Certifying Exam
The ABEM Certifying Exam is the final step to becoming ABEM Certified.
The exam is in-person at the AIME Center in Raleigh, NC. There, physicians will complete 10 cases during their half-day exam session.
2026 Administration
Eligible physicians will be assigned to one of multiple exam administrations throughout the year, and then register for a half-day exam session within that administration window:
| 2026 Exam Administration Dates | Registration Window Registration Fee* $1,255 | LATE Registration Window LATE Registration Fee* $1,565 |
| March 9–12 | January 13 – February 13 | NA |
| May 11–14 | January 13 – March 19 | March 20 – April 14 |
| June 15–18 | January 13 – March 19 | March 20 – April 14 |
| June 29 – July 2 | January 13 – March 19 | March 20 – April 14 |
| August 3–6 | January 13 – June 4 | June 5 – July 9 |
| August 17–20 | January 13 – June 4 | June 5 – July 9 |
| August 31 – September 3 | January 13 – June 4 | June 5 – July 9 |
| October 19–22 | January 13 – August 20 | August 21 – September 18 |
| November 16–19 | January 13 – August 20 | August 21 – September 18 |
* Fees subject to change
Common Questions
How is the Certifying Exam different than the Oral Exam?
The Certifying Exam will test additional competencies that cannot be tested on the Qualifying Exam or current Oral Exam.
It will assess:
- High-stakes Communications and Difficult Conversations
- Patient Communications Beyond Diagnosis
- Procedural Skills
- Clinical Decision Making/Shared Decision Making
- Team Management
- Leadership
- Reassessment
- Task Switching
- Prioritization
The Certifying Exam will take place in person at the AIME Center, a professional assessment center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Multiple exam administrations will take place each year, giving candidates more flexibility in scheduling.
Why Raleigh, NC?
The ABEM Board of Directors evaluated and toured several venues around the country to
explore their capabilities to host the Certifying Exam. Search criteria included finding a space to examine various case types, including procedural skills and simulation, that would support standardized equipment and experience for all candidates and could adapt to changes in exam format and new innovative technology (e.g., adding Virtual Reality) as the exam evolves.
The AIME Center in Raleigh, NC is a state-of-the-art facility with flexible space that can be
configured to accommodate clinical cases, procedural cases, simulations, and
modalities that may not be conceived yet. The Center can support medical equipment and
simulators to be used in testing. This facility supports providing an exam that can be
standardized for all candidates regardless of administration. It ensures a fair and equitable
experience using a variety of technologies for all candidates.
The AIME Center also allows ABEM to partner with a local, diverse group of actors who work as Standardized Patients (SPs). They are trained to provide a high-level testing experience for a certification exam. Some are also trained to work with physician case developers to provide their expertise in designing realistic patient interactions for certification exam cases. The AIME Center recruits a pool of diverse actors (e.g., age, race, gender, gender identity, physical type, physical abilities, sexual orientation, etc.) and that represent the U.S. patient population. This exam will be designed so that cases and interactions are a reflection of the U.S. patient population.
The AIME Center also has an exam administration infrastructure that will guide candidates
through the process. Candidates will arrive at the designated hotel. Check-in registration will occur at the hotel. A proctor is assigned to a set of candidates at the hotel. The proctor’s role is to guide the candidate through the exam and answer questions about logistics for their session. The candidate just needs to get to the hotel on their assigned day and time for their exam.
Is there validity evidence for the Certifying Exam?
Yes, ABEM conducted years of research before developing this new exam.
Why is the Oral Exam being retired after 2025?
The Oral Certification Exam is an important part of ABEM certification. It measures unique competencies that are not measured on the Qualifying (written) Exam and has been shown to be a valid and reliable examination. Most importantly, the Oral Exam differentiates ABEM-certified physicians from other providers. However, ABEM is developing an assessment that addresses feedback from the EM community. As the specialty grows and changes, ABEM must as well in order to continue ensuring the highest standards in the specialty.
I'm already certified, how will the Certifying Exam impact me?
Short answer: it won’t. There is no need for ABEM-certified physicians to travel to Raleigh or take the Certifying Exam. Your continuing certification requirements will not change.
But if you want to get involved, there are many volunteer opportunities!
