Initial Certification
Taking the Adolescent Medicine Exam

• About the Adolescent Medicine Exam
• Key Exam Dates
• Adolescent Medicine Exam Administration and Development
• Scoring and Reporting of Exam Results

About the Adolescent Medicine Exam

IMPORTANT: The Adolescent Medicine Certification exam is administered at computer testing centers throughout the U.S.

This exam is developed jointly with — and administered by — the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP).

Follow these procedures when registering to take this exam:

• You will register by completing and submitting an application form online at ABIM's Physician Login page.
• You will be sent additional information about the administration of the exam.
• Note: If your application is not approved, you will be notified when ABIM has determined that you are not eligible for admission to an exam. For refund information, see Refund and Cancellation Policy.
• Get more information about test center locations and changing exam dates. See Scheduling an Adolescent Medicine Certification Exam for additional details.

Key Exam Dates

Adolescent Medicine Exam Administration and Development

Adolescent Medicine Exam Administration

The Adolescent Medicine Certification Exam is a proctored, 4-hour, exam administered for the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) at computer testing centers. It covers the aspects of adolescent medicine that internists should know to provide excellent care to adolescent patients.

A blueprint representing content distribution is available online at ABP's website. The content outline is not designed to be a study guide or curriculum guide. To view the content outline:

• Go to ABP's website
• Choose Subspecialty Certification

Adolescent Medicine Exam Development

The Adolescent Medicine Certification Program, jointly developed by ABIM, ABFM, and ABP, is designed to recognize excellence among those with special expertise in this field. The requirements for all Boards are similar. The examination will be administered to candidates from all three Boards at the same time in the same testing centers. ABP is responsible for administering the examination. The standard for passing the examination will be identical for all Boards.

This information has been prepared by ABIM for use by its diplomates who are applying for the Certificate in Adolescent Medicine. The program has three components:

• Satisfactory completion of training requirements
• Substantiation by local authorities of the candidate's clinical competence in adolescent medicine and confirmation of an unrestricted and unchallenged medical license
• Successful performance on a comprehensive, half-day examination

Participation in the Certification program is voluntary. Certification in adolescent medicine is not a requirement to practice adolescent medicine, nor does ABIM confer privilege to practice.

Copyright and Examination Non-Disclosure Policy

All ABIM materials are protected by the federal Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101, et seq. Access to all such materials, as further detailed below, is strictly conditioned upon agreement to abide by ABIM's rights under the Copyright Act and to maintain examination confidentiality.

ABIM examinations are confidential, in addition to being protected by federal copyright and trade secret laws. Candidates and diplomates who undertake examinations agree that they will not copy, reproduce, adapt, disclose, or transmit examinations, in whole or in part, before or after taking an examination, by any means now known or hereafter invented. They further agree that they will not reconstruct examination content from memory, by dictation, or by any other means or otherwise discuss examination content with others. Candidates and Diplomates further acknowledge that disclosure or any other use of ABIM examination content constitutes professional misconduct and may expose them to criminal as well as civil liability, and may also result in ABIM's imposition of penalties against them, including but not limited to, invalidation of examination results, exclusion from future examinations, suspension, revocation of certification and other sanctions.

With respect to ABIM's Maintenance of Certification (MOC) products, including its Medical Knowledge Modules and ABIM PIMs Practice Improvement Modules^®, candidates agree that they will not copy, reproduce or make any adaptations of such materials in any manner; and will not assist someone else in the infringement or misuse of these or any other ABIM-copyrighted works.

Scoring and Reporting of Exam Results

Scoring

The examination pass-fail decision is based on your performance on the entire examination. Unanswered questions are scored as incorrect; therefore, you should answer every question. The minimum passing score reflects an absolute standard that is independent of the performance of any group of candidates. This standard has been established by the examination committee and approved by the ABIM Board of Directors.

Results

• After the exam is given, it will be analyzed and evaluated to ensure the reliability of individual results.
• Your results will be released and a Score Report will be mailed to you within three months of the last date of the exam in that area.
• You will receive e-mail notification when your results are released and an announcement will be posted on ABIM's website. No additional information is available until that time.
• You can obtain your pass/fail status for an exam in the exam history section on your home page under Physician Login when results are released.
• Scores are provided through the mail only. Copies of your Score Report will be maintained for two years from the date they were released. During that period, you may obtain a copy of your Score Report upon written request.
• Questions regarding exam results should be submitted in writing within six months of the date results were released.

Those who pass the examination are designated as certified as diplomates of ABIM. The certificate is valid for ten years. Maintenance of Certification is required for renewal of certificates. The certificates are mailed directly from the engraver within three to four months after candidates are notified of their results. Note: your current board certification status is reported on your Physician Login Home Page.

Pass Rates

Click here to see the First-Time Taker Pass Rates for Initial Certification (pdf).