ABMM Board Certification
The goal of the ABMM is to provide practicing Maritime Physicians, Maritime Nurses, and Maritime Public Health Specialists throughout the globe, world-class board certification and recertification in the field of Maritime Medicine, Maritime Nursing and Maritime Public Health in order to demonstrate their foundational base of knowledge, professional experience, skill, expertise, commitment to ethical practice, and life-long dedication to continued education and training.
The ABMM board certifying examinations are valid, reliable, psychometrically sound, and are consistent with basic testing standards of The American Educational Research Association and The American Psychological Association.
The ABMM’s clinically based written and oral examinations are developed using rigorous standards for measuring the knowledge base and skill sets required to provide the highest level of patient care available. Maritime Physicians, Maritime Nurses, and Maritime Public Health Specialists who earn Board Certification through the ABMM are members of a highly distinguished community of Maritime healthcare professionals whose priority is the advancement of patient care and safety to all seafarers, passengers at sea, and other members of the Maritime Community at-large.
The ABMM board certification represents a monumental intellectual achievement. Board certification through the ABMM will inform the general public – worldwide – that certified Maritime Physicians, Maritime Nurses, and Maritime Public Health Specialists have thoroughly demonstrated a mastery of the core body of knowledge and skills required to engage in quality Maritime Medicine.
ABMM Purpose of Board Certification
The American Board of Maritime Medicine (ABMM) is committed to the certification of qualified Maritime Physicians, Maritime Nurses, and Maritime Public Health Specialists who are engaged in the practice of Maritime Medicine, Nursing and Public Health. Certification is based on scientific and medical education, clinical training, clinical practice, clinical skills, and experience-based requirements.
The purposes of board certification is as follows:
- To define the substantive domain of knowledge and clinical skills expected of Maritime Physicians, Maritime Nurses, and Maritime Public Health Specialists who serve patients within the Maritime Community.
- To provide a valid, reliable and reproducible assessment of the knowledge level demonstrated by a Maritime Physician, Maritime Nurse, and Maritime Public Health Specialist.
- To encourage continued professional development of best practices in the filed of Maritime Medicine, Maritime Nursing, and Maritime Public Health.
- To formally recognize Maritime Physicians, Maritime Nurses, and Maritime Public Health Specialists who meet the high standards set by the ABMM; and
- To serve the public, world-wide, by encouraging quality patient care in the practice of Maritime Medicine, Maritime Nursing, and Maritime Public Health to the Maritime Community at-large.
ABMM – Scope of Board Certification
The American Board of Maritime Medicine (ABMM) defines board certification as a voluntary process that generally indicates a mastery of the core body of knowledge, experience, skills and expertise in Maritime Medicine, Maritime Nursing and Maritime Public Health.
The ABMM board certification process enables successful candidates to present themselves to the public as uniquely qualified medical specialists in the field of Maritime Medicine, Maritime Nursing and Maritime Public Health. Upon successful attainment of ABMM board certification candidates shall receive a prestigious certificate suitable for framing as a Diplomate, American Board of Maritime Medicine.
The testing standards which the ABMM employs are valid, reliable and psychometrically sound. Board certification is open to all Maritime Physicians, Maritime Nurses, and Maritime Public Health Specialists who satisfy the qualifying requirements.
ABMM – Board Certification Subject Matter
Subject matter, while subject to change, to be included in board certification examinations by the ABMM shall include the following:
- Emergency Medical Care at Sea (ACLS/ PALS related topics)
- Emergency Trauma Care at Sea (ATLS related topics)
- Public Health at Sea
- Infectious Disease Treatment and Control
- Pharmacology & Logistics
- Mental Health & Crew Wellness
- Environmental & Occupational Hazards
- Care Team
- Medical-Legal Aspects of Maritime Practice
- Ethical Aspects of Maritime Practice
- Marine Toxicology
- Hyperbaric and Dive Medicine
- Cruise Ship Epidemiology & Public Health Surveillance
- Evacuations at Sea
- Evacuations at International Ports of Call
ABMM – Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility requirements and examinations of the ABMM have been developed based on a substantial review and analysis of the current state of clinical knowledge in the field of Maritime Medicine, Maritime Nursing and Maritime Public Health, and as reflected in PEER publications and the clinical practice of high-quality medical therapeutics.
General board certification requirements of the ABMM include the following:
- Submission of a Completed Application for board certification by the ABMM;
- Submission of verifiable passport type photograph;
- Submission of evidence of being in conformity with the Code of Ethics of the ABMM;
- Submission of two (2) letters of recommendation indicating Applicant is an ethical member of his profession, and has the general knowledge, experience and skill in the field of Maritime Medicine; Maritime Nursing or Maritime Public Health;
- Submission of certified copies of appropriate professional graduate degree (e.g., MD, RN, etc.) from an approved professional graduate school from the home country of the Applicant’s;
- Submission of current valid professional licensure, where applicable (e.g., MD, RN, etc.), in the field of medicine, nursing or public health, from the State where the Candidate is Currently licensed in;
- Submission of documented and identifiable clinical experience in Maritime Medicine. For First-Time professionals who wish to become board certified by the ABMM but do not have previous shipboard or maritime experience, the completion of three (3) you-tube type instructional videos prepared by the ABMM shall be required. Each instruction video will conclude with a Quiz which will require a score of 85% (Each) for successful completion.
