, and a certain amount of experience within the physician’s chosen field.
Candidates who wish to seek board certification in Integrative Medicine from the American Board of Integrated Medicine (ABOIM) must also meet the following eligibility requirements, among others:
- Completion of residency training in a program approved by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)
- Current or past completion of board certification granted by the ABPS, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), or a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) Board
In addition, ABOIM applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
- Completion of an ABOIM-approved Fellowship in Integrative Medicine
- Graduation from an accredited four-year naturopathic college
- Graduation from an accredited National Certification Commission on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) college
- Graduation from an accredited Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) college
Through Dec. 1, 2016, applicants with a minimum of one year Integrative Medicine clinical practice may also become qualified based on their demonstrated, measurable history of proficiency in Integrative Medicine. This path to eligibility will be based on a points-accrual system, with points awarded based on years of clinical practice, membership as a Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine, and certain continuing medical education criteria. Contact the ABPS for details about eligibility requirements for Integrative Medicine. The ABPS is the official certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc.