Subspecialty Certification
Announcement: ABPMR Transitions to HPM Qualifying Board
The American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR) will join several other member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) in transitioning from a co-sponsor to the role of a qualifying board for Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM).
Beginning in 2022, the ABPMR will no longer offer HPM as a subspecialty certification. HPM certificates issued by the ABPMR will transition to ABIM, and diplomates wishing to earn an initial HPM certificate can do so through ABIM. HPM diplomates will continue their primary PM&R certification with the ABPMR and their HPM certification with ABIM. Continuing HPM certification through ABIM will assist diplomates in maintaining a high level of knowledge, judgment, and skills in this specialty.
In 2008, the first HPM examination was held and resulted in nine ABPMR diplomates achieving HPM certification; since then, 69 diplomates have achieved certification in HPM as of 2021. The joint HPM exam was originally agreed to in 2006 among ten member boards of the ABMS. The ABPMR joined the following boards: the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA), the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM), the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG), the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP), the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), the American Board of Radiology (ABR), and the American Board of Surgery (ABS).
The decision for the ABPMR to become a HPM qualifying board was made knowing the ABIM will best meet current and future HPM diplomates’ needs with valuable resources for continuing knowledge and skills in HPM. If you are an HPM diplomate, please check your inbox for an email from the ABPMR with information on what this transition means for you.
For additional information on this transition, please review ABIM’s FAQs. If you have any questions regarding your HPM certification, ABIM Customer Relationship Advocates are here to help at request@abim.org or 1-800-441-ABIM.
Helpful resources:
The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)
Register for the 2022 HPM Examination
