ABIM Sports Medicine

It is a computer-based, multiple-choice examination administered at a testing center. Questions are single-best-answer and may include clinical vignettes, images, and scenario-based stems. The sponsoring board publishes the current number of questions, section structure, and allotted time on its website; confirm those figures there rather than relying on secondhand sources.

It is a subspecialty-level exam aimed at physicians already board certified in a primary specialty, so the difficulty reflects that baseline. Passing standards are set by the board and can change between administrations. The board publishes the current passing standard and score reporting policy; there is no fixed number to memorize in advance.

Retake policies, waiting periods, and limits on the number of attempts are set by the sponsoring board and are subject to change. Check the board's current candidate handbook or website for the applicable rules before you plan a repeat attempt, and note any deadlines that affect your application window.

Most candidates benefit from a structured three- to six-month plan, front-loading exercise physiology and biomechanics, then moving through regional musculoskeletal topics, then medical and emergency content. Reserve the final weeks for mixed practice questions and review of weak areas. Your own training background and recent clinical exposure should drive how much time you actually need.

Start with general principles, since exercise physiology, pharmacology, and nutrition resurface throughout the exam. Then work region by region through upper and lower extremity and spine, followed by medical issues, head and neck including concussion, and on-field emergencies. Finish with rehabilitation, return to play, and special populations, which are smaller domains but easy points if reviewed systematically.

Two patterns stand out: neglecting the medical and emergency domains because they focus on orthopedics, and memorizing facts without practicing vignette-style decision-making. Concussion grading and return-to-play protocols, environmental illness, and sudden cardiac arrest management are frequently underprepared. Practicing applied questions under timed conditions exposes these gaps early.

Yes. Questions often present a mechanism, examination findings, and sometimes imaging, then ask for the next best step or most likely diagnosis. You should be comfortable with provocative shoulder and knee tests, ankle and foot examination, and interpreting plain films and MRIs at a level appropriate for a non-radiologist sports medicine physician.

No. This is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the administering board. Use it alongside primary sources such as the board's official handbook and peer-reviewed sports medicine texts, and verify all eligibility, scheduling, and scoring details directly with the board.