- General Information
- Areas of Certification and Recertification Offered
- Requirements for Certification in Internal Medicine
- Certifying Examination in Internal Medicine
- Requirements for Certification in a Subspecialty of Internal Medicine
- Subspecialty Certifying Examination
- Requirements for Certification of Added Qualifications in the Fields of Internal Medicine
- Combined Training Leading to Certification by Two Boards
- Application Fees, Deadlines and Late Applications
- AOA Certification Pathway for Osteopathic Internists Certified Through the ABIM
- Inquiries
The ACOI provides this information about the Certification process as a service to interested readers. To assure that the most accurate, up-to-date information is received, interested parties must contact the certifying board directly.
Name and History of the Board
The American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine, (AOBIM) was established in 1942, upon approval by the Board of Trustees of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). The Board is a non-profit affiliate of the AOA and reports to the AOA Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists. The members of the Board are appointed for three-year terms by the AOA Board of Trustees. The Board members are nominated by the Board of Directors of the American College of Osteopathic Internists to the AOA Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists.
Purposes of the Board
The purposes of the AOBIM are to define the qualifications required of osteopathic physicians for certification and recertification in the field of internal medicine and any other specialty field that may be assigned to it; to determine the qualifications of osteopathic physicians as specialists for certification in the field of internal medicine and any other specialty field that may be assigned to it; to conduct examinations in conformity with the Bylaws of the Board; to issue certificates, subject to the recommendations of the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists and to the approval of the Board of Trustees of the AOA, to those physicians who are found qualified; to recommend revocation of certificates for cause; and to use every means possible to maintain a high standard of practice in this specialty within the osteopathic profession. The actions of the Board are subject to the recommendations of the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists and to the approval of the AOA Board of Trustees.
Meaning of Certification and Recertification
The certification and recertification program in Internal Medicine and other subspecialty or specialty fields assigned to this Board are designed to recognize excellence among those individuals who provide care in the discipline of internal medicine. Certification by the Board is not a requirement to practice internal medicine. The Board does not intend either to interfere with or restrict professional activities of a licensed physician because the physician is not certified or recertified in a particular specialty or subspecialty of internal medicine.
Specialty of Internal Medicine
The Board awards a Diplomate certificate in the specialty of internal medicine to physicians who have satisfactorily completed the requirements for certification and have passed the necessary certifying examinations administered by the Board.
Subspecialties of Internal Medicine
Physicians who have been awarded a Diplomate certificate in internal medicine may seek certification in a subspecialty of internal medicine if they have completed the necessary requirements for a particular subspecialty area of internal medicine. In order to become certified in the subspecialty area, the Diplomate must pass the necessary examination administered by the Board. The Board offers examinations in the following subspecialties:
- Allergy/Immunology
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Hematology
- Infectious Disease
- Nephrology
- Oncology
- Pulmonary Diseases
- Rheumatology
Diplomates in internal medicine and/or the subspecialties may seek Certification of Added Qualifications by meeting the requirements established by the Board and passing the necessary examination. Certificates of Added Qualifications are offered in the fields of:
- Addiction Medicine
- Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Geriatric Medicine
- Interventional Cardiology
- Sports Medicine
The Recertification Program in Internal Medicine was instituted in 1992. Recertification is voluntary for all Diplomates who hold a certification certificate dated prior to January 1, 1993. All certificates issued by this Board after December 31, 1992, will be time-limited to ten (10) years and recertification will be required within the ten-year period in order to maintain a valid certificate.
Board Eligibility is defined as that status granted candidates who: Have documented the satisfactory completion of an AOA-approved training program in internal medicine or its subspecialties; have met all the requirements as established by the Board; have applied to and have been accepted to sit for the certifying examination; and are and remain members in good standing of the AOA. To be registered as Board Eligible, the candidate must complete the application process and be accepted for examination in the corresponding specialty or subspecialty.
A candidate who has applied for Board eligibility in internal medicine or its subspecialties and who meets all AOA and Board requirements shall be considered and listed as Board Eligible. Board eligibility shall be valid for the year of which the candidate has been accepted to sit for the certifying examination. Board eligibility will terminate on February 1st of the year following the certifying examination unless the candidate reapplies.
A candidate may lose Board Eligibility status by failure to reapply for examination, if examination failure occurs, or failure to maintain AOA membership. There is no limit to the number of times a candidate may apply for re-examination and Board eligibility. The initial application for examination is valid for a maximum of five years from the date of completion of the training requirements.
Once Board Eligibility status has been terminated a candidate may reapply for Board eligibility according to the Regulations and Requirements in the Section below.
