ABEM is continually partnering, communicating, and collaborating with the Emergency Medicine community. ABEM incorporated suggestions from the Emergency Medicine community to provide a more flexible and meaningful certification process that maintains high standards. In 2021, ABEM launched a new process and improvements in how ABEM-certified physicians stay certified. ABEM-certified physicians now take MyEMCert assessment modules, in lieu of the ConCert Exam, and began a transition to a 5-year certification cycle and an annual fee. For some, this feels like old news, but for others, it is just starting as they maintain their certification. We all have MyEMCert requirements, but when you move to a five-year cycle and annual fee depend on when your current certification expires.
MyEMCert
ABEM-certified physicians now meet their continuing certification requirements by completing 4 MyEMCert modules (online and open book, approximately 50 questions each) instead of taking the every ten years, high-stakes, ConCert Exam. The switch to MyEMCert emphasizes relevant content, saves emergency physicians time and money, and better accommodates their busy schedules. If you are board-certified; you should be taking a MyEMCert module nearly every year. Continuing certification means a continuous engagement in ongoing learning. Medical advances occur more frequently than every ten years, and ABEM’s new recertification process allows physicians to stay up to date. We also partner with ACEP and AAEM to offer CME for completing your modules. Many resources are available to learn and prepare, including Key Advanced synopses, videos, study points, and more. But please don’t wait until you are nearing your certification end date to start the modules. Start today!
5-Year Certification
Physicians are also moving to a 5-year certification period as they next recertify. Specifically, any certificate awarded or renewed in 2021 and after is for a 5-year duration. It’s important to note that the move from a 10-year to a 5-year certification length does not increase total requirements or the cost to stay certified. Our patients and communities expect emergency physicians to be up to date, which means completing some type of assessment on a regular basis, not just once every 10 years.
Annual Fees
As physicians move to a 5-year certification period, ABEM is also moving to an annual fee structure. Emergency physicians told ABEM that the one-time Concert exam and the one-time large fee was too inconvenient and wanted a more even distribution of the expectations and the costs. The annual fee structure better aligns with many physicians’ CME and professional development allocation from their employers. ABEM, like essentially all other specialties, has moved to an annual fee rather than a periodic large expense. This annual fee, along with continuing certification requirements, maintains your certification status. You can pay in advance and bundle all five years in advance, if that is more convenient for you. We want this to be convenient and less of a burden.
ABEM recognizes that these changes affect physicians differently depending on where they are in their certification. The best way to understand your requirements is to sign in to your ABEM Portal.
Promoting the Value of ABEM Certified Physicians
The Work You Do Matters! Thank you for your dedication to Emergency Medicine and to your patients and community.Â
We believe your board certification and accomplishments should be more widely recognized, so we are working hard to promote you! Your certification signifies that you are ready to deliver the highest standard of emergency care when people need it most.
Don’t forget you have access to a digital certificate and badge to add to your profiles and share electronically.
We also offer resources for you to promote your certification, including ABEM swag (badge pulls and badge buddies), and digital promotional materials for you and your health systems. Learn more
If you have any questions, please contact us at staycertified@abem.org.
