Your Online Guide to a Certification in Addiction Medicine
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How to Get and Maintain Your Addiction Medicine Certification
Addiction medicine specialists offer growing value to providers, employers, patients, and communities. As the need increases for specialists who can treat the unique challenges of people managing the disease of addiction, getting your certification in addiction medicine may be a worthy investment for you.
ASAM is the professional organization for addiction medicine professionals and the educational resource for certification, recertification, and MOC/CCP/OCC. If you’re thinking about specializing in addiction medicine, we can help you prepare. And this guide is the place to start.
In January 2023, MOC will transition to Continuing Certification Program (CCP).
First, Some History
In 2016, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) recognized addiction medicine as a new medical subspecialty of The American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM), which now administers the board exam for Addiction Medicine (ADM). Physicians certified by any of the 24 ABMS Member Boards can apply for certification through the exam administered by the ABPM.
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) administers its board exam for addiction medicine certification. As of May 26, 2021, MDs may also take the AOA addiction medicine certification exam, in addition to DOs. For more information, visit the AOA addiction medicine certification page.
Do You Meet the Basic Requirements for Addiction Medicine Certification?
There are several pathways for physicians to become certified addiction medicine specialists.
American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM)
Practice Pathway Open through June 2025, applicants who complete minimum time in practice or a non-ACGME-accredited fellowship training will be considered for the addiction medicine subspecialty exam.
ACGME-Accredited Fellowship Pathway Beginning in 2026, it will be mandatory that physicians complete an ACGME accredited addiction medicine fellowship in order to be eligible to apply to take the exam.
American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
Clinical Practice Pathway Until Dec. 31st, 2026, applicants who either attest to 1,000 hours of addiction medicine practice, hold an active ABAM certificate, or complete an ACAAM (formerly TAMF and ABAM) accredited fellowship within the five years prior to the application start day may be eligible.
There are also addiction medicine certification exams for psychiatrists, international physicians, and non-physicians.
AOA or ACGME-Accredited Fellowship Pathway Beginning in 2027, it will be mandatory that physicians complete an ACGME accredited addiction medicine fellowship in order to be eligible to apply to take the exam.
Explore some of the certifying boards' pathways to eligibility to determine if you qualify.
Prepare for the ABPM/ADM AOA Certification Exam
Prepare for the ABPM or AOA ADM certification exam by enrolling in ASAM’s Review Course and Board Exam Study Tool (BEST)
- ABPM Application Period for MDs: March – June 2025
- ABPM Exam Administration for MDs: Offered in October 2025
- AOA Application Period for DOs: May – September 2025
- AOA Exam Administration for DOs: Offered in October 2025
Maintain Your Credential
Once certified, addiction medicine specialists must maintain certification by meeting educational requirements for the assessment of continuing competencies through a program called Maintenance of Certification (MOC) or Continuing Certification Program (CCP)/Osteopathic Continuous program (OCC).
ASAM is the leading provider of quality education, exam preparation, and resources for addiction medicine certification and maintenance of certification. ASAM is here every step of the way to provide assistance in meeting needs for CME/CE and MOC/CCP/OCC.
Explore ASAM’s resources for CME/CE that meet MOC/CCP/OCC requirements
Join ASAM and Get Started on Certification Today
Your career in addiction medicine starts with us. Join and start maximizing your membership benefits right now.
Explore Additional Resources
Note: ASAM is not a certifying board, and members are encouraged to contact their respective boards for the most up-to- date information on individual MOL/MOC/CCP/OCC requirements
Maintenance of Licensure (MOL) | Addiction Medicine Certification for Physicians | |||
| Individual State Medical Boards | American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Umbrella Board that establishes and maintains certification standards of 24 approved medical specialty boards | American Osteopathic Association Board that establishes and maintains certification standards of approved medical subspecialty boards | ||
| Licensure | American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) Addiction Medicine Exam | Osteopathic Conjoint Examination Committee on Addiction Medicine | ||
| An ABMS’ Primary Board, ABPM, provides certification and maintenance of certification for the subspecialty of addiction medicine | AOA’s Conjoint Examination Committee provides certification and maintenance of certification for the subspecialty of addiction medicine | |||
Maintenance of License Licensure requirements are set by your primary board | Continuing Certification Board-certified physicians maintain CCP in the subspecialty of Addiction Medicine set by the ABPM | Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC) Board-certified physicians maintain OCC in the subspecialty of Addiction Medicine set by AOA primary boards | ||
American Society of Addiction MedicineYour professional association and provider of lifelong learning tools and resources for MOC/CCP/OCC | ||||