Five years after completion of the training requirement for examination, a candidate who has lost examination eligibility and who wishes to re-enter the certification process must submit a new application for examination and pay the examination fee. Candidates may re-apply for examination each time their period of eligibility expires, as long as they sit for the examination at least once each three years. If a candidate withdraws from an examination, a withdrawal fee will be applied.
Each candidate's application must contain the following requirements in order to reestablish Board Eligibility status:
- Valid and unrestricted licensure in all states in which an applicant holds a license;
- Verification of satisfactory clinical competence by the applicant's local medical authorities;
- Continuous AOA membership during the 24-month period of time prior to reestablishing Board Eligibility;
- Maintain conformity to the standards set in the Code of Ethics of the AOA.
Prerequisites
To be eligible to receive certification from the AOA through this Board the applicant must meet all of the following minimum requirements:
- Be a graduate of an AOA accredited college of osteopathic medicine.
- Applicants who have been out of formal training one or more years must have a valid, unrestricted and unchallenged license to practice in the state or territory where his/her practice is conducted.
- Candidates with a restricted, suspended or revoked license in any jurisdiction at the time of application and/or examination will not be admitted to examination or be certified.
- Be a member in good standing of the AOA for a continuous period of at least two years immediately prior to the date of certification.
- Be able to show evidence of conformity to the standards set in the Code of Ethics of the AOA if requested.
- Demonstrate clinical competence in the practice of internal medicine documented by the candidate's program director on the Program Director's Report form.
- Have satisfactorily completed one of the following AOA-approved postdoctoral training programs:
- 12 months of a traditional internship followed by 36 months of an internal medicine residency (not necessarily running 36 consecutive months). Candidates may receive month-for-month credit for training in internal medicine taken during the internship, which may be applied towards the 36 months of internal medicine residency requirement.
- 12 months of a medicine track internship followed by 24 months of an internal medicine residency. The internship must meet the requirements for training as stated in the AOA Basic Standards for Training in Internal Medicine.
- 12 months of an AOA-approved internship followed by 48 months of a combined emergency medicine/ internal medicine residency training program. The residency training must contain 24 months of emergency medicine and 24 months of internal medicine and meet the basic requirements for training as approved by the AOA Board of Trustees.
- 12 months of an AOA-approved internship followed by 48 months of a combined internal medicine/pediatrics residency training program. The residency training must contain a minimum of 24 months of internal medicine training and 18 months of pediatrics training and meet the basic requirements for training as approved by the AOA Board of Trustees.
The Certifying Examination in Internal Medicine is a one-day multiple-choice examination of the "one best answer" type and matching items which are planned to evaluate an understanding of the scientific basis of the problems involved in the specialty of internal medicine, familiarity with the current advances in the specialty, the possession of sound judgement and of a high degree of skill in the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures involved in the practice of the specialty. Questions are designed to evaluate the candidate's ability to practice in inpatient, ambulatory, and critical care settings. The examination is designed to assure that the candidate has mastered the essential skills required for the practice of internal medicine, both as a primary care physician and as a consultant.
The Certifying Examination is administered annually and is a computer-based examination offered at 200 sites nationwide. Candidates are informed of the results of the examination within 12 weeks of its administration. Those who pass the examination are certified as Diplomates in the specialty of internal medicine and awarded a certificate indicating the duration of its validity. The 2008 Certifying Examination will be held on October 20, 2008.
(2008 Examination information)
Prerequisites
To be eligible to receive certification in a subspecialty from the AOA through this Board the applicant must meet all of the following minimum requirements:
- Be a Diplomate of the Board in internal medicine.
- The applicant must have completed two (2) years of AOA-approved subspecialty training in the subspecialty area examined. Dual certification in hematology and medical oncology requires three (3) years of AOA-approved subspecialty training of which a minimum of 12 months of training must be in hematology and 12 months in oncology. Applicants applying for the cardiology and gastroenterology subspecialty examinations must complete three (3) years of AOA-approved subspecialty training in the corresponding subspecialty. Candidates with two (2) years of subspecialty training will be eligible for examination if the training is completed prior to September 1, 1993 in cardiology and prior to September 1, 2002 in gastroenterology.
- Must have an unrestricted, unchallenged, valid license to practice in the state where his/her practice is conducted.
- Be a member in good standing of the AOA for a continuous period of at least two years immediately prior to the date of certification.
- Be able to show evidence or conformity to the standards set in the Code of Ethics of the AOA if requested.
- Demonstrate clinical competence in the practice of the subspecialty documented by the program director in the subspecialty training program by means of the Program Director's Report form.
