The American Board of Internal Medicine
The American Board of Internal Medicine is a physician-led nonprofit founded in 1936 that certifies internists and 20+ subspecialists in the U.S. through initial exams and a Maintenance of Certification program serving nearly 300,000 diplomates.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1936
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The American Board of Internal Medicine does
The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) is a physician-led, nonprofit, independent evaluation organization founded in 1936 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the 24 member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties and certifies physicians in internal medicine and 20+ subspecialties, including cardiology, gastroenterology, nephrology, oncology, and infectious disease. ABIM administers initial board certification examinations and a continuous Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program, with more than 270,000 diplomates maintaining certification—roughly one in every four U.S. physicians.
The core product suite includes initial certification, subspecialty certifications, the MOC program, and the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA), a continuous-knowledge alternative to the traditional 10-year MOC exam that has been preferred 4:1 since its 2022 launch, with over 90,000 certificates maintained on the new pathway. Examinations are administered through Pearson VUE secure test centers using biometric screening (palm-vein scanning, metal detection, real-time monitoring), and supporting platforms include the FasTrack evaluation system for residency program directors, the Physician Portal (portal.abim.org) for diplomate self-service, and a public Certification Verification Tool used by credentialers and hospitals. Collaborative Maintenance Pathways with specialty societies (ACC for cardiology, ASCO for oncology, ACP for MKSAP integration) extend ABIM assessment into partner learning ecosystems, and integration with UpToDate during open-book MOC assessments and ACCME-recognized CME further embed ABIM into physician learning workflows.
ABIM generates revenue through per-exam fees for initial certification, annual MOC fees, and subscription-based continuous-assessment fees, with publicly disclosed fee schedules but not publicly disclosed revenue totals. It operates as a near-monopoly utility for internal medicine certification in the U.S., governed by a physician-majority Board of Directors and Council. Recent strategic emphasis has been on reducing physician burden—eliminating the biennial MOC point requirement in 2024 and launching flexible assessment options—and on building specialty-society partnerships rather than competing for the credentialing function itself.
The American Board of Internal Medicine firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The American Board of Internal Medicine
- Legal name
- American Board of Internal Medicine
- Website
- https://abim.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1936
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The American Board of Internal Medicine is a physician-led nonprofit founded in 1936 that certifies internists and 20+ subspecialists in the U.S. through initial exams and a Maintenance of Certification program serving nearly 300,000 diplomates.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where The American Board of Internal Medicine is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The American Board of Internal Medicine business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Certification and MOC Fees: ABIM generates revenue through fees charged for initial certification examinations and ongoing Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program participation. Physicians pay for exams, assessments, and certification processing.
- Examination Administration: Revenue from administering secure certification exams at Pearson VUE testing centers for initial certification and MOC assessments including the traditional 10-year exam and Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Initial Certification Exam Fees |
| Subscription | Annual | Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program |
| Subscription | Annual | Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
The American Board of Internal Medicine product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certifies internists and subspecialists across 20+ disciplines of internal medicine. It provides initial board certification examinations and ongoing Maintenance of Certification (MOC) through multiple assessment pathways, including the traditional 10-year exam and the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA). Certifications are administered at Pearson VUE secure testing centers and managed through the online Physician Portal.
Product overview
The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) offers a comprehensive certification ecosystem consisting of initial board certification in internal medicine and over 20 subspecialties, supported by the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program with multiple assessment pathways. The core offerings include the traditional 10-year MOC exam and the newer Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA®), which has become the preferred option since 2022. Supporting infrastructure includes the FasTrack® Evaluation System for program directors, the Physician Portal for diplomates, and the public Certification Verification Tool. ABIM also offers collaborative pathways like the CMP (with ACC) and integration with ACP MKSAP, alongside the AQI Pathway for quality improvement credit. All exams are administered through Pearson VUE secure testing centers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Initial Certification in Internal Medicine Initial board certification examination for physicians completing internal medicine residency training, demonstrating they have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for excellent patient care.
- Subspecialty Certifications Board certifications in 20+ subspecialties of internal medicine including Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine, Hematology, Medical Oncology, Infectious Disease, Endocrinology, Geriatric Medicine, and Sleep Medicine.
- Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Ongoing certification program requiring physicians to demonstrate continuous learning and assessment throughout their careers. Includes multiple assessment options including the traditional 10-year exam and the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment.
- Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA) Continuous knowledge assessment option for MOC where physicians are regularly evaluated on their medical knowledge, replacing the need for a traditional 10-year MOC exam. Since 2022, doctors have chosen LKA 4:1 over the traditional exam with over 90,000 certificates maintained.
- Collaborative Maintenance Pathway (CMP) Alternative MOC pathway developed in partnership with the American College of Cardiology (ACC) allowing cardiologists to maintain certification through ACC's educational products and assessments.
- FasTrack Evaluation System Online tracking system used by residency and fellowship program directors to verify trainees' initial certification eligibility criteria and submit attestations to ABIM.
- Approved Quality Improvement (AQI) Pathway MOC pathway allowing physicians to earn credit for participating in quality improvement projects approved by ABIM from various organizations including health systems, medical societies, and hospitals.
