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Continuing HPM Certification

Maintain your hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) subspecialty board certification with updates and new options in 2022.

Introducing the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment: A New Option for Hospice and Palliative Medicine Certification: This 58-minute webinar recording provides an overview of the new LKA continuing assessment option and includes Q&A discussion designed to address your questions. The LKA is available for those due to recertify in HPM in 2022 (including those with extensions due to COVID). Watch the webinar.

December 2021 update: The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has approved the American Board of Gynecology (ABOG), American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR), American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), American Board of Radiology (ABR), and the American Board of Surgery (ABS) to move from co-sponsoring boards to qualifying boards in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

For HPM certified diplomates from these boards,

  • Once certified in the HPM subspecialty, you becomes a diplomate of ABIM for the HPM subspecialty and must meet all of ABIM's requirements for Maintenance of Certification (MOC) in the HPM.
  • The physician's original board no longer manages their certification and MOC for the subspecialty of HPM.


November 2021 update: The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has released the updated Standards for Continuing Certification for all allopathic boards of medicine. AAHPM had input and it made a difference. Since approval as a subspecialty of medicine in 2006, AAHPM has worked closely with the boards and offered input when possible. AAHPM convened a work group that provided substantive comments including a call for equitable care that is acknowledged in the updated standards.

Allopathic Continuing Certification

Determine which option is right for you. Those who are due for their continuing certification (MOC) assessment in 2022 can chose between the traditional 10-year high stakes exam on November 1, 2022 or a new Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA).

Physicians due for assessment in 2020, 2021 or 2022 in the available specialties will be eligible to enroll starting on December 1, 2021. The first set of questions will be delivered January 4, 2022 and the quarter ends March 31, 2022, so enrolling early ensures physicians will have the full quarter to access and answer questions for that quarter.*

*Family Medicine physicians due for assessment in 2022 may elect to take the 10 year high stakes exam in 2022 or ABFM will allow you to register for the hospice and palliative medicine LKA in December 2022 to start the LKA in 2023.

Consider which hospice and palliative medicine exam option will best meet your needs. This MOC Exam Fact Sheet is a resource for information on the new MOC certification option.

The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) is the administering board for HPM. Diplomates register for the MOC assessment through your primary board and pay the fees defined by your primary board. Learn more about exam options and what will work best for you.


Contact your primary board for details on your continuing certification requirements and exam registration dates. Learn more about upcoming dates of administration.

Osteopathic Continuous Certification

If you hold a time-limited certificate, you are required to participate in the four components of the OCC process in order to maintain your Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in HPM.

DOs with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine are required to maintain certification in the underlying, primary Board. Please contact your primary Board for details.

Resources for Continuing Certification

 These AAHPM products can help you meet the MOC requirements.

HMD Prep, 2nd Edition

MOC Part II CME Activity: 5 ABIM
Expiration Date: January 31, 2023

HPM PASS, 3rd Edition

MOC Part II CME Activity: 9 ABIM, ABP
Expiration Date: July 5, 2022 

Essential Practices in Hospice and Palliative Medicine Learning Modules 

MOC Part II CME Activity: 3 per module/ABP, ABIM
Expiration Date: September 18, 2023

HPM FAST - Pediatric

MOC Part II CME Activity: 2 ABIM, ABP
Expiration Date: March 1, 2024

HPM FAST - Psychiatry/Cognition

MOC Part II CME Activity: 2 ABIM, ABP
Expiration Date: March 1, 2024

HPM FAST - Prognostication

MOC Part II CME Activity: 2 ABIM, ABP
Expiration Date: March 1, 2024

HPM FAST - Hospice Regulatory

MOC Part II CME Activity: 2 ABIM, ABP
Expiration Date: November 4, 2022

Osteopathic physicians and physicians from other primary boards should check directly with their board about getting MOC/OCC credits for these education activities.

Visit AAHPM Learn to purchase any of the products above.