Psychiatry

Deadlines, Fees and Content for Initial Certification in Psychiatry
Clinical Skills Evaluations

Beginning in 2016, the only pathway to board certification is the computer-administered Psychiatry Certification examination.  All psychiatrists who wish to pursue board certification will be required to submit documentation of satisfactory performance in the evaluation of clinical skills completed in an ACGME-accredited program as part of the ABPN credentialing process.  Training programs approved by the Residency Review Committees and accredited by the ACGME can be found in the current edition of the Graduate Medical Education Directory published by the AMA or on their website www.acgme.org.

Credentialing requirements for the Psychiatry Certification examination can be found on this website.  Please contact our credentials department at 847.229.6510 if you have questions regarding the clinical skills assessments or the examination format.

Candidates in the specialty of psychiatry are those in the field of psychiatry, who are seeking ABPN Board Certification. Psychiatry is a specialty that involves the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental disorders, emotional disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance-related disorders, sexual and gender identity disorders and adjustment disorders. Biologic, psychological, and social components of illnesses are explored and understood in treatment of the whole person. Tools used may include diagnostic laboratory tests, prescribed medications, evaluation and treatment of psychological and interpersonal problems with individuals and families, and intervention for coping with stress, crises, and other problems.

Subspecialties in psychiatry include; addiction psychiatry, brain injury medicine, child and adolescent psychiatry, clinical neurophysiology, forensic psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, hospice and palliative medicine, pain medicine, psychosomatic medicine, and sleep medicine.

New Certification Information
  • Effective January 1, 2012, the ABPN will require a physician to become Board certified within seven years following successful completion of ACGME-accredited or ABPN approved residency training in their primary specialty or ACGME accredited subspecialty.
  • Graduates can take the ABPN Certification Examination as many times as allowed during the 7-year period.
  • For example, individuals who completed an accredited residency program prior to January 1, 2012 had until January 1, 2019 to become board certified.
  • Individuals who do not become certified during the 7-year period will be required to (1) repeat the required clinical skills evaluations; and (2) complete one block of MOC (90 CME credits, 24 self-assessment CME credits, and 1 PIP Unit that includes a clinical or feedback module) in order to be credentialed to take the ABPN Certification Examination.

For information about the new ABPN MOC Part III Pilot Project and how to enroll, see our webpage

American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc.

7 Parkway North, Deerfield, IL 60015

Phone 847.229.6500 | Fax 847.229.6600