Resident Rules of the Road: Chapter 2 Summary: "Certifying Bodies"

AAEM/RSA is proud to present weekly summaries of our popular publication Rules of the Road for Emergency Medicine Residents. As a multi-part series, these posts address many important topics ranging from the history of emergency medicine to resident wellness and job search suggestions.

Originally Published: AAEM's Rules of the Road for Emergency Medicine Residents, 7th Ed. Chief Editors: Tom Scaletta, MD FAAEM; Michael Ybarra, MD FAAEM; Leana Wen, MD MSc. AAEM and AAEM/RSA. Milwaukee, WI. 2010. http://www.aaem.org/publications/aaem-book-store.

Chapter Summary By: Andrew W Phillips, MD, MEd, Stanford/Kaiser Emergency Medicine Residency Program

Summary Series Editors: Muhammad Alghanem, BS, and Andrew W Phillips, MD, MEd

http://www.aaem.org/publications/aaem-book-store.

There are only two certifying bodies in emergency medicine for the United States: the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) and the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (AOBEM). The former certifies MD’s, and the later certifies DO’s.

I. American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM): for MD graduates 

A. Requirements for eligibility
     1. Medical school graduate
     2. Hold a state license
     3. Completion of an ACGME (American Council for Graduate Medical Education) accredited emergency medicine residency

B. Requirements for initial certification
     1. Submit application once (approximately $400)
     2. Pass the oral exam once (approximately $1200)
     3. Pass the written exam once (approximately $900)

C. Requirements for maintaining certification: Emergency Medicine Continuous Certification (EMCC) program

     1. Active professional standing
     2. Annual Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment (LLSA) tests (approximately $100)
     3. Assessment of Cognitive Expertise (commonly known as the ConCert written exam) every 10 years (approximately $2000)

D. Contact:

      1. www.abem.org
      2. 517-332-4800 (central time zone)

II. American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (AOBEM): for DO graduates 

A. Requirements for eligibility
     1. Osteopathic school graduate
     2. Hold a state license
     3. Completion of American Osteopathic Association (AOA) accredited residency OR be eligible for the practice track (full-time emergency medicine practice since 1986)
     4. Be an AOA member in good standing
     5. Conform to AOA Code of Ethics

B. Requirements for initial certification

    1. Submit application once
    2. Complete written exam once
    3. Complete oral exam once
    4. Complete clinical exam (review of charts and documentation of continuing medical education) once

C. Requirements for maintaining certification

     1. Complete eight annual Continuous Osteopathic Learning Assessment (COLA) modules every ten years
     2. Complete written re-certification exam every ten years
     3. Be an AOA member

D. Contact information:

     1. www.aobem.org
     2. 1-800-521-3709 (central time zone)