Critical Care Medicine covers the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of clinical problems representing the extreme of human disease. Internal Medicine-Critical Care Medicine blends the Internal Medicine diagnostic paradigm with Emergency Medicine's therapeutic imperative. IM-CCM–trained intensivists manage the melding of medical and surgical patients in the ICU.
ABEM- and American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (AOBEM)–certified physicians attain subspecialty certification in Internal Medicine-Critical Care Medicine by meeting the eligibility criteria, fulfilling specific credential requirements, and passing the Internal Medicine-Critical Care Medicine Certification Examination.
The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) develops and administers the subspecialty certification examination in Internal Medicine-Critical Care Medicine. ABEM is responsible for credentialing its candidates and notifying them of their examination results.
Eligibility
To take the certification examination in Internal Medicine-Critical Care Medicine, emergency physicians must:
- Be certified by ABEM or the AOBEM
- Successfully complete an ACGME-accredited, Internal Medicine-Critical Care Medicine fellowship as specified in the eligibility criteria
- Complete and submit the application to ABEM
- Actively participate in ABEM's continuing certification process or the AOBEM Osteopathic Continuous Certification Program
- Fulfill the ABEM Policy on Medical Licensure
- Comply with the ABEM Policy on Board Eligibility for Subspecialty Certification
Exam Process
The Internal Medicine-Critical Care Medicine Certification Examination is offered once each year.
Apply
To apply, ABEM- and AOBEM-certified physicians complete and submit the current year’s application, which is available from the ABEM office.
Complete applications for submission include:
- Completed, signed, and notarized current-year certification application form
- Application fee in U.S. funds
The application fee covers the cost of processing the application only and cannot be refunded.
A final application review is completed once all information is received. Incomplete applications will be closed in February of the following year; physicians with closed applications must submit new applications to apply. They must meet all requirements in place at the time the new application is submitted.
ABEM mails notification regarding whether the physician's application is approved.
Register
Physicians with approved applications are notified about how to register for the exam and schedule a seat at a Pearson VUE test center.
Exam Content specifications
An exam tutorial is available on the ABIM website. The exam blueprint and an exam-day schedule for the Internal Medicine-Critical Care Medicine Certification Examination is available on the ABIM website .
Results
ABEM sends candidates the results of their examination in writing. Results are also posted on candidates' ABEM Personal Page.