Mission

The mission of the American Board of Pain Medicine is to serve the public by improving the quality and availability of Pain Medicine services. 

Goals and Objectives

• To establish Pain Medicine as a primary medical specialty. Objectives to meet this goal include:
  

  1. Maintenance of a high-quality Certification and Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process consistent with those of Member Boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties.
  2. Collaboration with national organizations to advance this goal.
  3. Promotion of ABPM Certification at the State level, furthering recognition of ABPM certification as a valued and respected designation for physicians practicing algiatry that is equivalent to ABMS certification.
  4. Promote ABPM Certification with the public, professional organizations, health care agencies, regulatory bodies, and payors as a valued and respected designation for physicians practicing algiatry that is equivalent to ABMS certification. 

• To evaluate Applicants who voluntarily present for examination eligibility and to certify as Diplomates in Pain Medicine those who are qualified.  Objectives to meet this goal include:
  

  1. Determination of whether Applicants comply with ABPM's ethical standards and have received adequate preparation in accordance with the educational standards established by the ABPM.
  2. Creation, maintenance, and administration of comprehensive, psychometrically-valid examinations to evaluate the knowledge and experience of those who complete such examinations.
  3. Issuance of certificates to those Examinees found qualified under the stated requirements of the ABPM.
  4. Creation, maintenance, and administration of examinations for purposes other than board certification that promote the goals of the ABPM .

• To maintain and improve the quality of graduate medical education in the field of Pain Medicine by collaborating with related organizations.Objectives to meet this goal include:
  

  1. Development of standards and requirements for graduate medical education in Pain Medicine in collaboration with other concerned organizations and entities.
  2. Approval of programs and facilities for training physicians in the specialty of Pain Medicine as necessary.

• To provide information about the specialty of Pain Medicine to the public. Objectives to meet this goal include:
  

  1. Maintenance of a registry for public information about the certification status of physicians certified by the American Board of Pain Medicine.
  2. Provision of information to the public and concerned entities about the rationale for certification by the American Board of Pain Medicine.
  3. Facilitation of discussion with the public, professional organizations, health care agencies, and regulatory bodies regarding education, evaluation and certification by the American Board of Pain Medicine

  
ABPM administers a psychometrically developed and practice-related examination in the field of Pain Medicine to qualified candidates. Physicians who have successfully completed the ABPM credentialing process and examination will be issued certificates as specialists in the field of Pain Medicine and designated as Diplomates of the American Board of Pain Medicine. A list of currently certified ABPM Diplomates is available to medical organizations and other groups for dissemination to the public.