AOBEM Emergency Medicine
AOA Osteopathic Board Certification in Emergency Medicine
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ExploreAbout this exam
The AOA Osteopathic Board Certification in Emergency Medicine is a specialty board credential offered through the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (AOBEM), one of the AOA's specialty certifying boards. It is intended for osteopathic physicians (DOs) practicing emergency medicine who want to demonstrate specialty-level competence and affirm a commitment to ongoing evidence-based education and whole-person care. The certification process is organized around required exams and eligibility criteria, and the board publishes separate certification pathways and content areas for Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medical Services, Medical Toxicology, and an OMT Designation, reflecting the breadth of the discipline from resuscitation and undersea/hyperbaric and toxicologic emergencies to prehospital systems and osteopathic manipulative treatment. Candidates apply through the AOA certification portal, register for exams and the longitudinal assessment there, and retrieve exam results and dates through the same system. After initial certification, physicians maintain the credential through Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC), a four-component program that includes a longitudinal assessment; the 2026 AOBEM CORE longitudinal assessment window runs January 26 through December 1, 2026, and the 2027 Written Examination is scheduled for March 22-24, 2027. Preparation should combine a structured review of emergency medicine content with attention to EMS, toxicology, and OMT material, plus familiarity with board policies, remote exam preparation guidance, and test accommodation procedures published by the board. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the AOBEM or AOA; always confirm requirements and dates directly with the board.
What you'll study
About AOBEM Emergency Medicine preparation
What does the AOBEM certification process involve?
The board describes a process to become AOA board certified in Emergency Medicine that includes required exams and eligibility criteria, with content areas listed for Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medical Services, Medical Toxicology, and OMT Designation. Review the board's candidate information and board policies pages for the exact sequence, then apply through the AOA certification portal.
When is the written examination offered?
The AOBEM 2027 Written Examination is scheduled for March 22-24, 2027, according to the board's published important dates. Dates and deadlines are posted on the board's Exam Dates & Deadlines page, and the board notes that schedules can change, so verify the current listing before you plan travel or time off.
How long is the exam and how many questions does it have?
The source material available for this page does not state a question count, time limit, or passing score for the written examination. Those details are published in the board's exam information and candidate materials. Treat any specific number you see elsewhere as unverified until you confirm it with the board directly.
What is AOBEM CORE and do I have to take it?
AOBEM CORE is the longitudinal assessment tied to Osteopathic Continuous Certification, the program physicians use to maintain certification after initial board certification. The 2026 administration window runs January 26 through December 1, 2026. Registration and completion happen through the AOA certification portal, and OCC requirements are described on the board's OCC pages.
How much does the exam cost, and what is the retake policy?
Fees and retake rules are not stated in the source material available here, so they are not reported on this page. Application fees, deadlines, and any re-examination requirements are set by the board and published with the application materials. Confirm both before you submit an application so you can budget and plan a retake timeline if needed.
How long is the certification valid?
The source material does not specify a validity period. What it does describe is Osteopathic Continuous Certification, a four-component maintenance program that includes longitudinal assessment, meaning the credential is maintained rather than simply renewed once. Check the board's OCC overview and component pages for the current cycle length and component requirements.
What content areas should I study, and in what order?
Build your plan around the board's listed content areas: Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medical Services, Medical Toxicology, and OMT Designation. Start with core emergency medicine resuscitation and undifferentiated patient care, then layer in EMS systems, toxicologic emergencies, and osteopathic manipulative treatment. Finish with timed mixed practice so you can shift between domains quickly.
What are the most common ways candidates lose points?
Typical failure modes are shallow coverage of the smaller domains, such as EMS systems, toxicology, and OMT, because candidates over-invest in core emergency medicine; poor pacing on long vignettes; and skipping board policy and remote exam preparation details. Read each stem fully, answer every item, and rehearse the remote testing logistics before exam day.
Can I take the exam remotely, and how do I request accommodations?
The board maintains a Remote Exam Preparation page and a Test Accommodations page, which indicates remote administration and accommodation requests are both handled by the board. Follow the instructions on those pages and apply well ahead of your exam date, since accommodation review typically takes time before scheduling is finalized.
Where do I register and find my results?
Applications, exam registration, longitudinal assessment registration, exam results, and exam dates and deadlines are all accessed through the AOA My Certification Center and its certification portal. Create or sign in to your account early, keep your contact information current, and use the board's help option if a registration item is missing.