What is the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) certification review?

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Last updated: March 23, 2025 • View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

The American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) certification is the gold standard for demonstrating comprehensive training, knowledge, and skill in the practice of emergency medicine, superseding other forms of certification or course completion. When preparing for the ABEM certification review, it is essential to focus on a structured approach that covers all core content areas.

  • Key areas of study include:
    • Cardiovascular emergencies
    • Trauma
    • Pediatrics
    • Toxicology
    • Environmental emergencies According to the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), board certification by the ABEM or the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (AOBEM) is the most comprehensive demonstration of knowledge and skill in emergency medicine 1.
  • A combination of study materials such as question banks, comprehensive review books, and focused study sessions is recommended.
  • Creating a study schedule and dedicating sufficient time for preparation, typically 3-4 months, is crucial for success. The use of short courses in emergency medicine may serve as evidence of focused review, but ABEM certification supersedes evidence of completion of such courses 1.
  • It is essential to prioritize ABEM certification over other forms of certification or course completion when preparing for a career in emergency medicine. By focusing on ABEM certification and using a structured approach to study, individuals can demonstrate their comprehensive training, knowledge, and skill in the practice of emergency medicine.

From the Research

Overview of ABEM Certification Review

  • The American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) certification is a critical milestone for emergency medicine residents aiming to transition to independent practice 2.
  • The ABEM certification review is designed to standardize physician training and qualifications for EMS practice, improve patient safety, and enhance the quality of emergency medical care provided to patients in the prehospital environment 3.

Core Content of EMS Medicine

  • The Core Content of EMS Medicine is used to define the subspecialty of EMS Medicine and provides the basis for questions to be used during written examinations 4.
  • The Core Content defines the universe of knowledge for the treatment of prehospital patients that is necessary to practice EMS Medicine 4.
  • The Core Content is intended to inform fellowship directors and candidates for certification of the full range of content that might appear on certification examinations 3, 4.

Preparation Courses and Examination Scores

  • A structured board review program has been associated with improved in-service examination scores by residents at an emergency medicine residency program 5.
  • A targeted preparation course for the ABEM examination has been shown to significantly increase pass rates, with an overall pass rate of 91.8% compared to a pre-course pass rate of 60% 2.
  • The development of a preparation course and the incorporation of ongoing feedback can play key roles in further enhancing the quality and effectiveness of the training program 2.

Maintenance of Certification

  • The American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) has a Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program that requires continual quality monitoring and improvement 6.
  • The ABEM MOC Program has been reviewed and revised to engage the EM community in the quality improvement process and to enhance relevancy and add value to the program 6.

References

1
Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

3
Research

The core content of emergency medical services medicine.

Prehospital emergency care, 2012

5
Research

Structured emergency medicine board review and resident in-service examination scores.

Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, 1997

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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