- Pearson VUE Test Center Administration ABIM Initial Certification and MOC exams are administered at Pearson VUE secure testing centers with biometric screening, palm vein scanning, and surveillance for exam integrity.
Quantifiable outcome
- 79% of physicians reported a positive impact on practice from MOC exam prep
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The American Board of Internal Medicine
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The American Board of Internal Medicine technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
The American Board of Internal Medicine partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- American College of Physicians (ACP)coreACP and ABIM announced collaboration allowing ACP MKSAP (Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program) subscribers the option of importing their most recent ABIM assessment results directly into their ACP MKSAP account to inform a customized learning plan.
- Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM)coreAAIM, ABIM, ABIM Foundation, ACP and Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation created a $300,000 grant program to support diversity, equity and inclusion innovations in internal medicine education and training.
- Josiah Macy Jr. FoundationcoreFoundation partnered with AAIM, ABIM, ABIM Foundation, and ACP to fund grants promoting trust and equity in medical education, with $300,000 in total funding awarded at $20,000, $5,000 and $2,500 levels.
- American College of Cardiology (ACC)coreABIM and ACC unveiled a new Collaborative Maintenance Pathway (CMP) option for certified cardiologists who wish to maintain their board certification through ACC's continuous learning programs.
- Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)coreABIM and ACCME expanded their collaboration to recognize more accredited CME for Maintenance of Certification. Accredited providers can now register activities that meet ABIM's requirements for Medical Knowledge and/or Practice Assessment MOC.
- American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)coreABIM and ASCO are working to co-create a pathway to provide oncologists with a flexible way to maintain board certification through collaborative assessment options.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The American Board of Internal Medicine competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS): ABMS is the umbrella organization overseeing 24 U.S. specialty member boards, including ABIM. While ABIM operates at the specialty level, ABMS sets shared standards for board certification across all member boards, making it a direct parallel and overall governing peer in the certification ecosystem.
Direct peers
- American Board of Surgery: ABMS member board that certifies surgeons and provides MOC across multiple surgical subspecialties. Operates with a near-identical business model to ABIM (initial cert + ongoing MOC, Pearson VUE administration), making it the most structurally comparable peer outside of internal medicine.
- American Board of Pediatrics: ABMS member board certifying pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists with a parallel initial certification + MOC structure. Shares ABIM's revenue model (fees for exams and MOC participation) and exam administration approach.
- American Board of Family Medicine: Another ABMS member board focused on family medicine certification and continuous assessment. Operates its own longitudinal assessment model that competes for share of physician attention with ABIM's LKA.
- American Board of Anesthesiology: Specialty board under ABMS that has been a pioneer in continuous, longitudinal assessment (MOCA). Direct peer for benchmarking program design, pricing of MOC, and diplomate engagement strategy.
- American Board of Pathology: ABMS member board certifying pathologists and offering subspecialty certifications. Mirror peer for studying certification fee structures, exam administration, and research dissemination practices.
- Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG): Certifies international medical graduates for U.S. entry into residency and practice. Operates adjacent credentialing workflows with similar technology and psychometric foundations, and shares overlap with ABIM on physician assessment infrastructure.
- American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology: ABMS member board serving psychiatry and neurology with subspecialty certifications. Closely comparable peer given similar customer base (medical specialists), MOC program structure, and ongoing assessment approach.
Emerging players
- National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME): NBME administers the USMLE and provides assessment services to medical schools and licensing boards. While focused on undergraduate/graduate medical education, it represents a credible assessment-platform peer with deeper technology investment in psychometrics and exam delivery.
Regional players
- American Osteopathic Association (AOA) / AOA Certifying Board Services: Historically a parallel osteopathic physician certification track that has merged with the ACGME/NBME accreditation system. Relevant as a peer for comparing physician certification frameworks, although osteopathic specialty certification is now largely subsumed under ABMS boards.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The American Board of Internal Medicine social profiles
Digital presenceThe American Board of Internal Medicine financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The American Board of Internal Medicine leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The American Board of Internal Medicine funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The American Board of Internal Medicine M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The American Board of Internal Medicine
What does The American Board of Internal Medicine do?
The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) certifies internists and subspecialists across 20+ disciplines of internal medicine. It provides initial board certification examinations and ongoing Maintenance of Certification (MOC) through multiple assessment pathways, including the traditional 10-year exam and the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA). Certifications are administered at Pearson VUE secure testing centers and managed through the online Physician Portal.
Is The American Board of Internal Medicine a public or private company?
The American Board of Internal Medicine is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The American Board of Internal Medicine founded?
The American Board of Internal Medicine was founded in 1936. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is The American Board of Internal Medicine based?
The American Board of Internal Medicine is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does The American Board of Internal Medicine make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Certification and MOC Fees are the primary driver. The others are examination Administration.
Who are The American Board of Internal Medicine's main competitors?
American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are American Board of Surgery, American Board of Pediatrics, American Board of Family Medicine, American Board of Anesthesiology, American Board of Pathology, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) is listed as an emerging player. American Osteopathic Association (AOA) / AOA Certifying Board Services is listed as a regional player.
Does The American Board of Internal Medicine have an API?
No public API is recorded for The American Board of Internal Medicine.