ABP Adolescent
Adolescent Medicine Subspecialty Certifying Examination (American Board of Pediatrics)
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ExploreAbout this exam
Adolescent medicine is an ABP subspecialty certification established through a collaboration among the American Board of Pediatrics, the American Board of Internal Medicine, and the American Board of Family Medicine. It is intended for physicians who already hold a primary certificate in pediatrics, internal medicine, or family medicine and who have completed accredited fellowship training in adolescent medicine, and who want that subspecialty expertise recognized through board certification. The credential is voluntary; it is not a license to practice, but a professional standard signaling verified training, clinical competence including professionalism, and scholarly activity.
The certifying examination samples the breadth of the field: pubertal growth and development, preventive care and health screening, mental and behavioral health, sexual and reproductive health, and the management of chronic illness and substance use in adolescents. Candidates should build a study plan around the ABP's published subspecialty content outline rather than a single textbook, and should use a spaced review that integrates physiology, psychosocial development, confidentiality and consent, and evidence-based office practice.
Preparation also has an administrative side. Confirm fellowship completion, any leaves of absence, and the program director's final evaluation well before applying, and verify registration dates with your primary certifying board, since these may differ by board. Requirements are subject to change, so check with the ABP before relying on any figure.
What you'll study
About ABP Adolescent preparation
Who is eligible to take the adolescent medicine certifying examination?
You must first hold a primary certificate: pediatrics from the ABP, internal medicine from the ABIM, or family medicine from the ABFM. The ABP's general eligibility criteria for all subspecialties also apply. If your primary certificate is from the ABIM or ABFM, contact that board directly about its own eligibility rules and registration dates.
How long does adolescent medicine fellowship training take?
Three years of full-time, broad-based fellowship training in a program accredited for adolescent medicine by the ACGME in the United States or the RCPSC in Canada. Part-time training may be completed over no more than six years. Training time cannot be waived for convenience, such as for fellows who begin training off cycle.
What happens if I take extended leave during fellowship?
Absences or leaves exceeding three months, whether for vacation, parental leave, illness, or otherwise, must be made up. No continuous absence of more than one year is permitted. If fellowship is interrupted for more than 12 months, the Credentials Committee must review any request for previous credit. A program director may petition the ABP for an exemption.
What must my program director submit on my behalf?
A final evaluation verifying satisfactory completion of the required training, evaluating clinical competence including professionalism, and providing evidence of scholarly activity or research. You must also meet the criteria in the ABP's Principles Regarding the Assessment of Scholarly Activity and pass the subspecialty certifying examination.
Is a two-year training pathway available?
The ABP home page announces a forthcoming process by which some training programs may petition the ABP to offer a two-year pathway for individual fellows. No effective date is stated, and the adolescent medicine admission page still requires three years of fellowship. Treat three years as the current requirement and confirm any change directly with the ABP.
When is the exam offered and what does it cost?
The adolescent medicine admission page does not list exam dates or fees. The ABP maintains separate pages for subspecialty content outlines and for exam dates and fees, and registration dates may differ depending on whether your primary certificate comes from the ABP, the ABIM, or the ABFM. Check those pages and your board.
How should I sequence my studying?
Start from the ABP subspecialty content outline and map every listed topic to a source you trust. Review in blocks, beginning with puberty and growth, then preventive care and screening, mental and behavioral health, sexual and reproductive health, and chronic illness and substance use. Finish with mixed, timed practice that forces rapid switching between domains.
What are common ways candidates lose points?
Two risks recur. First, answering from general pediatrics habit when the question turns on adolescent-specific physiology, dosing, or development. Second, neglecting the non-medical layer: confidentiality, consent, school and family dynamics, and legal reporting duties. Practicing short vignettes that ask for the next step, not just a diagnosis, addresses both.
What if I fail, or my training record has a gap?
The admission page does not describe retake rules, so confirm them with the ABP rather than assuming a timeline. For training gaps, absences over three months must be made up, and interruptions beyond 12 months trigger Credentials Committee review. The ABP advises contacting it to verify that your information is current.
Can the requirements change after I apply?
Yes. The ABP states that these criteria and conditions are subject to change without notice, and the adolescent medicine page was last updated on November 25, 2025. All applicants are advised to contact the ABP to confirm whether the information they have is current. Re-verify training and absence rules in the year you apply.