Certificate of Added Qualifications

The Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Hospice and Palliative Medicine is offered in conjunction with the American Board of Internal Medicine and eight other ABMS specialty boards. This CAQ, which became available to qualifying ABFM physicians in 2008, is designed to recognize excellence among those Diplomates whose practices emphasize the care of seriously ill and dying patients with life-limiting illnesses.

How Do I Obtain my Initial Hospice and Palliative Medicine CAQ?

The Hospice and Palliative Medicine Certification Examination is offered biennially. If you are interested in seeking initial Hospice and Palliative Medicine Certification, you will need to meet the following requirements to become eligible to take the examination and gain certification:

  • Continuously maintain your ABFM Family Medicine Certification
  • Complete of a minimum 12 months of full-time training in an ACGME-accredited Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program and submit verification of completion documentation
  • Submit an online application with the appropriate fee
  • Achieve a passing score on the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Certification Examination

Your board eligibility period for subspecialty certification begins the day after the verified completion of your fellowship training and expires after seven date-to-date years (Example: 07/01/2017–06/30/2024). In order to remain board eligible for the Hospice and Palliative Medicine CAQ during this time, you will need to maintain your ABFM Family Medicine Certification. For details, please visit our CAQ Board Eligibility page.

How Do I Maintain my Hospice and Palliative Medicine CAQ?

The continuing certification examination is offered annually. The Hospice and Palliative Medicine CAQ Certification is 10 years in duration. If you are interested in maintaining your Hospice and Palliative Medicine Certificate of Added Qualifications, you will need to meet the following requirements to take the Hospice and Palliative Medicine CAQ Continuing Certification Examination and maintain certification status.

  • Continuously maintain your ABFM Family Medicine Certification
  • Submit an online application with the appropriate fee
  • Achieve a passing score on the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Continuing Certification Examination

You may choose to take the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Examination prior to the year in which your CAQ is scheduled to expire, if desired. Each time you successfully complete the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Examination you will reset your 10-year Hospice and Palliative Medicine CAQ Certification. Any time remaining on your previous certificate will be foregone. If you are unsuccessful on the examination, you may re-attempt provided that application requirements are met.

Longitudinal Assessment Exam Option 

ABFM, in conjunction with the American Board of Internal Medicine, will offer a Longitudinal Assessment option for the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Certificate of Added Qualification to Continuing Certification candidates beginning in 2023. Application details will be sent to eligible physicians later this year. Check back here in August for more. To learn more about ABIM’s Longitudinal Assessment, please click here.

My Hospice and Palliative Medicine CAQ has Lapsed

If you have previously held a Hospice and Palliative Medicine CAQ Certification and it has lapsed, you can still regain certification. If you meet the requirements below, you may regain certification no matter how long it has been lapsed.

  • Continuously maintain your ABFM Family Medicine Certification
  • Submit an online application with the appropriate fee
  • Achieve a passing score on the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Certification Examination

How Do I Get Started?

If you are interested in obtaining, maintaining, or regaining a Hospice and Palliative Medicine Certificate of Added Qualifications, you may access the online application for the Hospice and Palliative Medicine CAQ Examination under “Added Qualifications” in your MyABFM Portfolio.

For additional information, please contact Erik Tousseau at [email protected] or 859-538-7169.