- Submission of verification of documented Continued Medical / Public Health education relating to Maritime Medicine for three (3) years preceding the Applicant’s application for board certification;
- Submission of three (3) Clinical Summaries of the applicant’s management of complex Maritime Medicine, Maritime Nursing or Maritime Public Health Issues will be required as part of the application processes. These Clinical Summaries must be typed and evidence truly complex issues which the applicant has managed; the appropriateness of the complexity of the Clinical Summaries will be reviewed by the ABMM. For First-Time professionals who wish to become board certified by the ABMM but do not have previous shipboard or maritime experience, the completion of three (3) you-tube type instructional videos prepared by the ABMM shall be required. Each instruction video will conclude with a Quiz which will require a score of 85% (Each) for successful completion.
- Submission of current Curriculum Vitae listing all clinical experiences and degrees earned in chronological order;
- Submission of Attestation of no disciplinary action by any licensing authority or governmental agency, to include the Current licensing authority of the Applicant’s current licensure;
- Satisfactory completion of the Written AND Oral ABMM board examination;
- Submission of the required Application fee;
All materials received by the ABMM shall become the property of the ABMM and no originals nor copies of such documents shall be provided to any requesting party, including the supplying party.
ABMM – Board Examination Format
The ABMM board certification process will consist of both written and oral examination components.
The format of the written examination shall be approximately 200 multiple-choice, single-response questions over a timed response period. A successful score of 85% percent correct will be required for successful completion of the board examination. The questions are developed and validated by the Members of the Section of Maritime Medicine, Section of Maritime Nursing and Section of Public Health Specialists. Members of each Section consist of highly recognized and respected clinicians in either the academic, research or clinical practice of Maritime Medicine.
Additionally, an oral examination shall be required which may be conducted by zoom or other appropriate video technology. The oral examination shall consist of rapid evaluation of clinical scenarios likely to be encountered in the maritime community and shall include both diagnostic and management questions and evaluation. The oral examination of the ABMM board examination shall last up to forty-five (45) minutes.
ABMM – Application for Certification & Recertification
All applications for board certification and recertification are available through the American Board of Maritime Medicine (ABMM) website. All information submitted by an Applicant is subject to primary source verification. Submission of false or misleading information constitutes grounds for exclusion from the certification processes. By signing the application the Applicant agrees to hold harmless the ABMM, and all parties acting in good faith, during verification, and for actions taken by the ABMM during its thorough review of the information submitted with any application.
If, after a period of one (1) year from the submission of an Application by an Applicant, all of the application requirements and materials for consideration for board certification or recertification are not deemed complete and the application has not been approved by the Examinations Committee of the ABMM, the application will become invalid, thereby, requiring the Applicant to submit a new application and application fee in order to pursue ABMM board certification.
ABMM – Applicant Status / Designation
There are various designations of an applicant’s status as they progress through the processes of application, examination, board certification, etc., by the ABMM. The various designations are as follows:
Applicant
An Applicant is an individual who believes they have sufficient experience, knowledge, skill and expertise to become board certified by the American Board of Maritime Medicine (ABMM) and have submitted an application and All requisite materials to take the board certification examination.
Candidate
An Applicant is deemed to be a Candidate when their Application to take the board certification examination is submitted and is deemed by the ABMM to be complete, all required submissions have been received, verified and deemed appropriate, and fees have been paid. Upon being deemed a Candidate, the ABMM will notify the Candidate of attainment of such status. A Candidate is formally eligible to take the board certification examination offered by the ABMM and may be considered as “Board Eligible.”
Diplomate
An individual is deemed a Diplomate of the American Board of Maritime Medicine (ABMM) when they have successfully passed BOTH the written AND oral board certification examinations of the ABMM and are so notified by the ABMM.
ABMM Re-Certification
Re-Certification by the ABMM is required every five (5) years. Only a written multiple choice examination will be required for re-certification Requirements for Recertification shall include the following:
- Submission of a completed Re-certification application;
- Submission of a list of CME hours earned by the candidate during the previous five (5) years since the last ABMM board certification which pertain to Maritime Medicine, Maritime Nursing or Maritime Public Health;
- Copy of current valid unrestricted professional license as applicable;
- Attestation of no disciplinary actions since last ABMM board certification by the medical board or licensing authority or governmental agency from which the applicant Currently holds a license;
- Successfully pass the board re-certification written examination offered by the ABMM;
- Submission of payment of appropriate Re-certification fee.
ABMM Application and Examination Fees
Any individual desiring board certification or re-certification by the American Board of Maritime Medicine (ABMM) must request, complete and submit an appropriate Application and pay the required Fees. A non-refundable application processing fee for board certification or recertification must be submitted with the ABMM application and supporting documents. Failure to submit this fee with the application will result in the rejection of the application. Only the application fee is due at the time of application submission for board certification by the ABMM. Required fees are as follows:
- Application Fee: $100.00
- Written Board Examination Fee: $200.00
- Oral Board Examination Fee: $200.00
- Re-Certification Fee: $200.00 (5 Years)
Payment Methods
The ABMM shall accept payment by credit card or electronic transfer of monies.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The ABMM does not discriminate against any person on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, national origin, medical condition, physical disability, or marital status.