Who is ABEM Certified?

The American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), as well as many other ABMS member boards, has taken the position that the term “board eligible” will not be used to define a physician’s status with the Board. ABEM informs a physician who submits an application if he/she has met the credential requirements of the Board and then informs the physician of his/her assignment to take the qualifying examination.

The certification process consists of two examinations, the qualifying examination and an oral certification examination. A physician must pass the qualifying examination in order to be scheduled for an oral certification examination. A physician must pass both examinations to become certified as an ABEM  diplomate. Certification is for a period of ten years. Certificates are dated from the date of the examination results letter or December 31 of the year in which the physician took the examination, whichever is earlier, through December 31 ten years hence.

In order to maintain ABEM certification beyond the dates of the certificate, ABEM diplomates must participate in ABEM MOC, a program for continuous certification. For more information about meeting ABEM MOC, please click below.

https://www.abem.org/public/general-information/who-is-abem-certified-/who-is-abem-certified-

ABEM In Service Examination

Like some other American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member boards, ABEM develops and administers an in-training examination (or In Service Examination). It is offered annually on the last Wednesday in February to all ACGME-accredited and RCPSC-accredited Emergency Medicine residency programs for a small fee. Programs are not required to participate in this examination.

The examination targets the expected knowledge base and experience of an EM3 resident. Unlike other ABEM examinations, the in-training examination does not have a passing score. It is a standardized examination that residents and program faculty can use to judge an individual resident’s progress toward successful ABEM certification. There is a strong relationship between in-training and qualifying examination scores. Physicians with higher in-training scores have a higher likelihood of passing the qualifying examination and those with lower scores have a lower likelihood of passing the qualifying examination.

2014 Inservice Exam Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Dr. Carol Rivers' Emergency Medicine Text Book

Dr. Carol Rivers' Emergency Medicine Textbook is a comprehensive, 2-volume text that is a primer for certification, recertification and inservice exam preparation.

This powerful EM board study text is organized in a succinct outline format featuring updated emergency medicine board review content and more than 500 pre-chapter questions and answers like the AAEM emergency medicine textbook.

Features:
- Covers 20 Academic Topics
- Nearly Two Decades of Worldwide Sales
- Provides a Comprehensive EM Review like AAEM Textbook 
- LLSA information
- Content expansion in the pediatric, cardiology, urogenital & pulmonary chapters
- An easy-to-read, study directed text that focuses the busy emergency physician on key facts and clinical scenarios
- Includes a chapter on Mechanics of the Written Board exams and tips for good performance
- 27 expert contributors updated the 6th edition text The American College of Emergency

Physicians designates this enduring Rivers textbook for a maximum of 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Reference: http://www.amazon.com/Rivers-Preparing-Written-Emergency-Medicine/dp/0984385673

ABEM Examination Requirements & Process

Requirements

Physicians whose certification applications are accepted as fulfilling the credential requirements are offered an assignment to the ABEM examination.

Notification of Assignment

Physicians whose certification applications are approved at least three business days before the start of the ABEM exam will be offered an assignment to the examination.  ABEM will begin sending qualifying examination assignments with instructions for registering and scheduling appointments to take the examination in early August, as applications are approved.

Registration

To accept a qualifying examination assignment, physicians must register online through the ABEM website using instructions sent with the assignment. Registration deadlines and fees are listed under ABEM Exam Dates and Fees.

Scheduling

Physicians who have registered online through the ABEM website must schedule an appointment to take the qualifying examination in one of over 200 computer-based testing centers.  When physicians complete registration, the ABEM online registration system will display the necessary information for scheduling an appointment.

Approximately thirty days prior to the qualifying examination, ABEM sends each physician with a confirmed registration the Examination Information for Candidates book.  It includes confirmation of examination seating, examination logistics, and other information about the examination.
ABEM anticipates seating all physicians who fulfill the credential requirements and wish to take the qualifying examination.

Taking the Examination

The qualifying examination is administered once per year, usually in the fall. Physicians who have registered for the examination through ABEM schedule a one-day appointment to take the examination at one of over 200 computer-based testing centers.

The examination is divided into two sections or books, each separately timed and each lasting three hours and ten minutes. Once candidates complete one timed book of the examination they cannot return to it to review answers. Each book of the examination consists of both pictorial and non-pictorial multiple-choice questions. Pictorial questions refer to stimulus images, such as photos of x-rays, EKGs, rhythm strips, pictures, etc.  These images will be presented along with the relevant test question on the computer screen.

The AAEM Emergency Medicine Textbook

The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) is the specialty society of emergency medicine. AAEM is a democratic organization committed to great principles.

AAEM is proud to be celebrating 20 years at the specialty society of emergency medicine. We kicked off the celebration at the 19th Annual Scientific Assembly in Las Vegas in February and will be highlighting AAEM's history and founders throughout 2013.

AAEM spent two years developing a comprehensive written board review AAEM Emergency Medicine Textbook. Emergency Medicine: A Focused Review of the Core Curriculum is a 22-chapter text like the Rivers emergency medicine textbook written by experts on each topic and targeted at graduating EM residents, emergency physicians approaching recertification and EM residents taking the annual in-service exam. The AAEM textbook also serves as a comprehensive review of emergency medicine for the motivated medical student. The book includes color images and a 225 question practice in-service examination.

