American Board of Addiction Medicine
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is ABAM?
The American Board of Addiction Medicine, Inc. (ABAM) is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(6)
organization whose mission is to examine and certify diplomats. Founded in 2007, ABAM
offers a rigorous certifying examination that was developed by an expert panel and the
National Board of Medical Examiners, as well as a maintenance of certification examination
to ensure that ABAM-certified physicians maintain life-long competence in Addiction
Medicine. ABAM Certification represents the highest standard in Addiction Medicine. It
means that an ABAM-certified physician has demonstrated sound clinical judgment and
skills essential for the delivery of excellent patient care. It also indicates that a physician
has met the clinical and educational criteria to be eligible to sit and has passed a rigorous
six hour written examination. To maintain certification, physicians must continue to
participate in CME courses and other activities, and must periodically retake an
examination to document that knowledge and skills are up-to-date.
Currently, more than 2,500 physicians are certified in Addiction Medicine by ABAM.
When are the certification examinations offered?
The Addiction Medicine examinations for certification and recertification are offered every
other year in December. The next examination is scheduled for December 15, 2012.
How do I apply for the examination?
The application is available on the website for downloading and completing electronically.
Contact: email@abam.net or (301) 656-3378, if you need assistance.
What are the requirements for taking the certification exam?
Initial certification requires verification of:
a. Graduation from a medical school in the United States or Canada.
b. A valid license to practice medicine.
c. A letter of recommendation by an ABAM or ASAM-certified physician or an immediate physician
supervisor.
d. Certification by a Member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or
successful completion of a residency training program in any medical specialty.
e. One-year full-time equivalent of activity in the field of Addiction Medicine. This is 1,920 hours over
the previous 5 years in teaching, research, administration, and clinical care of the prevention of, as
well as treatment of individuals who are at risk for or have a substance use disorder, OR A one-year
ABAM-Foundation accredited Addiction Medicine Residency Training Program
f. 50 hours of Category I Continuing Medical Education (CME) toward the AMA Physician Recognition
Award. Credits must have pertained to the diagnosis and treatment of persons with alcoholism and
other drug dependencies and must have been accrued within a 24 month period, prior to sitting for
the examination.
Recertification requires submission of a current valid medical license and a letter of reference.
How is the exam administered?
ABAM examinations are administered by computer at approximately 477 Prometric Test
Center locations (including 126 international sites).
What are the deadlines for an application?
Filing deadlines for the application [and subsequent late filing deadlines with associated
late filing fees] are indicated below. For assistance, contact: email@abam.net or call (301)
656-3378.
2011
October 31
Early Deadline for Application
2012
January 31
June 15
September 1
September 30
December 15
March 1
Standard Deadline for Application
Final Deadline for Application
Exam Permits Mailed
Deadline to Register for Exam Test Center
ABAM Examination
Results Mailed
2012 Exam Application Deadlines and Fees
Certification Applicants
Early Deadline:
October 31, 2011
Application Fee: $1,800
Recertification Applicants:
Early Deadline:
October 31, 2011
Application Fee: $1,100
Standard Deadline:
January 31, 2012
Application Fee: $2,200
Standard Deadline:
January 31, 2012
Application Fee: $1,200
Final Deadline:
June 15, 2012
Application Fee: $2,500
Final Deadline:
June 15, 2012
Application Fee: $1,500
Are review materials available for preparation for the examination?
The ABAM Certification/Recertification Examination covers the broad body of knowledge of
addiction medicine. Examinees can expect questions on any or all topics that an addiction
physician in any specialty can reasonably be expected to know. Two review courses are
available, as well as the textbook cited below.
Review Courses
CSAM Addiction Medicine Review Course, September 5-8, 2012, San Francisco, CA
Continuing Medical Education: 30 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™ (estimate).
Information: For more information call CSAM at 415-764-4855 or email:
csam@compuserve.com ; website: www.csam-ASAM.org
ASAM Addiction Medicine Review Course, September 20-22, 2012, Nashville, TN
Continuing Medical Education: 21 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) ™ (estimate).
Information: For more information call the ABAM Conference Department at 301-656-3920
or email: meetings@asam.org; website: http://www.ASAM.org
Textbook
The 4th Edition of ASAM’s landmark textbook, Principles of Addiction Medicine, provides a
comprehensive overview of the diagnosis and treatment of addictive disorders, as well as the
management of co-occurring medical and psychiatric conditions. Leaders in the field bring you
scientific, evidence-based facts and perspectives on such issues as: abuse programs, pain and
addiction, co-occurring addiction and psychiatric disorders, psychiatry, neuroscience and
neurobiology, pharmacologic advances, screening, the brief intervention, laboratory testing, alcohol
treatment, and more. To order Principles of Addiction Medicine, 4th Edition, call: 1-800/638-3030
[Monday through Friday between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm EST] or go to Lippincott Williams & Wilkins’
website at: http://www.lww.com/product/?978-0-7817-7477-2.
Where can I find additional CME?
Try www.AddictionCME.com or attend one of the ASAM or CSAM Review Courses.
The ABAM website will provide information.
May I project what CME I will be taking in the application? Yes, this is expected.
Are there Sample Questions?
Both the ASAM and CSAM Review Courses in Addiction Medicine distribute the Review
Course CD-Rom with over 200 sample questions.
Does ABAM certification expire?
ABAM Certification is valid for 10 years, unless you were originally certified by ASAM in
1996 or in any year prior to 1996, then your certification does not expire. Time-limited
Diplomates are required to participate in MOC.
When will I be required to participate in Maintenance of Certification (MOC)?
All physicians with time-limited certification are required to participate in the Maintenance of
Certification (MC-ADM) process. Mandatory participation begins January 1 of the year
immediately following your successful completion of the exam. For more information about
the requirements, please visit the Maintenance of Certification section of our website.
How can I verify a Physician is certified?
You can search for a physician by last name in our Diplomate Directory located under ‘Find
a Doctor ‘on the top right of the ABAM website (www.abam.net).
Where can I get Addiction Medicine Training?
You can meet the one year FTE requirement using experience from your practice or you
can take an Addiction Medicine Fellowship [the list appears on the ABAM website].
How long is the ABAM Exam?
The exam is roughly 5.5 hours long. There are roughly two hundred and fifty questions in
total, with 5 sections each of 50 questions. You are given 60 minutes for each section of
the exam, plus 15 minutes of optional break time.
How are electronic-permits to the Exam provided?
ABAM distributes exam permits electronically during the September prior to the exam.
Please insure that your email address is current.
How do order a Replacement Certificate?
Just write to email@abam.net. There is no charge for an additional certificate or for
replacement of your certificate. It will take approximately 3-4 weeks for the calligraphy to be
done and for you to receive your certificate.
What Designations can be used to indicate ABAM certification?
1.
ABAM Certified
2.
Certified in Addiction Medicine by the American Board of Addiction Medicine
3.
Diplomate, American Board of Addiction Medicine
4.
Diplomate, ABAM
5.
Diplomate of the American Board of Addiction Medicine
How is ABAM Governed?
ABAM is governed by the ABAM Board of Directors, composed of (15) Directors. One
(Specialty) Director is elected from each of the eight specialties that provide significant
prevention of or treatment for addictive disorders: emergency medicine, family medicine,
internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, preventive medicine
and surgery. Seven At-Large Directors are elected without regard for their medical
specialty, in order to provide special skills to ABAM and The ABAM Foundation and their
Committees. Two of the At-Large Director seats are currently slotted for ASAM-certified
physicians who are leaders within the American Society of Addiction Medicine. ABAM’s
accountability is both to the profession of medicine and to the public.