Certificates of Added Qualification

Pain Medicine Important Dates

Deadlines listed below are consistent with the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA), the administrator of the Pain Medicine exam. To avoid a late registration fee, begin your application and submit associated fees prior to the “First Deadline to Submit Online Application.”

Pain Medicine Important Dates

2025 Pain Medicine Initial and Continuing Certification Exam

Deadline DescriptionDate
Registration BeginsOctober 18, 2024
First Deadline to Submit Online Application (No late fee assessed if application is advanced beyond payment page by this date)February 3, 2025
ABFM Begins Sending Test Center Registration CommunicationsMay 5, 2025
Final Deadline to Submit Online Application (Includes $100 late fee)April 14, 2025
Deadline to Submit Special Testing Accommodations DocumentationApril 14, 2025
Deadline to Clear Pending RequirementsApril 21, 2025
Deadline to Make Official Name Change with the ABFM for ExamApril 21, 2025
Deadline to Select Testing Date/Location (via Pearson VUE)August 11, 2025
Deadline to Withdraw from Exam without Seat Fee5 Days Prior to Your Scheduled Exam
Certification Exam DateSeptember 27, 2025
Continuing Certification Exam DatesUpon Request
Exam ResultsNovember 8, 2025
Deadline to Complete Pain Medicine Fellowship Training (Only applicable to physicians applying to take the certification exam)December 31, 2025
Deadline to Submit Fellowship Completion DocumentationFebruary 28, 2026

2026 Pain Medicine Initial and Continuing Certification Exam

Deadline DescriptionDate
Registration BeginsOctober 17, 2025
First Deadline to Submit Online Application (No late fee assessed if application is advanced beyond payment page by this date)February 2, 2026
ABFM Begins Sending Test Center Registration CommunicationsMay 4, 2026
Final Deadline to Submit Online Application (Includes $100 late fee)April 13, 2026
Deadline to Submit Special Testing Accommodations DocumentationApril 13, 2026
Deadline to Clear Pending RequirementsApril 20, 2026
Deadline to Make Official Name Change with the ABFM for ExamApril 20, 2026
Deadline to Select Testing Date/Location (via Pearson VUE)August 10, 2026
Deadline to Withdraw from Exam without Seat Fee5 Days Prior to Your Scheduled Exam
Certification Exam DateSeptember 26, 2026
Continuing Certification Exam DatesUpon Request
Exam ResultsTBD
Deadline to Complete Pain Medicine Fellowship Training (Only applicable to physicians applying to take the certification exam)December 31, 2026
Deadline to Submit Fellowship Completion DocumentationFebruary 28, 2027

2026 Longitudinal Assessment - Pain Medicine (LA-PM)

Deadline DescriptionDate
Registration BeginsOctober 17, 2025
First Deadline to Submit Online Application (No Late Fee Assessed)November 17, 2025
Final Deadline to Submit Online Application (Includes $100 Late Fee)December 1, 2025
Deadline to Submit Special Testing Accomodations DocumentationDecember 1, 2025
Deadline to Clear Pending RequirementsDecember 8, 2025
ABFM Begins Sending Platform Registration Communications1-2 Weeks After Application Completion
Participation BeginsLate-January 2026

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