CAQ-EM
Certificate of Added Qualification in Emergency Medicine (CAQ-EM)
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Cheat sheet
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ExploreKey terms
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ExploreCommon mistakes
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ExploreCase studies
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ExploreExam-day guide
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Certificate of Added Qualification in Emergency Medicine (CAQ-EM) is the credential family physicians ask about when they want formal recognition of emergency care expertise on top of ABFM certification. This page is an independent study guide, not an official ABFM resource, and it is not affiliated with or endorsed by the American Board of Family Medicine. The source material currently available describes ABFM's Certificates of Added Qualification program as a whole, including how additional subspecialty certificates are administered and the one-day exam format used for several CAQs, but it does not publish a dedicated Emergency Medicine CAQ page with its own blueprint, eligibility rules, fees, or dates. Because of that gap, this guide marks exam-specific figures as unconfirmed rather than guessing. Expect the assessment to test applied emergency decision-making: undifferentiated presentations, time-critical stabilization, risk stratification, and safe disposition, delivered in a one-day exam format consistent with ABFM's other CAQ offerings. Preparation should combine a structured review of emergency medicine content with high-volume case-based practice, focused reading on the conditions you handle least often in outpatient practice, and timed mock questions to build pacing. Verify every administrative detail directly with ABFM before you register, and treat this page as a study-planning aid only.
What you'll study
About CAQ-EM preparation
Is this page affiliated with ABFM or an official CAQ-EM resource?
No. It is an independent study guide written for candidates searching this exam. It is not produced, reviewed, or endorsed by the American Board of Family Medicine. Always confirm eligibility, format, fees, and deadlines on ABFM's own website before you apply or schedule.
What does the source material actually confirm about the Emergency Medicine CAQ?
Very little that is exam-specific. The available ABFM page is a site search results listing that describes the Certificates of Added Qualification program generally, including that some CAQs are offered jointly with other specialty boards and that a one-day exam format exists. No Emergency Medicine blueprint, domain weighting, or fee appears in it.
What format should I expect on exam day?
The source confirms ABFM offers a one-day exam format for several CAQs, but it does not state the Emergency Medicine CAQ's item count, time limit, or section structure. Plan for a single-day, computer-delivered multiple-choice exam and confirm the exact specifications with ABFM rather than relying on secondhand reports.
How hard is the exam compared with family medicine certification?
Candidates typically find it more demanding on acute care. The content concentrates on undifferentiated emergencies, resuscitation decisions, and disposition rather than longitudinal primary care. If your practice is mostly outpatient, the gap is widest in time-critical stabilization and in interpreting emergency imaging and ECGs quickly.
How should I sequence my study time?
Start with the presentations where delay causes harm: chest pain, stroke, sepsis, airway compromise, trauma, and altered mental status. Then move to high-frequency but lower-acuity topics such as abdominal pain, musculoskeletal injury, and pediatric fever. Finish with timed mixed sets so pacing and switching between specialties feel routine.
What are the most common failure modes?
Three recur. First, over-studying familiar outpatient topics and under-studying resuscitation and toxicology. Second, knowing facts but not committing to a next best step under time pressure. Third, misreading the question stem, especially when it asks for the most appropriate immediate action rather than the definitive diagnosis.
Can I retake the exam if I do not pass, and how long is the credential valid?
The available source does not state a retake policy, attempt limits, or a validity period for the Emergency Medicine CAQ. These are administrative details that change, so confirm them directly with ABFM before you build a timeline around them. Do not assume figures from other CAQs apply.
How much does the exam cost and when is it offered?
Fees and test dates are not published in the source material reviewed here, so no figures are given. ABFM posts application windows and deadlines on its own site, and they vary by exam cycle. Check there before you plan study around a target date.
Does this page give a content blueprint with percentages?
No. The source does not publish domain weightings for the Emergency Medicine CAQ, so none are listed here. Percentages circulating online may come from other exams or older revisions. Use ABFM's published blueprint when it becomes available and weight your study accordingly.