Become Certified

Requirements for Certification

Overview

To justify certification in allergy and immunology, each candidate must satisfy the general and professional qualifications listed below. Once a candidate successfully completes the ABAI Certification process, a certificate is issued and the physician becomes an ABAI Diplomate.

Candidates are considered Board Eligible for ABAI Certification for five years after successfully completing an ACGME-approved fellowship training program in Allergy and Immunology if all of the following criteria are met:

  1. Specialty Certification: Candidate must be certified by the ABIM and/or the ABP as of the date of the ABAI examination.

  2. Residency in Allergy/Immunology: Candidate must complete at least 24 consecutive months of full-time fellowship in an allergy/immunology program accredited by the ACGME or other acceptable allergy/immunology programs.

    In 2016, the ACGME approved Allergy and Immunology training programs accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to be approved for dual accreditation. Graduates of a dually accredited program are now eligible to apply for admission to the ABAI Certification Examination in Allergy and Immunology. Therefore, candidates with one year of training in an AOA accredited program and one year of training in an ACGME accredited program may be considered for admission to the A & I examination. Candidates who submit appropriate documentation will be reviewed by the ABAI Ethics and Professionalism Committee to ensure their training meets the requirements for admission to the examination. For additional information regarding AOA/ACGME training, please contact the ABAI office.

  3. Training Program Documentation: ABAI must have the following documentation from the program director on file for each candidate:
    • (4) Clinical Competence evaluations
    • (1) Procedural Skills Assessment form

  4. Recommendation Letters: Candidate must solicit a letter of recommendation from two individuals to verify the medical and professional standing and clinical competence of the candidate as a specialist in allergy/immunology.
    Acceptable references are:
    • ABAI-certified Diplomates in the community
    • Chief of medicine, pediatrics, or chiefs of community hospitals
    • Officers of state or regional societies

  5. Valid Medical License: Candidates for board certification in allergy and immunology must submit copies of valid, current, unrestricted license(s) to practice medicine in the United States, territories, or Canada.  Copies must display the current expiration date.  If license(s) are held in more than one jurisdiction, all license(s) held must meet this requirement.  Physicians with any restrictions on their license(s) at the time of application or examination may not be admitted to the Certification Examination.
    Read ABAI's complete medical licensure policy.

Please refer to the Instructions for complete details.