Recent Modifications to the Eligibility Requirements for Hospital Medicine Board Certification
What follows is a brief overview of recent changes to the eligibility requirements for physicians who wish to apply for Hospital Medicine Board Certification through the American Board of Hospital Medicine® (ABHM).
Keep in mind that, as always, the new eligibility requirements do not override the general eligibility requirements of the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS).
Here are the ABHM eligibility modifications:
- Applicants for Hospital Medicine Board Certification must 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). Such training must include substantial and identifiable training in Hospital Medicine as determined by the American Board of Hospital Medicine and approved by the ABPS. Applicants without a completed residency may also be eligible if they hold current Board Certification granted by an ABMS, AOA, or ABPS board that was granted on or before December 31, 2001.
- Applicants must be qualified under one of the following:
- Hold current Board Certification in Family Practice, Internal Medicine or Emergency Medicine granted by an ABMS, AOA, ABPS, RCPSC, or CFPC board.
- Applicants with current board certification in other specialties will be considered on an individual basis.
- Canadian physicians who have not completed residency must meet the practicing physician eligibility requirement, which includes completion of 12 months of postgraduate medical training, full-time practice for a minimum number of years, and successful completion of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part 1 (MCCQEI). Applicants must provide both the practicing physician eligibility requirements for their specialty and documentation that they have met all the requirements. These applicants will be considered on an individual basis.
- Completion of an ABHM-approved fellowship program. Applicants under this option will be considered on an individual basis.
The general requirements for the ABPS include the following:
- Conformity with the Code of Ethics of the American Board of Physician Specialties
- Graduation from a recognized college of medicine holding an M.D. or D.O. degree. In the case of foreign medical schools, an English transcription of the document is also required. Graduates of foreign medical schools must also include a copy of their Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Certificate
- Possession and annual maintenance of a valid and unrestricted license(s) to practice medicine in the United States, its territories or Canada as a condition for continued board certification
- Submission of a current curriculum vitae, which includes medical school experiences and degrees earned, in chronological order
Contact the ABPS to learn more about the recent modifications to the eligibility requirements for hospital medicine board certification. The ABPS is the official board certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc.