certification requirements

In March of 2016 the gastroenterology certification requirements changed. There are new requirements that you must meet to successfully complete your certification. This article will provide you with what you as a physician need to know in order to successfully complete the gastroenterology certification process. 


The subspecialty of gastroenterology requires that you have already obtained your internal medicine certification through the ABIM and hold a valid license to practice. According to the ABIM, “To become certified in a subspecialty, a physician must satisfactorily complete the requisite graduate medical education fellowship training, demonstrate clinical competence, and procedural skills.” The internal medicine training must have been completing in an accredited U.S. or Canadian program. Any training prior to completing your internal medicine training will not count toward the subspecialty training. The training must be completed by the end of October of the year of the examination. 36 months of training with 18 months of clinical training is required prior to the exam. Specific procedures must have been learned during your training and these include diagnostic and therapeutic upper and lower endoscopy. This is a specific feature of the gastroenterology certification requirements. If you are also seeking to be certified in transplant hepatology it is necessary to be previously certified by ABIM in gastroenterology. This certification will not be further explored here.
For any certification it is required that you have documentation of clinical competence in patient care and procedural skills, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism and systems-based practice. Your training program director will determine your competence across these areas as they have been dictated by ACGME/ABMS expectations.

Once all of these requirements have been satisfied you are then prepared to sit for the gastroenterology certification examination. An application and fee must be submitted and then the exam itself be scheduled at a Pearson VUE testing center.

This exam will test your ability to use clinical judgement, diagnostic reasoning and evaluate your knowledge across different areas as a certified gastroenterologist. This exam requires knowledge of common and rare problems a gastroenterologist would be expected to consult on. The exam content includes several different medical areas each with a different percentage of expected content in the exam. These include:

    •    Esophagus
    •    Stomach and Duodenum
    •    Liver
    •    Biliary tract
    •    Pancreas
    •    Small Intestine
    •    Colon

In addition to these content areas, other topics that are covered can include endoscopy, genetic conditions, medical management and risks, nutritional support and quality benchmarking.

The exam itself is up to 240 multiple-choice questions with a single best answer focusing on patient scenarios. These questions are set up with a brief statement, case history, graph or picture and a list of possible options. You must decipher the most correct answer of those provided. The exam can take up to 10 hours to complete with several breaks. The current examination process is 4 sessions of 60 questions each for which you have 2 hours to complete. You are provided with a total of 100 minutes break to be divided between 3 break sessions.

The results of your exam will be transmitted to you electronically in a pass fail format. You can expect to learn of these results within 3 months of the date of the last scheduled exam in your speciality area. So long as you train, practice, and meet the gastroenterology certification requirements you are prepared for this process. According to the ABIM in 2015 94% of those who took the exam passed the first time.

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Rheumatology certification requirements changed in March 2016. While some of the of the certification details remained the same, there are differences that you must be aware of in order to complete this process. This article will focus on what you need to know to successfully complete your Rheumatology certification. 

The subspeciality of Rheumatology has particular requirements of a physician. You must already be certified in internal medicine, have completed the necessary fellowship training as part of your medical education, hold a license to practice medicine and have passed the Rheumatology Certification Examination. Additionally, you need to demonstrate clinical competence across several areas including the development of knowledge, advanced skills and behaviors as well as consistently providing competent care to patients. Specialized training must have occurred in an accredited program for a total of 24 months of training. According to the ABIM, the Rheumatology procedure involves, “Diagnostic aspiration of and analysis by light and polarized light microscopy of synovial fluid from diarthrodial joints, bursae and tenosynovial structures; and therapeutic injection of diarthrodial joints, bursae, tenosynovial structures and entheses.” 

Now that you have determined the Rheumatology certification requirements, it is now necessary to prepare to sit for the examination. This exam will test your ability to use clinical judgement, diagnostic evaluation and evaluate your knowledge across different areas. As a certified Rheumatologist, you must be able to identify and treat both common and rare medical disorders. There is a very specific blueprint that is utilized for this exam with topics across of multitude of areas. These areas include the following:

• Basic and Clinical Sciences                                  
• Crystal-Induced Arthropathies
• Infections and Related Arthritides
• Metabolic Bone Disease
• Osteoarthritis and Related Disorders
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Seronegative Spondyloarthropathies  
• Other Rheumatic and Connective Tissue Disorders (ORCT) 
• Lupus Erythematosus
• Nonarticular and Regional Musculoskeletal Disorders   
• Nonrheumatic Systemic Disorders     
• Vasculitides
• Miscellaneous Topics

Possible additional areas could include Geriatrics, Pediatrics, and Pharmacology 

The exam is multiple choice with one best answer required focusing on mostly patient scenarios. The examiners are also focusing on the tasks that a physician must complete including diagnosis, interpreting test results, forming recommendations, applying information from epidemiologic research and understanding the pathophysiology of the medical concerns. Once you have completed all the rheumatology certification requirements you are able to prepare to take the test. In order to sit for the exam, an on-line application must be completed with the fees paid. Once this is finished, information will be provided through a letter to schedule the test at a Pearson VUE center. The exam allows up to 10 hours of testing time divided into 4 sessions and breaks (up to 100 minutes) are allowed after each 2 hour session.

Results of your exam take time to receive. However, the longest you will have to wait is 3 months to learn if you have passed. It is always important to be prepared for any examination and it is likely that your studying and preparation for the examination never ended. Keep up the good work! You are capable of achieving this goal with appropriate preparation and practice just be sure to follow all the suggested rheumatology certification requirements. 

According to the ABIM in 2015 94% of those who took the exam passed! 

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Physician Assistants, you should plan for the day of the PANRE exam as if you are going on a vacation. These PANRE exam tips will help you prepare for your testing day like a pro.

* Have a backup plan if a babysitter is needed. 
* Check your mode of transportation to make sure you will arrive at the destination on time. 
* Pack your lunch, snacks, and daily medications the night before the exam. 
* Review the practice test you purchased and passed the day before the exam.

Here are a few PANRE exam tips that can save you time and money.

Arriving Early For The Exam
* The recommendation is to arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled exam at the test center.
* Showing up late is not an option. You don’t want to pay out more money and re-apply because you were late.

You Must Prove Who You Are
There is a mandatory list of procedures that you have to follow in order to take the exam. For instance, you must list your name exactly as it is spelled on your personal identification on the test too.
* You must have a clear picture ID that looks like you. 
* Your name must be signed and printed on another ID.

Please keep in mind that you must undergo certain registration procedures such as:
* Your fingerprints will be scanned and documented.
* You must have your picture taken. 

Personal Lockers Are Mandatory
According to the NCCPA, “No personal belongings (i.e., brimmed hats, bookbags, handbags, books, notes, study materials, calculators, watches of any kind, electronic paging devices, recording or filming devices, radios, cellular phones, outerwear, or food and beverages) are allowed in the testing room, but you’ll be assigned a locker to store them in. Upon reasonable suspicion, personal belongings and their contents may be subject to inspection. Any materials that are, or reasonably appear to be, a reproduction of any NCCPA examination materials will be confiscated.”
  
The PANRE Test
You will be given a chance to take the practice test for 15 minutes before the initial exam begins.
* You will become familiar with how to sign in, select and change your answers on their computers. 
* The exam is four hours in length.
* There are four parts to the exam with a total of 240 questions that are multiple choice.
* You are given sixty minutes to read and answer the sixty questions.
* The test will automatically shut down in sixty minutes. 

The Test Penalties
The following PANRE exam tips will help you to avoid costly mistakes.
* Take note of the time on your test monitor as well as when your 15-minute breaks begin and end. (Extra minutes will be deducted from your next session.)
* You’re not allowed to sign back in, so if you have extra time make sure to check the answers that gave you a bit of trouble or were left blank.

If you follow these PANRE exam tips, you should be fully prepared to pass with flying colors!

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Becoming board certified will demonstrate your commitment as a physician, to continually expand your knowledge and expertise in your chosen specialty. Certification involves a formidable process of testing, as well as evaluation by your peers in pediatrics. Before you are eligible to become a board certified pediatrician, the following pediatric certification requirements must be satisfied. 

• You must graduate from a medical school that is accredited in the United States, Canada or a World Health Organization recognized foreign medical school. 
• Three years of residency training in pediatrics must be completed and verified. 
• You must have an unrestricted state medical license. 

Each of these requirements will be source verified and confirmed by the certification board of the American Board of Pediatrics. Your program director plays an important role in your application process by giving his or her assurance that you meet the standards that are expected of a board certified pediatrician. 

Once the application is completed and all documentation and recommendations have been received, applications are thoroughly evaluated before a physician will be allowed to take the exam. When these conditions have been met and your application has been approved, you will be able to sit for the board certification exam. 

What is board certification?

