What does ABIHM mean in MEDICAL

The American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine is an organization recognized by the American Medical Association as a certifying body and educational provider. The ABIHM works to promote and improve the practice of integrative holistic medicine, which combines evidence-based and traditional approaches to health and healing through lifestyle, diet, exercise, stress reduction, nutrition counseling and other therapies.

Receiving certification from the ABIHM can provide you with recognition of your expertise in integrative holistic medicine. With this recognition comes greater professional credibility, potential career advancement opportunities and increased patient referrals as patients may find comfort in knowing you hold a higher level of certification than others without it.

Those who are board certified or board eligible in an allied health profession or specialty area such as family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics or psychiatry are eligible for certification. You must also have completed at least 100 hours of formal study related to integrative holistic medicine prior to applying for certification.

In order to receive certification from the ABIMH, you must complete a series of steps including submitting an application form and fee; providing two letters of recommendation; completing a written examination; submitting a case study; and participating in a one-on-one evaluation with an experienced clinician in integral holistic medicine.

The cost varies depending on factors such as whether or not you need additional continuing education credits before taking the examination and how many years since your last performance review—but generally speaking expect to pay around $1,500-$2,000 total when all is said and done.

It usually takes six months or more to go through the entire process for receiving certification from the ABIHM—so it's important that you plan ahead and start early!

Yes! To maintain your certification with ABIHM recertification is required every five years. This requires demonstrating that you continue to demonstrate mastery within this field through evidence-based practices.

Your recertification must include at least 50 hours of continuing medical education over five year period focused on integrative holistic medicine topics as well as two peer reviews assessing your performance throughout those five years. Additional requirements may include participation in seminars or workshops related to integrative holistic medicine within the country where you reside during those five years.

The American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine offers several accredited courses that count towards fulfilling continuing education requirements for recertification or initial board certification. These courses can be found both online at abihm.org/accredited_courses or in certain communities across the U.S. that offer “in person” seminars.