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Hospice Certification Requirements

A hospice provides end-of-life care for terminally ill patients. The hospice approach utilizes palliative care (relief of pain and discomfort) rather than focusing on curative care. This subspecialty is formally recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Candidates for certification must fulfill specific requirements for meeting the broad patient-oriented goals.

  1. Professional Requirements

    • Certification is not a requirement for practitioners in hospice and palliative medicine, but candidates seeking certification must hold a valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States along with a current valid certification by the American Board of Radiology (ABR).

    Required Training in Hospice and Palliative Care

    • Candidates seeking certification must show documentation of completion of required formal training in an approved Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program, if their choice is the "training pathway". The successful applicant must meet all the training requirements the year of the examination and be eligible for testing. Training documentation must be provided.

    Practical Experience in a Hospice Setting

    • A candidate may choose the option of foregoing the formal training and opting for the alternative of taking the "practice pathway". This option requires documentation of completion of at least two years of subspecialty-level practice in a hospice and palliative medicine facility in the five years prior to applying for examination. Two years and 100 hours of participation must have been spent working in this subspeciality. The candidate must have participated in the active care of 50 or more terminally ill patients.

    Requirements for Hospice Care Teams

    • The "teams" providing interdisciplinary hospice and palliative care must be involved in providing active clinical care for terminally ill patients. The teams must have as members at least one physician, one nurse, and one from another professional discipline. The team is required to hold regular meetings where members are expected to participate. The team members are appropriately knowledgeable of the conditions and needs of the patients they serve.

    Successful Completion of Exam

    • The examination given to candidates for certification in hospice and palliative medicine is given in one day. The comprehensive test utilizes the multiple-choice format and examines the candidate's knowledge, skills and clinical judgment regarding aspects of hospice and palliative medicine. The successful candidate will exhibit a high level of competence in the field.

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