Board certification is a voluntary process. Once you finish your residency, you have a certain length of time to pass the certification exam. Applications (available online) to take the pediatric board certification exam are accepted only during specified registration periods. Registration fees must accompany your application. 

The test is usually offered only once per year – in the fall. It is a one day test and includes four sessions with optional breaks between each section. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions – with a single best answer. The exam is seven hours in length. Check out the online tutorial available through the American Board of Pediatrics website. 

The pediatric board certification exams are copyrighted and held at secure, computer testing center locations – they are proctored by professionals. 

You are encouraged to use study materials that are directed towards the pediatric board certification exam, however they are not through American Academy of Pediatrics. 

How the test is scored?

The exam score is based on how many questions you answer correctly. No points are deducted for incorrect answers. The test scale ranges from 1 to 300 – with 180 the passing score. The score is scaled for reporting purposes, there are many versions of the exam. 

How long is the wait for results?

Your exam score will be posted on your online portfolio within approximately 60 days following your test. You can expect your long awaited certificate to be mailed to you in approximately four months. 

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Did you just pass your exam? Consider the opportunities Elliot Health System has to offer.

It’s time to heave a big sigh of relief that you are almost done with your Nurse Practitioner program! You should be very proud that you have completed (or almost completed) this challenging degree. Even though you have that demanding goal completed, you need to think about the certification exam. Once that’s behind you, you really will feel like you can take a deep breath. But – first things first.  

Nurse Practitioner Certification
In order for you to practice in your chosen field as a Nurse Practitioner, you must take the certification examination that is in conjunction with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. The Nurse Practitioner exams are based on objectives that allow the Academy to measure the skills and knowledge that is required of Nurse Practitioners. They are based on competencies developed during the NP program.

Specialties within the realm of a practicing Nurse Practitioner include: 

• Adult Nurse Practitioner
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner

*Note: As of December 2016, the Adult Nurse Practitioner exam will no longer be offered. 

Once you have successfully completed the didactic and clinical program, you will be qualified to sit for the nurse practitioner certification exam. You are able to begin the application process six months before you graduate from your nurse practitioner program. 

Application process
You must apply to take the nurse practitioner certification exam. First, register online – and complete the application. Once the application is complete and you have gathered all of the documents required, the application can be faxed, mailed or emailed. You will receive a letter of acceptance when your application is approved. When your application has been processed and accepted, you will be able to schedule when and where you will take the test. 

Following submission and acceptance of your application, you will have a 120 day window to take the exam – these dates will be explained to you in your acceptance letter. 

Practice tests
Along with your traditional methods of studying for the exam, practice exams are available for you to purchase. They are useful tools for you to prepare for the nurse practitioner certification exam. By using practice exams, you will be able to become familiar with the format of the test questions on the certification exam. Each practice test can be used only once, but additional practice exams are available for purchase multiple times.  

What the exam will look like
The Nurse Practitioner certification exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions. This includes 15 questions that are actually ‘pretest’ questions that do not count in your certification exam score. 

At the time you finish your test, you will notice a ‘preliminary pass or not pass’ on your computer screen. If you have successfully passed the test, you will receive a letter containing your exam score – as well as your certificate within three weeks of taking the test. If you do not pass the exam you are able to sit for the exam twice during a calendar year. 

Once the nurse practitioner certification exam is behind you, you will be able to begin your new advanced career. Successful completion of the Nurse Practitioner certification exam shows that all of your hard work has paid off and you are on your way to a rewarding and enjoyable new beginning. 

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The American Board of Family Medicine requires physicians to take the MC-FP Exam to be recertified or for your initial certification. The family medicine board certification requirements can be made into a checklist for your medical license that must be unrestricted to practice in Canada or the United States. The compliance documents for the physician’s professional role and their license to practice medicine are documents that must be submitted.  

In order to be ready, you should prepare in advance for an all-day affair of sitting and answering questions on a computer. 

The MC-FP Examination
* No score will be given on the 20 field questions. 
* Section 1 is two hours with 120 multiple choice questions.
* A 15-minute break is allowed. 
* Section 2 and 3 are Module exams and both are 45 minutes in length with multiple choice questions.
* The 70-minute break is allowed.

You should take the break because a few deep breaths, getting something cool to drink and let your brain relax with re-energize the mind.

* Section 4 consists of 80 multiple choice questions and is 95 minutes in length.
* The break time is 15 minutes.
* Section 5 has 80 multiple choice questions and is 95 minutes in length.
Be careful when you select a module. It cannot be changed after it has been confirmed. When the exam has reached its time limit that exam has ended. If you fail, you have to remain qualified to retake the exam. There is no limit on how many times you can retake the exam.

