The ABEM Oral Boards Are Now the Certifying Exam
The Format Has Changed. Most Physicians Have Not Been Tested This Way.
In 2026, the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) replaced the traditional Oral Certification Exam with a new in-person Certifying Exam, a simulation-based assessment that evaluates how you perform in real clinical scenarios.
Most emergency physicians have never taken an exam like this before, and many will encounter it for the first time on test day.
AAEM’s Certifying Exam Review Course is built specifically for this new format.
Train in the same environment before it counts.
REGISTER NOWPlease Note: Each course is limited to 10 participants to ensure individualized feedback. Sessions routinely fill in advance.
What Changed in 2026
The Exam You Prepared For No Longer Exists
The Oral Boards are gone. In their place is a completely different exam experience:
- Live, simulation-based patient encounters
- Hands-on procedural assessments
- Real-time communication with standardized patients
- Evaluation based on performance under pressure
If your preparation is based on the old format, you are not fully prepared.
Developed in collaboration with the American Board of Emergency Medicine, this webinar provides a clear breakdown of the new Certifying Exam, including what has changed, why the format was introduced, and how candidates should adjust their preparation.
You will hear perspectives from ABEM and AAEM faculty on how the exam is structured and what it is designed to evaluate, followed by practical guidance on how to align your study strategy with the new format.
Start your preparation with a clear understanding of the new format so you are not figuring it out for the first time on exam day.
Old vs New
This Is Not an Update. It’s a Replacement.
| Before (Oral Boards) | Now (Certifying Exam) |
| Talk through cases | Manage live clinical scenarios |
| Hypothetical decision-making | Perform procedures in real time |
| No physical interaction | Hands-on simulation and ultrasound |
| Verbal reasoning focus | Real-time communication with patients |
| Evaluated on what you say | Evaluated on how you perform |
Your first experience with this format should not be on exam day.
Train the Way You Will Be Tested
AAEM’s Certifying Exam Review Course is designed to bridge the gap between how physicians used to prepare and what is required now. You will practice:
- Simulation-based case encounters
- Procedural and ultrasound stations
- Structured communication scenarios
All modeled on ABEM’s publicly available framework. This is not theory. It is rehearsal.
“I took the exam today, and the (AAEM) course prep was spot on.”
February 2026 Chicago Course Participant
What You Will Experience
A Full-Day, High-Fidelity Exam Simulation
- Two complete mock exams, including clinical and structured cases
- Immediate, personalized feedback after every case
- Faculty-guided group debrief
- Hands-on experience using manikins, ultrasound, and computer-based scenarios
- CME credit and participation certificate included
The closest you can get to the real exam without the consequences.
Why Physicians Choose This Course
- Designed specifically for the new ABEM Certifying Exam format
- Built using ABEM’s publicly available exam framework
- Faculty with oral board and simulation experience
- Small-group format with only 10 participants per course
Who Should Attend
This Course Is Designed For:
- ABEM board-eligible emergency physicians preparing for the 2026 Certifying Exam
- Physicians who trained for Oral Boards and now need to adapt
- Anyone who wants to experience the new format before their actual exam
This Course Is Not For:
- Physicians taking the ABOEM exam
- Recertifying diplomates
Do Not Let Exam Day Be Your First Simulation
This is the first generation of physicians taking this new exam. Most candidates are walking in without ever experiencing:
- Live simulation pressure
- Procedural evaluation under observation
- Real-time communication scoring
You do not have to.
REGISTER NOWPlease Note: Each course is limited to 10 participants to ensure individualized feedback. Sessions routinely fill in advance.
Upcoming Courses
| Date | City | Hotel (Click for Discounted Room Rate) |
| June 13, 2026 | Baltimore, MD | Embassy Suites by Hilton Baltimore at BWI Airport |
| June 14, 2026 | Baltimore, MD | Embassy Suites by Hilton Baltimore at BWI Airport |
| July 18, 2026 | Philadelphia, PA | Embassy Suites by Hilton Philadelphia Airport |
| July 19, 2026 | Philadelphia, PA | Embassy Suites by Hilton Philadelphia Airport |
| July 25, 2026 | Denver, CO | Embassy Suites by Hilton Denver International Airport |
| July 26, 2026 | Denver, CO | Embassy Suites by Hilton Denver International Airport |
| October 3, 2026 | Chicago, IL | Sheraton Suites Chicago O’Hare |
| October 4, 2026 | Chicago, IL | Sheraton Suites Chicago O’Hare |
| October 17, 2026 | Orlando, FL | Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort |
| October 18, 2026 | Orlando, FL | Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort |
| 7:00am – 7:30am | Course Orientation |
| 7:30am – 9:35am | Case Encounter Rotations |
| 9:35am – 9:45am | Morning Break |
| 9:45am – 11:50am | Case Encounter Rotations |
| 11:50am – 1:00pm | Lunch Break |
| 1:00pm – 2:40pm | Case Encounter Rotations |
| 2:40pm – 2:50pm | Afternoon Break |
| 2:50 – 4:30pm | Case Encounter Rotations |
| 4:30pm – 5:00pm | Course Debrief |
Registration for the Certifying Exam Review Course is offered at the following rates:
AAEM Members: $1,999.00
Non-Members: $2,499.00
Become a member today and save $500 on registration while gaining access to additional professional benefits.
Attendings: Join AAEM
Residents: Join AAEM/RSA
Our Sponsors
AAEM thanks our sponsors for providing ultrasound machines for the Certifying Exam Review Course. Interested in sponsoring equipment? Learn more.
FUJIFILM Sonosite
Accreditation Statement
The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Credit Designation Statement
The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Disclosures of Financial Relationships:
The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) endorses the guidelines for accredited continuing medical education programs as set forth in the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education and adheres to them in the conduct of its educational activities. All planners, faculty, and others in control of educational content must provide a disclosure of all their financial relationships with ineligible companies (commercial interests) within the prior 24 months. Financial relationships are reviewed by AAEM to determine which relationships are relevant, and appropriate steps are taken to prevent individuals with relevant financial relationships from inserting commercial bias into content. In accordance with these policies, AAEM would like to make the following information known to all course participants.
The following speakers have disclosed a relevant financial relationship within the past 24 months:
Gayle Galletta, MD FAAEM – Defibrio – Consulting Fee – Consulting for defibrillator start-up company
All relevant financial relationships have been reviewed and mitigated.
No other speakers have relevant financial relationships to disclose. No planners or staff have relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Disclosures of Commercial Support:
The following sponsor provided in-kind commercial support for the Certifying Exam Review Course:
- FUJIFILM Sonosite, Inc.
Please Note: This course is ABEM-aligned but not affiliated with or endorsed by ABEM. All content is based on publicly available ABEM exam information, developed independently by AAEM faculty. AAEM does not guarantee specific exam outcomes.
If you have any questions or need assistance, our team is happy to help. Please contact us via email or at (800) 884-2236.