Subspecialty Certification

Since 2014, all physicians are required to complete a 12-month, accredited, hospice and palliative medicine fellowship to be eligible to take the initial certification examination.

Those with primary board certification in one of the following specialties are eligible for fellowship:

It is important to contact your applicable primary certification board for detailed requirements.

Eligibility for Initial Certification

The initial certification exam in Hospice and Palliative Medicine for allopathic physicians is administered by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Each cosponsoring board publishes its own eligibility criteria for physicians seeking admission to the HPM certification exam. 

In general, candidates must

• be board certified and in good standing by one of the 10 primary boards
• hold a valid, unrestricted, and unchallenged license to practice medicine
• demonstrate clinical competence and moral and ethical behavior in a clinical setting, typically with a letter or affidavit from the fellowship program director
• have satisfactorily completed a 12-month fellowship in hospice and palliative medicine with an ACGME-accredited HPM fellowship program.

Exam Information

The initial Hospice and Palliative Medicine Certification Examination is a comprehensive, 1-day, computer-based examination of multiple-choice questions in the single-best-answer format with an absolute standard for passing.

The content blueprint includes the content areas covered, their relative percentages, and the approximate number of questions for each content area to be included on a typical examination. The examination is administered to candidates from all boards at the same time through Pearson VUE Testing Centers.

The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) is responsible for administering the examination on behalf of all 10 boards. Please visit your primary board for registration information.

How to Apply

You can register for the certification exam through the primary board where you are certified. Each board is responsible for developing its own application materials.

Continuing Certification

You have options for maintaining your hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) subspecialty board certification. The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and each co-sponsoring HPM Board have guidelines for continuing certification. Check with your primary board to stay current with continuing certification requirements and deadlines.

Resources

AAHPM has developed products, courses, and resources to help you prepare for the exam. Browse the products and choose what is right for you.