The family medicine board certification requirements have a list of every type of physical malady you will come in contact with during your practice.

The Self Assessment Module Requirements
* The Part II module earns 15 points.
* Completing 3 modules will give you the 50 points required. 
* The  Knowledge Assessment and a Clinical Simulation has 60 questions. 
*The required credits of Continuing Medical Education or CME

Part II Module  
* Knowledge Assessment and a Clinical Simulation with 60 questions on a selected topic. You have to answer 80% of the questions correctly and then the module must be completed within a year.
Part II Alternative Modules that can be completed to count toward the 50 points. 
* Patient Centered Medical Home 10 points 
* Health Literacy Module 10 points

Part III
* You passed the MC-FP examination.

Part IV Modules
* Performance in Practice or PPM
* Methods in Medicine Module or MIMM is for physicians who don’t participate with “hands on” patient care or work in the administrative capacity.

The Part IV module needs one part of each stage to be completed successfully. Part IV alternative modules that can be completed to count toward the 50 points.

MC-FP Entry Fees For The Modules
* Payment is due at the start of each module.
* The modules that are completed before starting the Entry Cycle Process will be forfeited.
* Part II modules must be completed within one year. Incomplete modules can be rescheduled or a different module can be chosen. 
* Fees for modules not taken will be refunded.
* You will receive 15 CME credits for completing each module. 

The family medicine board certification requirements apply to physicians in the military, the Coast Guard, Police departments, private practice and agencies that employ a doctor.

Congratulations! You have taken the Maintenance of Certification Program for Family Physicians or MC-FP exam and maintained your license to practice medicine. 

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To start, what exactly does an Endocrinologist do?

An endocrinologist is a specialist of internal medicine. Their focus is in understanding our bodily response to hormones (or a lack thereof). These specialists investigate patient ailments to see if they are due to hormonal imbalances and they treat deficiencies as needed. Endocrinologists may work with people suffering from obesity and nutritional disorders, diabetes, bone and calcium disorders, hyperthyroidism, pituitary disorders, reproductive and gonadal problems, cholesterol issues and certain cancers of the endocrine glands. 

How do I become an Endocrinologist?

Well…it’s not a hop, skip and a jump. Or really it is, but with a few extra hops and skips. Let’s take a look at the endocrinologist certification requirements, shall we?

1. Complete a Bachelor’s Degree 

Seems obvious right? It’s a good idea to major in a science-related field so that you have the necessary background. Also, medical school can be highly competitive so take advantage of any volunteer opportunities to help build your student resume- and to help get you experience in the field of endocrinology!

2. Complete a Doctorate of Medicine or a Doctorate of Osteopathy

As you might expect, one of the most basic steps to finishing the endocrinologist certification requirements will be to finish medical school. Keep in mind, medical school is only step two so you can’t start slacking just yet. Make sure to keep those grades up and get as much hands-on experience as possible. 

3. Pass the United States Medical Licensing Exams

Because, well, of course you’ll need to become licensed to practice endocrinology (and anything else for that matter). This exam basically tells the world that you paid attention in medical school. While you will need to prepare, keep in mind the purpose is to make sure you know your stuff so if you study well during the entire medical school process, the contents of the test shouldn’t be too much of a shock. 

4. Complete a Residency in Internal Medicine

Before you can delve into the specialization of endocrinology, you’ll need to be sure you’ve got a firm understanding of internal medicine. A residency gives you excellent, hands on experience. Again, volunteer whenever opportunities arise to study the endocrine system and its functions in the real world. 

5. Become Board Certified in Internal Medicine

Hooray! Another certification exam! You’re over halfway through the endocrinologist certification requirements. 

6. Complete a Fellowship in Endocrinology

Alright by this point, you know you want to be an endocrinologist. Since you’ve already completed time in internal medicine, you should have gotten some great exposure to the field. Now you get to do even more with those endocrine glands!

7. Pass Your Certification in Endocrinology

You’ve made it to the very end and completed all of the endocrinologist certification requirements except one- the test. Once you’ve passed, pat yourself on the back because man are you specialized! 

8. You’re an Endocrinologist!

Congratulations! You’ve made it through long hours and hard exams, but you’ve also proven yourself as an amazing doctor and specialist. Now get ready to start reaping the rewards of all your hard work- you earned it!

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