ABP Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Pediatric Hospital Medicine Subspecialty Certifying Exam
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) is one of the pediatric subspecialties for which the American Board of Pediatrics offers subspecialty certification. Candidates generally enter the PHM certifying exam pathway after completing pediatric residency and accredited subspecialty fellowship training, and must satisfy the ABP's general criteria for subspecialty certification plus any subspecialty-specific admission requirements before they can sit for the exam. The examination is administered by computer; the ABP publishes a Computer-Based Administration Policy covering test-day administration, and it maintains content outlines for subspecialties to describe the knowledge areas its exams sample. Because the ABP's public site does not enumerate PHM-specific domain weightings, item counts, exam duration, or pass thresholds, candidates should treat any such figures they encounter elsewhere with caution and confirm details directly with the ABP. Preparation is generally built around the subspecialty content outline, supervised clinical experience on inpatient pediatric hospital medicine services, and systematic review of core hospital medicine topics such as care of the medically complex child, perioperative and sedation co-management, quality improvement and patient safety, infection management, and transitions of care. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the ABP.
What you'll study
About ABP Pediatric Hospital Medicine preparation
How is the Pediatric Hospital Medicine certifying exam administered?
It is a computer-based exam. The ABP publishes a Computer-Based Administration Policy that governs administration of its computer-based exams, and it provides online tutorials and an exam-day guide. Confirm your specific appointment details, site, and any accommodations through your ABP portfolio rather than relying on third-party summaries.
How long is the exam and how many questions does it have?
The ABP's public pages do not state the item count or testing time for the PHM subspecialty exam, so no reliable figure can be given here. Treat any specific number you see in forums or commercial prep materials as unverified and check the official subspecialty exam information before you build a timing strategy.
What score do I need to pass?
A passing standard is not published in the source material available here, so this cannot be stated. The ABP does publish general information on exam development, scoring, and score reporting, and those pages are the right place to learn how its exams are scored and how results are communicated.
If I fail, can I retake the exam?
Retake rules are not specified in the available source, so this page cannot state a number of attempts, waiting period, or fee. Because retake policies and fees change, verify the current rules through your ABP portfolio or the ABP contact channels before assuming any timeline for a second attempt.
What content should I prioritize when studying?
Start from the ABP subspecialty content outline for Pediatric Hospital Medicine, since it describes the content the exam samples. Then weight your study toward your weaker domains rather than rereading familiar general pediatrics material, and integrate quality improvement, patient safety, and care of children with medical complexity, which are central to inpatient practice.
What is the most common study mistake candidates make?
Studying general pediatrics broadly and neglecting inpatient-specific systems topics. Hospital medicine questions often hinge on disposition decisions, escalation of care, antimicrobial stewardship, and handoff or safety processes rather than on rare diagnoses. Practicing brief, case-based reasoning under time pressure is usually more efficient than long content review.
When should I start preparing relative to my exam date?
The ABP does not publish a recommended preparation timeline in the source material here, so no official lead time can be cited. A practical approach is to begin outline-based review several months out, protect weekly question practice, and reserve the final weeks for targeted remediation of your lowest-performing domains.
Am I eligible to take the PHM certifying exam?
Eligibility runs through the ABP's general criteria for subspecialty certification plus the Pediatric Hospital Medicine admission requirements. Requirements involve accredited training and related criteria, and there are non-standard pathways and time-limited eligibility provisions. Review the subspecialty admission requirements page and confirm your individual status with the ABP.
Does this page represent the ABP?
No. This is independent study material for candidates preparing for the Pediatric Hospital Medicine subspecialty certifying exam. It is not produced, reviewed, or endorsed by the American Board of Pediatrics, and official ABP pages should always be treated as authoritative for requirements, dates, and fees.