Transcript ASAM Addiction 101

The ABAM Certification and
Recertification Examination
December 11, 2010
Introduction to the
ABAM Examination

Purpose: To identify physicians with the knowledge,
experience and skills to provide quality healthcare
within the specialty of Addiction Medicine.

ABAM-certification involves a rigorous test designed &
administered by specialists in the field of Addiction Medicine.
Certification closely parallels ABMS standards. Select criteria
must be met to sit for the examination.

To date, ABAM has certified nearly 2,100 Physicians
in Addiction Medicine.
ABAM-Certified
by ABMS Board
Breakdown of ASAM Certified By ABMS Board
(ASAM Certified 4,267)
Psychiatry (ABPN)
Family Medicine (ABFM)
Non ABMS Certified
39%
Other ABMS
Certified
5%
Surgery (ABS)
0%
Obstetrics &
Gynecology
(ABOG)
1% Emergency
Medicine (ABEM) Pediatrics (ABP)
1%
1%
Psychiatry (ABPN)
27%
Family Medicine
(ABFM)
13%
Internal Medicine (ABIM)
General Preventive Medicine
(ABPM)
Neurology (ABPN)
Pediatrics (ABP)
Emergency Medicine (ABEM)
Internal Medicine
(ABIM)
12%
General Preventive
Medicine (ABPM)
1%
Neurology (ABPN)
0%
Surgery (ABS)
Obstetrics & Gynecology
(ABOG)
Other ABMS Certified
Non ABMS Certified
ABAM-Certified
by Specialty
Breakdown of ASAM Certified by Specialty
Addiction
Psychiatry
2%
General Preventive
Medicine
3%
Internal Medicine
17%
Pediatrics
2%
Anesthesiology
2%
Emergency
Medicine
1%
Psychiatry
Family Medicine
Psychiatry
35%
Addiction Medicine
Internal Medicine
General Preventive Medicine
Addiction Psychiatry
Pediatrics
Addiction Medicine
18%
Family Medicine
20%
Anesthesiology
Emergency Medicine
Value of ABAM Certification
to Physicians







Treatment centers, hospitals, & managed care orgs. actively recruit
ABAM-certified members to provide direction and leadership for their programs.
Many organizations require Medical Directors be certified in Addiction Medicine.
Physicians who hold ABAM-certification qualify to receive a waiver from the
special registration requirements of the Controlled Substances Act for the
provision of medication-assisted opioid therapy.
For those physicians interested in medical school faculty appointments, board
certification enhances an application.
State hospitals & medical facilities call on ABAM-certified Physicians for
testimony on issues and legislation related to substance abuse & treatment.
The widely-recognized National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) 2008
Standards for Accreditation of Managed Behavioral Healthcare Organizations
(MBHOs) require such MBHOs to have policies & procedures for credentialing
"psychiatrists and/or physicians who are certified in addiction medicine." NCQArecognition supports ABAM-certified physicians’ eligibility for credentialing by
these MBHOs.
Certification provides credibility with 3rd-party payers when advocating for patient
treatment.
Number Certified by Year
in Addiction Medicine
Pass Rates
1986 (76%)
1987 (79%)
1988 (83%)
1990 (84%)
1992 (89%)
1994 (83%)
1996 (79%)
1998 (80%)
2000 (86%)
2002 (85%)
2004 (88%)
2006 (85%)
2008 (86%)
2010- 830
applicants
To Do Prior
to the Exam

Download your electronic permit & schedule your
preferred Prometric test center. (477 test centers nationally)

Review the Tutorial on the ABAM Web Site
http://www.abam.net/take-the-exam/default.aspx

Confirm your testing appointment &
verify your test time 7 days prior to the exam.
(Test times vary)
Exam Day

Get to the Test Center 30 minutes early.
Don’t be late for the exam.

Bring to the test center
- A copy of your electronic permit
- Government-Issued Identification
- Test Center Confirmation, Address & Phone #
- Snacks
Examination Schedule
Optional Tutorial
Block 1: 50 Items
Block 2: 50 Items
Block 3: 50 Items
Block 4: 50 Items
Block 5: 50 Items
Optional Break Time
Optional Survey
15 minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes
60 Minutes
15 Minutes
Total:
Possible Break Time
5.5 Hours
Up to 30 minutes
Reviewing the Exam Tutorial
on the ABAM website
Instructions to Download Tutorial
on the ABAM website
The Instructions to access the tutorial look like this:
[This only works in Windows, not on Macs.]
Instructions for Installing and Using the ABAM Certification/
Maintenance of Certification Examination Orientation Materials
Installing the ABAM Certification/Maintenance of
Certification Examination Orientation Materials:
•Double-click the ABAM Install icon.
17 Sample Questions
Available on the website
Computer Examination
Computer Examination
Good Luck on the Exam.