Board Eligibility
Be Board Eligible
Your Program Director will inform ABEM when you meet the training criteria necessary to be board eligible for certification. Board eligibility begins after your graduation date once your Program Director verifies your completed training. It expires five years later, on December 31 of the final year.
Criteria to meet board eligibility status:
- Have graduated from an ACGME- or RCPSC-accredited Emergency Medicine program or an ABEM-approved combined training program.
- Fulfill the ABEM Policy on Medical Licensure.
Other Statuses
You can check your board eligibility status by logging in to your ABEM Portal.
Pending
Explanation of Status | Reasons for This Status | Next Steps |
You have not graduated yet. Your board eligibility status will take effect once your Program Director verifies your training after your graduation date. |
| Graduate residency and then continue in the certification process. |
Delayed Certification
Explanation of Status | Reasons for This Status | Next Steps |
One of the steps toward certification is incomplete. |
| Complete any board eligibility requirements. Then apply for certification or register for the exam. |
Not Board Eligible
Explanation of Status | Reasons for This Status | Next Steps |
You are not eligible to become ABEM certified. You cannot claim to be board eligible, and cannot take ABEM certification exams. |
| If you were previously board eligible, you may be eligible to complete additional training to become board re-eligible. Contact the ABEM office for information on your options. 517-332-4800 option 1. |
Second Period of Board Eligibility
| Explanation of Status | Criteria for This Status | Next Steps |
| If you have passed the Qualifying Exam during your initial 5-year period of eligibility and completed all additional requirements, you may be eligible for a second 5-year period of eligibility. |
| If all criteria for this status are met, you will automatically be granted a second 5-year term of board eligibility, beginning January 1st, after your current term ends. Contact the ABEM office for more information on this process at 517-332-4800 option 1. |
Expiration of Board Eligibility
Explanation of Status | Reasons for This Status | Next Steps |
You are no longer board eligible, cannot claim to be board eligible, and cannot take ABEM certification exams. |
| Contact the ABEM office for more information on your options which may include board re-eligibility at 517-332-4800 option 1. |
Board Re-eligibility
Explanation of Status | Criteria to Meet This Status | Next Steps |
To become board eligible again, you must complete the Physician Re-eligibility Program (PREP), starting up to one year before you board eligible status expires. PREP is designed to take one year or less and requires minimal time away from your home and practice. |
| Contact the ABEM office first to confirm your eligibility and provide instruction on how to begin this process. 517-332-4800 option 1. Programs that provide PREP:
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