ABHPM Diplomates

• Status and Verification of Certification

• Directory Updates

• Transition to ABMS Certification

Status and Verification of Certification

American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (ABHPM) certification is valid for a period of eight years. Certificates issued by ABHPM display their expiration date.

To verify a diplomate's certification status, please search our online database. Only physicians with active, valid AAHPM certificates are displayed by the database. For verbal or written confirmation of certification status, call the AAHPM office at 847.375.4712. The certification verification process will continue through 2015.

Directory Updates

To update your contact information in the diplomate directory, please send an email to info@aahpm.org and reference the ABHPM diplomate directory or contact AAHPM by phone at 847.375.4712.

Transition to ABMS Certification

ABHPM diplomats who wish to continue to be certified after expiration of their ABHPM certificate will need to take the new certification examination offered by ABMS or AOA within the grandfathering period. The grandfathering period for ABMS is from 2008 to 2012, and 2009 to 2013 for AOA. The first ABMS-recognized examination will be administered on October 29, 2008.

ABHPM diplomates who also hold primary certification from one of the AOA or ABMS co-sponsoring boards will be eligible for the certification exam during the grandfathering period without taking a fellowship. During the grandfathering period, ABHPM diplomates will need to provide evidence of clinical activity in hospice and palliative medicine in the two years preceding the application for the examination. After the grandfathering period is over, only those who complete an AOA or ACGME-accredited hospice and palliative medicine fellowship will be eligible for certification as a specialist. Diplomates will apply for the certification exam through the primary board by which they are certified.