Board Certification

To become board certified in in neuromusculoskeletal medicine/osteopathic manipulative medicine (NMM/OMM) one must attend an American osteopathic college, complete a NMM/OMM postdoctoral residency, qualify for AOBNMM standards, and pass the written, oral and practical components of the AOBNMM certification test.

Residency Training

The AOA’s Council on Postdoctoral Training authorizes residency training in the recognized specialty of neuromusculoskeletal medicine/osteopathic manipulative medicine (NMM/OMM).  Specialty training programs for NMM/OMM consist of three types, all of which have the ability to prepare the physician to be board eligible for NMM/OMM:

  1. Two-year program in neuromusculoskeletal medicine/osteopathic manipulative medicine (NMM/OMM);
  2. One-year program in neuromusculoskeletal medicine/osteopathic manipulative medicine (NMM/OMM) following completion of an AOA approved residency in another discipline (PLUS-ONE); and
  3. Integrated three year program in family practice and neuromusculoskeletal medicine/osteopathic manipulative medicine (FP + NMM/OMM)

Physicians with a time-dated certification are to re-certify every ten years in order to maintain board certification.

When does “Board Eligible” status begin?

One becomes board eligible in neuromusculoskeletal medicine/osteopathic manipulative medicine (NMM/OMM) once the candidate has completed residency training and the AOBNMM has approved the candidate’s application.

Upcoming Exam Dates
Recertification Exam: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 in Colorado Springs, CO

Oral and Practical Exams: Saturday, November 20, 2010 in Indianapolis, IN
Written and Recertification Exam: Sunday, November 21, 2010 in Indianapolis, IN

For application and/or exam information, please contact Susan Lightle at (317) 879-1881 or slightle@academyofosteopathy.org.

Examination Application Procedure
Important materials to download:
Checklist
Release Statement
Certification Application
Recertification Application
Recertification Requirements

Inquiries should be addressed to:
AOBNMM Coordinator                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    American Osteopathic Board of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine
3500 DePauw Boulevard, Suite 1080
Indianapolis, Indiana 46268

PLEASE NOTE: The AOBNMM complies with the American Disability Act regulations. Therefore, if a candidate has a special need, he/she must notify the Board at the time of application.

Applicants must provide, in writing, a request for exemption from any reciprocal treatment, such as HVLA or any particular treatment model, during the practical portion of the Boards examination. The applicant must provide documentation, from a treating physician, the medical reasons for being excused, the types of treatment to be avoided and the areas of the body not to be treated. Exemption from treatment to unnamed body regions will not be acceptable during this portion of the Boards examination. The candidate will be required, at his/her own expense, to provide a surrogate to replace the candidate during the practical examination for the particular treatment. However, the Board must receive notification of the use of a surrogate prior to the examination date.

An application form will be sent to the applicant upon written request. The form shall be completed by the applicant and returned, accompanied by two hundred dollars ($200.00) application fee and one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) test fee (both non-refundable). Application may be made at any time but will be considered in the next appropriate cycle once approval is given by the Credentials Committee of the Board. Applications must be received at least 120 days before the intended date of examination. All requirements must be met at the time of application.

Important Information for Residents: In order to become certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine, the applicant MUST be in a residency-complete status. In order for a resident to obtain a residency-complete status, the following information must be sent in to the Postdoctoral Standards and Evaluation Committee of the American Academy of Osteopathy by the residency director: (1) Some type of scholarly activity; (2) resident’s logs; (3) a completed residency report; and (4) a complete program director’s report. The AOBNMM suggest the applicant contact their program director at the residency program they attended to be sure the applicant’s file is in order.

The AOBNMM shall establish individual eligibility of the candidate for examinations; and a written, oral and a practical examination will be required of each applicant. Examinations will be given at a time and place determined by the Board. The expenses incurred by the candidate are the candidate’s responsibility.

IMPORTANT: An applicant who does not sit for the NMM/OMM board exams the November following the completion of his/her residency training will be required to submit a CME report showing 50 hours of continuing medical education (CME) per year; of those 17 hours must be in Category 1A NMM/OMM approved CME, as determined by the AOBNMM Credentials Review Committee. Unchallenged CME hours include:

  • AAO Annual Convocation
  • AAO Educational Programs
  • AAO Co-Sponsored Programs
  • State Society Conventions*
  • Cranial Academy Educational Offerings
  • SCTF Educational Programs
  • AOA National Annual Convention (must be registered as an AAO member)
  • AAO Component Society Programs (co-sponsored by the AAO)
  • AAO Component Society Programs (NOT sponsored by the AAO)*

    • * Other means of Category 1A CME may be considered on an individual basis, such as AAO Component Society Programs (not co-sponsored by the AAO) and State Society Programs. You MUST send a course outline for consideration of unrecorded hours. DO NOT HIGHLIGHT the programs you think should qualify.