In Service Examination Overview

Like some other American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member boards, ABEM develops and administers an in service examination (or in-training examination). It is offered annually on the last Wednesday in February to all ACGME-accredited and RCPSC-accredited Emergency Medicine residency programs for a small fee. Programs are not required to participate in this examination. 


The in-service examination targets the expected knowledge base and experience of an EM3 resident. Unlike other ABEM examinations, the in serviceexam does not have a passing score. It is a standardized examination that residents and program faculty can use to judge an individual resident’s progress toward successful ABEM certification. There is a strong relationship between in-training and qualifying examination scores. Physicians with higher in-training scores have a higher likelihood of passing the qualifying examination and those with lower scores have a lower likelihood of passing the qualifying examination. 


The in service examination is not designed for program evaluation, and the results should not be used to compare programs or residents across programs.


The in-training examination is a comprehensive examination that covers the breadth of Emergency Medicine. It is a single-session written examination containing 225 multiple-choice questions and takes about 4.5 hours to complete. 


Questions are drawn from The Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine, which defines the universe of the specialty. All questions are written by a group of emergency physicians with special training in question writing. New questions pass through an extensive series of reviews, followed by field-testing. Because of this, a question may take two to three years from inception to appearance on an in-training examination as a validated question.

Who is ABEM Certified?

The American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), as well as many other ABMS member boards, has taken the position that the term “board eligible” will not be used to define a physician’s status with the Board. ABEM informs a physician who submits an application if he/she has met the credential requirements of the Board and then informs the physician of his/her assignment to take the qualifying examination. 

The certification process consists of two examinations, the qualifying examination and an oral certification examination. A physician must pass the qualifying examination in order to be scheduled for an oral certification examination. A physician must pass both examinations to become certified as an ABEM diplomate. Certification is for a period of ten years. Certificates are dated from the date of the examination results letter or December 31 of the year in which the physician took the examination, whichever is earlier, through December 31 ten years hence. 

In order to maintain ABEM board certification beyond the dates of the certificate, ABEM diplomates must participate in ABEM MOC, a program for continuous certification.

Reference: https://www.abem.org/PUBLIC/portal/alias__rainbow/lang__en-US/tabID__3432/DesktopDefault.aspx

The Book Like Rivers Emergency Medicine Textbook

ConCertPrep has released a new version of the AAEM EmergencyMedicine Textbook. This high yield text book is similar to the acclaimed Rivers Emergency Medicine Textbook.

This is an excellent source of reference and review for the ConCert exam:

• A comprehensive review of the core content of emergency medicine!
• Highly focused text leaves out superfluous information
• Specially designed sections that address trends from past exams
• Packed with hundreds of pictures, mnemonics, and case scenarios this book will make exam prep more efficient and effective for the busy emergency physician
• Strategic layout to promote retention of key concepts
• Tabbed for quick reference
• Chapters in order of most-tested to least-tested content
• "Crash course review" final chapter to maximize score immediately before exam
• With its extensive breadth of key EM points, this will undoubtedly become a great asset in your reference catalog

The In Training Examination

Like some other American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member boards, ABEM develops and administers an in training examination. It is offered annually on the last Wednesday in February to all ACGME-accredited and RCPSC-accredited Emergency Medicine residency programs for a small fee. Programs are not required to participate in this examination.

The examination targets the expected knowledge base and experience of an EM3 resident. Unlike other ABEM examinations, the in training exam does not have a passing score. It is a standardized examination that residents and program faculty can use to judge an individual resident’s progress toward successful ABEM certification. There is a strong relationship between in-training and qualifying examination scores. Physicians with higher in-training scores have a higher likelihood of passing the qualifying examination and those with lower scores have a lower likelihood of passing the qualifying examination.

The examination is not designed for program evaluation, and the results should not be used to compare programs or residents across programs.

The in training exam is a comprehensive examination that covers the breadth of Emergency Medicine. It is a single-session written examination containing 225 multiple-choice questions and takes about 4.5 hours to complete.

Questions are drawn from The Model of the Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine, which defines the universe of the specialty. All questions are written by a group of emergency physicians with special training in question writing. New questions pass through an extensive series of reviews, followed by field-testing. Because of this, a question may take two to three years from inception to appearance on an in-training examination as a validated question.

ABEM - The American Board of Emergency Medicine

What is ABEM?

 The American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) is one of 24 medical specialty certification boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. ABEM certifies emergency physicians who meet its educational, professional standing, and examination standards. ABEM certification is sought and earned by emergency physicians on a voluntary basis; ABEM is not a membership association.

 ABEM Mission 

 The ABEM mission is to protect the public by promoting and sustaining the integrity, quality, and standards of training in and practice of Emergency Medicine.

 ABEM Purposes

 ABEM’s purposes are:

• To improve the quality of emergency medical care
• To establish and maintain high standards of excellence in Emergency Medicine and subspecialties
• To enhance medical education in the specialty of Emergency Medicine and related subspecialties
• To evaluate physicians and promote professional development through initial and continuous certification in Emergency Medicine and its subspecialties
• To certify physicians who have demonstrated special knowledge and skills in Emergency Medicine and its subspecialties
• To enhance the value of certification for ABEM diplomates
• To serve the public and medical profession by reporting the certification status of the diplomates of the American Board of Emergency Medicine