ABPMR PM&R

The ABPMR describes certification as culminating in a "two-part examination." Part I is the primary written knowledge examination taken near the end of residency; Part II is the subsequent component of the same certification sequence. The board maintains separate Part I and Part II pages describing the format, timing, and eligibility for each, so confirm the current structure there before planning.

The ABPMR's published examination pages are the only reliable source for item counts and time limits, and those figures are revised periodically. Rather than rely on numbers circulating in study forums, check the board's Calendar & Fees and Part I/Part II pages shortly before you register, then build your practice-timing strategy around the figures you find there.

The passing standard is set by the board and is not a fixed percentage that can be reliably quoted from secondary sources. Treat any specific cut score you encounter online with skepticism. Focus instead on consistently scoring well above your practice-question benchmarks across every content domain, since the examination is designed to sample the full breadth of the specialty.

Retake rules, waiting periods, and any limits on attempts are set by the ABPMR and can change. Do not assume a fixed interval based on what other candidates report. Contact the board directly or consult its policies and forms section to confirm the current retake policy before you make scheduling or employment decisions that depend on a second attempt.

The difficulty comes from breadth rather than trick questions. Common failure modes are over-studying a favorite subspecialty while neglecting pediatric rehabilitation, electrodiagnostics, or medical complications; memorizing facts without practicing application; and doing too few practice questions under timed conditions. Candidates who spread coverage evenly and review every missed question's underlying concept tend to fare best.

Start with the domain you find weakest, not the one you enjoy most, and interleave topics rather than blocking one subject for weeks. A workable sequence is neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders first, then electrodiagnostic medicine, organ system rehabilitation and medical complications, pediatric rehabilitation, and finally pain, spasticity, and assistive technology, cycling back through practice questions continuously.

No. The certification examination and the Continuing Certification (CC) Program are separate. CC runs on five-year cycles with professionalism, lifelong learning, assessment, and quality improvement components; the board recently reduced the Self-Assessment CME requirement for each five-year cycle from 50 credits to 48. Those credits are a maintenance requirement, not examination content.

Usually not simultaneously. The ABPMR offers subspecialty certification in areas such as brain injury medicine, spinal cord injury medicine, pain medicine, pediatric rehabilitation medicine, sports medicine, neuromuscular medicine, and hospice and palliative medicine. Most physiatrists secure primary certification first, then add a subspecialty later, since each has its own eligibility rules and examination.

Most candidates benefit from a structured review of several months that ramps up in intensity, with practice questions introduced early rather than saved for the final weeks. Because application deadlines and exam windows are set by the board, check its calendar first and work backward from your assigned date so your study schedule matches the actual timeline.