The American Board of Headache Medicine ® (ABHM) certification is offered to qualified physicians to enable them to document knowledge, training and skills in this new subspecialty of pain management.
This board certificate program will require candidates to provide evidence of prior training and experience, and successfully complete a written as well as an oral/practical exam.
The ABHM® is a subspecialty board exam and is currently not recognized by the ABMS.
Over the past decade; one of the most important new developments in headache medicine has been the introduction of various interventional headache procedures. This is a quantum leap in technology for those interested in this pursuit, and headache interventions are drawing a large number of neurologists and pain practitioners to adopt these new techniques. Some procedures are simple and easy to learn, while other procedures require appropriate training and experience.
Why The ABHM® Certification
No formal headache training exists in most pain fellowship programs. On the other hand, there is no formal interventional headache management training exists in most neurology residency and headache fellowship programs. As such, physicians treating headache patients obtain training through attending courses, hands-on workshops, as well as online educational activities. There is now an increasing trend for pain physicians to integrate headache medicine in daily pain practice. This goes in parallel with another increasing trend for headache physicians to integrate interventional headache procedures in their daily clinical practice. Not surprisingly, payers, as well as hospital administrators, are expected to demand documented training, evaluation, and certifications.
Steps to take to apply and sit for the ABHM® exam
All candidates will need to complete and submit an application in order to qualify and apply for an examination. Each application will be reviewed by the examination board.
After the Examination Board approves the applications, candidates can schedule their exams.
Candidates receive their ABHM certification after passing their examination that is valid for 10 years.
Candidates can renew their ABHM certification by reapplying after 10 years.
