ABIM Endocrinology
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Certification Examination
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Certification Examination is an ABIM subspecialty examination for physicians who have completed subspecialty training in endocrinology and are ready to demonstrate the knowledge, clinical judgment and skills required for independent practice. Certification tells patients, employers and credentialers that a physician has met a national standard in the discipline.
The exam is multiple choice with a single best answer. The overwhelming majority of questions use a patient-based clinical stem; a small number address specific knowledge points without a case. Some items require interpreting illustrative material such as electrocardiograms, radiographs and photomicrographs. Laboratory results in questions are followed by reference ranges in brackets, with an H or L when the value falls outside the range. Content spans diabetes and glucose metabolism, obesity, lipids and nutrition, thyroid disorders, pituitary and adrenal disease, and reproductive endocrinology with bone and mineral metabolism; the blueprint sets the target percentage for each category.
Expect roughly 10 hours of testing in four sessions of up to 60 questions, with 100 total minutes of optional break time divided across three breaks. Prepare using the current blueprint, the optional tutorial, ABIM's published laboratory reference ranges and exam-day guidance, then build a case-based question practice plan that stresses reasoning and pacing rather than isolated facts.
What you'll study
About ABIM Endocrinology preparation
How long is the exam, and how is the day structured?
Plan for approximately 10 hours. The exam is divided into four sessions, each lasting up to two hours and containing up to 60 multiple-choice questions. You have 100 total minutes of optional break time divided across three breaks, plus an optional tutorial of up to 30 minutes and up to 10 minutes of instructions and the pledge.
What do the questions actually look like?
Every question is multiple choice with a single best answer. The overwhelming majority use a clinical stem describing a patient scenario; a small number test specific knowledge points without a case. Some require interpretation of illustrative material such as electrocardiograms, radiographs and photomicrographs. Height, weight and temperature appear in both SI and imperial units.
When is the exam offered, and when must I register?
The 2026 exam date is Nov. 4, 2026, with registration from Dec. 1, 2025, through Jun. 15, 2026, and late registration Jun. 16 through Jun. 28, 2026 requiring a non-refundable fee. The announced 2027 date is Oct. 14, 2027, with registration Dec. 1, 2026, through Jun. 15, 2027.
Can I take the exam on a different schedule if I have a disability?
Yes. Separate accommodation dates exist for physicians with a documented disability requiring a special testing schedule under the Americans with Disabilities Act: Nov. 16–20, 2026, and Oct. 25–29, 2027, using the same registration and late registration windows and the same non-refundable late fee.
How are laboratory values presented in questions?
Each result is followed by its reference range in brackets and italics, with an H or L shown when the patient's value falls outside that range. Ranges vary with patient characteristics such as sex and age, so the reported range fits the patient in the stem. Prostate-specific antigen is reported as having no specific normal or abnormal level.
Are unanswered questions penalized?
Unanswered questions are scored as incorrect, so answer every question. The pass-fail decision is based on your performance across the entire examination, and the minimum passing score reflects an absolute standard independent of how any group of candidates performs. Any question later found to lack a single best answer is excluded from scoring.
When will my results be released?
Final results are released within three months of the last date of the exam in that area. You receive an email notification with instructions for accessing your score report through the Physician Portal. Copies of the score report are maintained for two years from the release date and can be obtained by written request during that period.
Can I have my exam rescored, and what does it cost?
You may request a rescore for a fee of $250 by submitting a written request within six months of the results release date. Include your name, ABIM ID, the examination to be rescored, and a check payable to the American Board of Internal Medicine. Rescore results are mailed within eight weeks of receipt.
In what order should I study the content areas?
Start from the current blueprint and note the target percentage for each content category, then allocate time in proportion, giving extra weight to your weakest areas. Practice full case stems rather than isolated facts, rehearse interpreting bracketed reference ranges and SI units, and simulate the pacing of 60 questions within two hours.
What happens after I pass?
Physicians who pass are designated certified diplomates of ABIM and receive a certificate, which is mailed within three to four months after results notification. The certificate remains valid as long as you continue to participate in Maintenance of Certification in accordance with program requirements. Your certification status and MOC participation are reported in the Physician Portal.