RESIDENCY
In residency, there are many things to start preparing for while you are absorbing all of the learning you can get in!
These include in-training exams for ABPM, ABFAS and considering a fellowship.
ABPM
The American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM) is one of the licensing bodies after you have received your DPM degree. In order to be ABPM board certified, you need to take and pass the board qualifying exam and certification examinations. However, after much consideration, the Board decided to discontinue the Qualification Exam (Part 1). Candidates will no longer be required to pass both the Qualification (Part 1) and Certification (Part 2) Exams. Instead, all candidates will be required to pass a two-part Certification Exam in order to achieve ABPM Board Certification.
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The Certification Exam contains two separately scored sections:
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Didactic section consisting of 125 multiple choice questions
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Case section consisting of 9 clinical case scenarios
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Credit for passed sections is valid for the length of eligibility (during the first 8 years only)
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Candidates who fail a single section may retake that section on the next Spring Exam date. However, if a candidate fails both sections, they must wait until the Certification Exam is offered in the Fall of the following calendar year
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For Board Qualified members:
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Board Qualified status will be retained until the member becomes Board Certified or Board Qualified status expires.
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The regular Part 2 Exam will be offered in both May and October until no further Board Qualified members remain.
Eligibility Requirements:
Candidates completing PMSR or PMSR/RRA programs may sit for the Board Certification exam only at the conclusion of their final residency year.
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Candidates are granted Board Eligible status for 8 years upon completion of an approved CPME residency.
An additional 5 years of eligibility will be granted if certification is attempted but not achieved in the first 8 years. Candidates in this group must pass both sections of the Certification Exam in the same year to achieve certified status. -
For candidates who completed 36 months of eligible residency training prior to 2015:
Candidates who attempted board certification after 2012 and did not obtain board certification status will have access to the certification process through 2023 but must apply and pass both parts1 and 2 in the same examination year. -
For candidates who completed 24 months of eligible residency training:
Beginning in 2019 all applicants must have 3 years of approved residency training to be eligible to sit for the examinations.
ABFAS
The American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (ABFAS) is another licensing body that allows you to be ABFAS Board Certified as an ABFAS Diplomate.
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In order to become a diplomate, applicants are required to become Board Qualified and then Board Certified. To become Board Certified, applicants need to take and pass the Foot Surgery Didactic, Foot Surgery CBPS, RRA Surgery Didactic, and RRA Surgery CBPS examinations. Each year of residency, there are 2 in-training examinations: 1) Foot Surgery Didactic, 2) RRA Surgery Didactic. If residents obtain a "Passing" score for the in-training examinations and after they pay the qualification fee, they can become Board Qualified.
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After becoming Board Qualified, candidates should log all cases for which they are the surgeon of record, post-residency until the passing of Case Review. There is a 7 year maximum to achieve Board Certification. To become Board Certified, a review of Foot Surgery and RRA Surgery Cases need to be completed within the 7 year window. It is important to note that most hospitals and insurance companies require board certification within 5 years of residency completion.
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It is not required to have RRA Surgery qualification and certification. This varies by state and/or hospital.
Fellowship
After residency, some individuals may choose to pursue a 1-2 year Fellowship further specializing in areas of podiatric medicine and surgery, including: pediatrics/podopeds, reconstructive surgery, limb salvage, sports medicine, research, and public health.
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There are more fellowships than those available on the ACFAS and CPME websites. Check out the information put together by Dr. Christopher R. Hood Jr., DPM, FACFAS