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In 2014, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) announced their agreement to transition to a single graduate medical education accreditation system in the United States. In response to this, the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) has created several special consideration pathways to enable physicians trained in osteopathic residencies and fellowships to become ABIM Board Certified.

Here are some of the Special Consideration Pathways for affected osteopathic physicians:

  • Residents & Fellows: A physician completing a program that has become ACGME accredited by the end of their residency or fellowship may be eligible to become ABIM Board Certified. Learn more.
  • Fellows: A physician completing an ACGME accredited fellowship who has also completed AOA accredited training in underlying certification areas may be eligible to become ABIM Board Certified. Learn more.
  • Program Directors: A program director of an ACGME-accredited residency or fellowship training program under the Single GME Accreditation System who has successfully completed training in internal medicine/subspecialty in an AOA-accredited residency or fellowship training program may be eligible to become ABIM Board Certified. Learn more.
  • Faculty Members: A faculty member of an ACGME-accredited residency or fellowship training program who has successfully completed training in internal medicine/subspecialty in an AOA-accredited residency or fellowship training program may become ABIM Board Certified. Learn More.

Why would an osteopathic physician want to become ABIM Board Certified?

ABIM’s certification has been developed with input from thousands of physicians across the country. Over the past few years, ABIM’s governance structure, exam content development, and policies have evolved to put the physician at the center of all of the decisions we make.

The Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program includes a new assessment option – called the Knowledge Check-In that can be taken online, from the comfort of your home or workplace. We were also one of the first certifying boards to partner with the American College of Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to increase recognition of the work doctors do every day.

There is compelling evidence showing that that board certified physicians command higher salaries and MOC improves value of care without sacrificing quality.

Consider taking your career to the next level.

Become ABIM Board Certified.