Subspecialty examinations are a one-day written examination of the multiple choice "one best answer" type and matching items. The general subject areas covered by a specific subspecialty examination is provided with the application form. Subspecialty examinations are offered on a yearly basis, during the month of August or September in Chicago, Illinois. The 2008 subspecialty examinations will be held on August 23, 2008. Candidates will be informed of the results of the examination within eight weeks of administration. Those who pass a subspecialty examination are certified as Diplomates in the particular subspecialty and are awarded a certificate indicating the duration of its validity.
The Board offers examinations for Certification of Added Qualifications to Diplomates with additional training in Addiction Medicine, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Critical Care Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Interventional Cardiology and Sports Medicine. The Critical Care Medicine, Interventional Cardiology and Sports Medicine examinations are administered annually on even-number years. The Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Geriatric Medicine, and Addiction Medicine examinations are administered annually on odd-numbered years.
Critical Care Medicine
To be eligible to be examined in this subspecialty field an applicant must meet the following minimum requirements:
- The applicant must be a Diplomate of the Board.
- Must have satisfactorily completed one of the following combinations of AOA-approved training:
- Four (4) years of combined Emergency Medicine/Internal Medicine, three (3) years of training in Cardiology or two (2) years of training in Pulmonary Diseases, Infectious Disease or Nephrology followed by one (1) year of training in Critical Care Medicine; or four (4) years of a combined program in Cardiology/Critical Care Medicine or three (3) years of a combined program in Pulmonary Diseases/Critical Care Medicine, Infectious Disease/Critical Care Medicine or Nephrology/ Critical Care Medicine; or two (2) years of training in Critical Care Medicine.
Geriatric Medicine
In order to be examined in this subspecialty field an applicant must meet the following minimum requirements:
- The applicant must be a Diplomate of the Board.
- Must have satisfactorily completed one of the following AOA-approved training tracks in geriatric medicine:
- An academic track of two (2) years of geriatric residency training which includes experience in clinical geriatrics across the healthcare continuum; or
- A clinical track aimed at preparing geriatric clinicians requiring a minimum of one (1) year of geriatric residency training which provides full-time experience in clinical geriatrics across the healthcare continuum.
Sports Medicine
The Board offers examination for the certification of added qualifications to diplomates with additional training in sports medicine. To be eligible to be examined in this subspecialty field, an applicant must meet the following minimum requirements:
- The applicant must be a diplomate of the Board; and
- Must have satisfactorily completed an AOA-approved training program in sports medicine.
Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
The Board offers examination for the certification of added qualifications to diplomates with additional training in clinical cardiac electrophysiology. To be eligible to be examined in this subspecialty field, an applicant must meet the following minimum requirements:
- The applicant must be a diplomate of the Board in Cardiology; and
- Must have satisfactorily completed twelve (12) months of an AOA-approved training program in clinical cardiac electrophysiology.
Addiction Medicine
The Board offers examination for the certification of added qualifications to diplomates with additional training in addiction medicine. To be eligible to be examined in this subspecialty field, an applicant must meet the following minimum requirements:
- The applicant must be a diplomate of the board; and
- Must have satisfactorily completed twelve (12) months of an AOA-approved training program in addiction medicine;
Interventional Cardiology
The board offers examination for certification of added qualifications to diplomates with additional training in interventional cardiology. To be eligible to be examined in this subspecialty field, an applicant must meet the following requirements:
- The applicant must be a Diplomate of the Board in Cardiology; and
- Must have satisfactorily completed 12 months of an AOA-approved training program in interventional cardiology. This training must follow 36 months of training in cardiology and must occur in 1997 or later. During this training period the individual must have participated in a total case volume of a minimum of 300 cardiac interventional procedures and serve as the primary operator in a minimum of 200 of these cases.
Candidates who satisfactorily complete an AOA approved combined residency in either Emergency Medicine/Internal Medicine or Internal Medicine/Pediatrics will become eligible for certification by each Board.
Combined Emergency Medicine/Internal Medicine
To be eligible to receive certification from the AOA through this Board the applicant must meet all of the prerequisites listed under the section on internal medicine and in addition, satisfactorily complete the following AOA-approved postdoctoral training program:
- Twelve (12) months of an AOA-approved internship;
- Forty-eight (48) months of a combined EM/IM residency in which twenty-four (24) months are spent in each specialty.
- The Board Eligibility period will follow the same regulations as described for the specialty of internal medicine.
Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics
To be eligible to receive certification from the AOA through this Board the applicant must meet all of the prerequisites listed under the section on internal medicine and in addition, satisfactorily complete the following AOA-approved postdoctoral training program:
- Twelve months of an AOA-approved internship followed by 48 months of a combined internal medicine/pediatrics residency training program. The residency training must contain a minimum of 24 months of internal medicine training and 18 months of pediatrics training and meet the basic requirements for training as approved by the AOA Board of Trustees; or 12 months of an internal medicine/pediatrics track internship followed by 36 months of an AOA approved combined internal medicine/pediatric residency program. Candidates may receive month-for-month credit for training in internal medicine and/or pediatrics completed during a traditional, medicine track or pediatric track internship which may be applied towards the 48 months of internal medicine and pediatrics residency requirement.
- Candidates may receive month-for-month credit for training in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics taken during the internship, which may be applied towards the 48 months of internal medicine residency requirement.
- The Board Eligibility period will follow the same regulations as described for the specialty of internal medicine.
Responsibility of the Candidate
Although the Board publishes all application deadlines and examination schedules in various publications, it is the candidate's responsibility to be aware of all deadlines. Candidates for all Certifying Examinations must have completed the required training by August 15 of the year of the scheduled examination.
Candidates must use an application form which may be obtained by written request to the Board during the scheduled periods of registration. Application deadlines and examination dates are published on a regular basis in the D.O. and the American College of Osteopathic Internists Newsletter. Each year all internal medicine and subspecialty program directors for osteopathic programs are supplied with all examination and application deadlines.
FOR CERTIFYING AND RECERTIFYING EXAMINATIONS
Internal Medicine CERTIFYING Examination
The application/examination fee is $800 for the internal medicine certification examination and must be submitted with the application. The completed application must be postmarked no later than February 1, 2008. An additional late fee of $200 will be added to all applications postmarked after February 1, 2008. Late registration deadline is April 1, 2008. No applications will be accepted after April 1st, but will be considered for the examination given during the next calendar year.
Subspecialty Certifying Examinations
The application/examination fee is $700 for subspecialty or added qualifications certification examinations and must be submitted with the application. The completed application must be postmarked no later than April 1, 2008. An additional late fee of $200 will be added to all applications postmarked after April 1, 2008. Late registration deadline is May 1, 2008. No applications are accepted after May 1st, but will be considered for the examination given during the next calendar year.
Internal Medicine RECERTIFYING Examination
The application/examination fee is $600 for the internal medicine recertification examination and must be submitted with the application. The completed application must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2008. An additional late fee of $100 will be added to all applications postmarked after May 1, 2008. Late registration deadline is June 1, 2008. No applications will be accepted after June 1st, but will be considered for the examination given during the next calendar year.
Subspecialty Recertifying Examinations
The application/examination fee is $450 for subspecialty or added qualifications recertification examinations and must be submitted with the application. The completed application must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2008. An additional late fee of $100 will be added to all applications postmarked after May 1, 2008. Late registration deadline is June 1, 2008. No applications will be accepted after June 1st, but will be considered for the examination given during the next calendar year.
The osteopathic profession has created a pathway (Resolution 56) to eligibility for board certification for physicians certified through the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The pathway recognizes the rigorous requirements met by those certified by the ABIM and is simpler than either the ABIM recertification process or the traditional AOBIM certification process. Successful candidates who complete the requirements earn a regular certification certificate that is universally recognized and valid for 10 years.
Eligibility – In order to the eligible for this pathway, an ABIM-certified D.O. internist must have completed residency at least five years prior to application.
Application Process – Applicants must complete a one-page AOA application form which may be obtained by contacting the AOA certification department (800-621-1773). AOA will verify ABIM certification. Membership in the AOA is required to enter this process.
Once the above items are verified, the AOBIM will send the applicant an internal medicine certification examination application. Two additional forms are required, in addition to a copy of the ABIM certificate. There is a $600 fee to sit for the examination.
The Examination – The examination for certification in internal medicine through this pathway is a one-day exam, which will be offered this year on August 23, 2008 in Chicago, IL. The morning portion consists of the 150 items similar to the recertification examination. The afternoon portion is an additional 150 clinically-oriented questions selected from the regular certification examination.
Deadline for Application – To qualify for the 2008 examination, you must apply to the AOA by May 1 for Resolution 56 approval and June 1 to the AOBIM for the exam.
All inquiries, requests for information and correspondence of any manner may be directed to to Executive Director, Gary L. Slick, DO:
Gary L. Slick, DO, Executive Director
American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine
1111 W 17th Street
Tulsa, OK 74107-1898
(918) 561-1267
or by E-Mail: aobim@mail.com