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Adolescent Medicine Certification Exam

Adolescent Medicine Certification Exam Content

Exam Content

The Adolescent Medicine Certification Exam is a proctored, four-hour exam administered for the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) at computer-based 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:

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; and
  • 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 assessments are confidential, in addition to being protected by federal copyright and trade secret laws. Candidates and diplomates who undertake assessments agree that they will not copy, reproduce, adapt, disclose or transmit assessments, in whole or in part, before or after taking an assessment, by any means now known or hereafter invented. They further agree that they will not reconstruct assessment content from memory, by dictation, or by any other means or otherwise discuss assessment content with others. Candidates and Diplomates further acknowledge that disclosure or any other use of ABIM assessment 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 assessment results, exclusion from future assessments, suspension or revocation of Board 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.