What documents do I need to take with me to be admitted to the testing center?
You must bring two pieces of identification when you appear at a Pearson VUE testing center to take the examination:
- Primary ID: A government-issued form of identification that includes both your photo and your signature (e.g., driver's license, passport), and
- Secondary ID: Any identification that includes both your name and signature OR your name and a recent photo.
The name on both of your IDs must match each other and they both must match the name you used to register for the exam. Please contact ABPM at abpm@theabpm.org if you need to change the name on your exam appointment. Name changes can be made by ABPM up to five days before your exam appointment.
Learn more about what to expect when you arrive at a Pearson VUE testing center at https://home.pearsonvue.com/test-takers/resources.aspx.
Are there breaks during the exam?
All certification exams, except for Medical Toxicology, have one 15-minute break scheduled after the second one-hour block of questions. Examinees are not required to take the break.
Can I use a calculator or scratch paper during the exam?
Yes.
Pearson VUE testing centers will provide scratch paper to examinees. All scratch paper must be returned to testing center staff upon completion of the exam.
All exams have a calculator built into the exam administration platform.
How many questions are on the certification exam? How much time do I have to complete the exam?
The number of questions and the length of the exam varies by specialty and subspecialty. You may find this information for each exam in the table below.
Specialties
Number of Questions |
Time Limit |
Notes |
|
Aerospace Medicine |
200 questions delivered in four, one-hour time blocks |
4 hours and 30 minutes |
Includes a 15-minute tutorial and a 15-minute break |
Occupational & |
200 questions delivered in four, one-hour time blocks |
4 hours and 30 minutes |
Includes a 15-minute tutorial and a 15-minute break |
Public Health & |
200 questions delivered in four, one-hour time blocks |
4 hours and 30 minutes |
Includes a 15-minute tutorial and a 15-minute break |
Subspecialties
Number of Questions |
Time Limit |
Notes |
|
Addiction Medicine |
200 questions delivered in four, one-hour time blocks |
4 hours and 30 minutes |
Includes a 15-minute tutorial and a 15-minute break |
Clinical Informatics |
200 questions delivered in four, one-hour time blocks |
4 hours and 30 minutes |
Includes a 15-minute tutorial and a 15-minute break |
Healthcare Administration, |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
Medical Toxicology |
300 questions |
8 Hours |
Includes breaks and a tutorial; actual testing time is 6 hours and 20 minutes |
Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine |
150 questions delivered in three, one-hour blocks |
3 hours and 30 minutes |
Includes a 15-minute tutorial and a 15-minute break |