    Board Eligibility

    Board Eligibility is necessary to participate in the AOBNMM certification process. One becomes board eligible in NMM/OMM once the candidate has complete residency training and the AOBNMM has approved the candidate’s application. Such eligibility is not granted automatically and is limited by AOA requirements to six (6) years.

    Regardless of when one applies, their board eligibility will expire at the end of the sixth year following the completion of one’s residency program. For example, if the date of one’s completed residency was 6/30/2009, and they applied for board eligibility in 2009, his/her board eligibility would expire 12/31/2015.

    When the candidate has passed each of the three examinations (written, oral, and practical), the Board submits his/her name to the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists for approval. Certification in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine is then conferred by the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists.

    Termination of Board Eligibility

    At the end of six years, if the candidate has not obtained final certification (or if s/he hasn’t applied for certification at all), the candidate may petition the board to reenter the certification process. The board will grant the candidate the ability to reenter the process (but will establish and publish criteria that must be met prior to reentry). 

    The candidate must start at the beginning of the certification process and must participate in the next available administration of the exam. The candidate will have two attempts to pass each step of the examination process. If a failure of any of the steps occurs, the candidate must retake that portion of the examination at the next available administration. After exhausting the above process the candidate is not eligible to continue the process, but may repetition the board ONCE to reenter the certification process. 

    The “board eligibility” process is NOT applicable or available to ANY candidate after six years post-residency.  The petition is ONLY for a candidate to enter the certification process, not to become “board eligible”.

    Petition for Reentry

    Candidates whose board eligibility status has expired may petition the Board for reentry into the certification process for a period of three yedars from the date of acceptance of the candidate’s petition. However, the candidate is not considered board eligible during that time, and vertification of such status will not be provided to the candidate.

    The applicant’s petition must contain evidence of meeting the following requirements in addition to submitting the required application and supporting documents.

    1. The applicant must hold an unrestricted license to practice in the state, territory, province or country in which they practice.
    2. Documentation of membership in good standing of the American Osteopathic Association or the Canadian Osteopathic Association for a continuous period of at least two (2) years prior to the date of petition.
    3. Documentation of acquisition of 150 hours of CME per AOA Activity Reports for the 36 months prior to submitting the petition, of which 50 hours (category 1A) must be in NMM/OMM and approved by the American Osteopathic Board of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine.
    4. Payment of the application and examination fees at the time of application.

    Petition for Reestablishing Board Eligibility (applicable to unsuccessful candidates initially qualifying with approved residency training).

    Candidates who qualified under the residency pathway and have sat for examination at least once within their six (6) year board eligibility period, and whose board eligibility status has been terminated, may be eligible to petition the Board for reentry into the certification process with reestablishment of board eligibility status. If such petition is approved by the Board, the individual shall become board eligible for a period of three (3) years from the effective date of approval and be eligible for a maximum of three examinations of three examinations attempts within that period.

    The applicant’s petition must contain evidence of meeting the following requirements in order to reestablish board eligibilily status:

    1. The applicant must hold an unrestricted license to practice in the state, territory, province or country in which they practice. 
    2. Documentation of membership in good standing of the American Osteopathic Association or the Canadian Osteopathic Association for a continuous period of at least two (2) years prior to the date of petition. 
    3. Documentation of conformity with the AOA Code of Ethics.
    4. Documentation of acquisition of 150 hours of CME per AOA Activity Reports for the 36 months prior to submitting the petition, of which 50 hours (category 1A) must be in NMM/OMM and approved by the American Osteopathic Board of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine.
    5. Payment of the application and examination fees at the time of application.

    Examination Re-testing
    Should a candidate for examination fail either the written, oral or practical portion of the certification examination the first time, he/she may repeat that examination within the next two-scheduled examination dates at no additional fee. If the candidate does not re-test during the next two cycles, he/she will be required to pay an additional fee of four hundred fifty dollars ($450.00) for the opportunity to re-test. If the candidate fails the second attempt, he/she will be required to pay an additional fee of $450.00 for each future opportunity to re-test.

    The Method of Examination

    1. There shall be a written examination prepared by the Board in the COM-LEX style.
    2. There shall be an oral examination during which the candidate will be expected to demonstrate special proficiency in structural diagnosis and manipulative management as it relates to his/her practice discipline.
    3. There shall be a practical examination during which time the candidate will be expected to demonstrate proficiency in structural diagnosis and manipulative management. These techniques are the most currently used modalities of osteopathic manipulative medicine as taught in most osteopathic colleges today, and include, but are not limited to direct and indirect techniques, such as cranial osteopathy, counterstrain, HVLA, muscle energy and myofascial release.
      Note: Candidates will be expected to treat each other during the practical exam. If there is a problem, or if the candidate has questions regarding reciprocal treatment, he/she should contact the AOBNMM office for pre-test arrangements,
    4. The written, oral and practical examinations will be weighed equally. Each section of the examination must be successfully completed or require re-testing.
    5. These examinations will be conducted by members of the Board, The administration of the practical and oral sections of the examination may be accomplished, when necessary, with the assistance of one or more designated examiners who are diplomats of the Board acting with a member of the Board.

