ABIM Certification required for fellowship?

[agranulocytosis]

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Hi all,

I was wondering if ABIM Certification in Internal Medicine is required for fellowship training in IM Subspecialties. I just looked into this as no one told me I need to schedule my board exam date, nor did my fellowship contract stipulate this, and of course the deadline to schedule the test has passed. The only thing my fellowship requires is state licensure, which I understand is a prerequisite for ABIM certification, but nothing has specifically been said about ABIM Certification.

I contacted my program to find out more but I'm awaiting a response.

Anyone have any insight into this?

 

[ROBINHO]

You don't need abim certification to train as a fellow. In fact as a matter of fact majority of fellows start without certification since results come out in August. And even people who fail can still train in a fellowship program. Anything contrary to this will be program specific and shd be in your contract

 

[PulmDr]

You can start and even complete fellowship but it's highly advised you take care of it before you finish. You cannot take specialty boards without The ABIM being passed.

 

[gutonc]

You can start and even complete fellowship but it's highly advised you take care of it before you finish. You cannot take specialty boards without The ABIM being passed.

True. And speaking as someone who put it off for a couple of years, I can say that the longer you are away from IM, the harder it gets.

 

[agranulocytosis]

Thanks for the insight. In retrospect, you'd have thought that my IM program would have sent a reminder about this sort of thing before registration time begins, right? It just seems like this is something that shouldn't be found out, but rather prepared for.