    Candidates will be required to confirm their intent to test at a scheduled date.

    AOBNMM Test Cancellation Policy

    1. An “excused” cancellation by the AOBNMM is considered to be any cancellation made NOT LESS THAN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO A SCHEDUTED TEST DATE. (A candidate whose cancellation is considered “excused” by the Board will be able to test at the next available test date at NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE.
    2. A candidate who cancels LESS THAN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO A SCHEDULED TEST DATE will be required to  submit to the Board documented proof of an “emergency”. Upon receipt of such documentation and upon review by the Board, if the Board so deems the cancellation was a result of a “true emergency”(i.e. “excused”) (that determination made at the discretion of the Board), the candidate will be allowed to take the NEXT AVAILABLE TEST at no additional charge.
    3. A candidate who cancels LESS THAN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO A SCHEDULED TEST DATE without documented evidence of an “emergency” (not “excused” by the Board), will be required to pay an additional $1,000.00 test fee for another opportunity to test.
    4. Any candidate who has been approved by the Board to test at the next available test at no additional charge and who fails to do so, will be required to pay an additional $1,000.00 test fee for another opportunity to test.

    AOBNMM Test Period Requirements
    A candidate who is Board Eligible and whose application has been accepted by the Board must test within the period of his/her board eligibility.

    EXAMPLES:

    1. A candidate applies to the AOBNMM Secretary for board eligible status upon completion of the  neuromusculoskeletal residency. He/she is allowed a period of six (6) years in which to take the AOBNMM exams.
    2. A candidate makes application four (4) years after completion of the neuromusculoskeletal residency. He/she has two (2) years of board eligibility (6 - 4 = 2) left in which to take the AOBNMM exams.
    3. If a candidate’s board eligibility is terminated or expires, and he/she has not yet tested within board eligibility (6 years from date of registration as identified above), his/her application for Certification also expires and he/she must re-apply to the Board submitting the applicable fees ($200 application and $1,000 test fees).
    4. Any candidate whose application has been submitted the Board and who is NOT Board Eligible must petition the Board for an extension period.

    Requirements for Re-certification in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
    Effective by action of the AOA Board of Trustees in 1995, all NMM/OMM certificates carry a ten-year period of expiration.
    To be eligible for re-certification as a diplomat, a candidate must meet the following requirements:

    1. Maintain 150 hours in AOA approved CME in a 36-month period with 50 of those hours being Category 1A in NMM/OMM and documented on your AOA CME printout;
    2. Hold a current license to practice in the United States;
    3. Must be a member in good standing of the American Osteopathic Association for a continuous period;
    4. Must be able to show evidence of conformity to the standards set in the Code of Ethics of the American Osteopathic Association;
    5. Must apply to the AOBNMM for re-certification prior to the expiration date of his/her original or current certificate (can apply two years before the actual expiration);
    6. Remit the examination fee of $600.00 at the time of application;
    7. Sit for a written examination (at a pre-determined site and date) before the expiration date of his/her original or current certificate;
    8. Confirm intent to sit for examination at the scheduled date (All candidates will be expected to sit at a time and place as per the Board’s published examination schedule).

    CHECK LIST FOR APPLICANTS

    Certification in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine
    COMPLETED APPLICATION shall be returned 180 days (either by December 1 or July 1 deadline dates) prior to the scheduled examination date to the:
    AOBNMM Coordinator
    c/o American Osteopathic Board of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine
    3500 DePauw Boulevard, Suíte 1080
    Indianapolis, Indiana 46268
    It shall be accompanied by:

    1. Photo of Applicant
    2. $200.00 application fee and $1,000 test fee ($1,200 total — nonrefundable)
    3. Copies of:
    • Osteopathic College Diploma
    • Osteopathic College Fellowship Certificate
    • Intern Certificate
    • Residency Certificate
    • Current license(s) to practice
    • Signed Candidate Statement/Release
    • AOA Board Eligibility Form (completed)
    • Documentation of other formal training
    • Curriculum vitae (optional)
    • AOA CME Printout (available via www.DO-online.org)

    RE-CERTIFICATION

    The Board specifically recommends proper attire for the practical examination session as being: shorts and T-shirts or gym clothes, and active wear (sweats), which will be loose and comfortable and allows for freedom of manipulation. SPANDEX is NOT recommended nor is any clothing requiring large belts/buckles etc. including denim jeans, You will be asked to remove your shoes, watches and jewelry during the practical examination.

    All costs to the candidate are the candidate’s responsibility.

    For more information about the American Osteopathic Board of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine, please contact Susan Lightle, AOBNMM Coordinator at (317) 879-1881 or slightle@academyofosteopathy.org.