Definition of specialty practice

For the purpose of the operation of the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, the following divisions of practice are defined:

1. The practice of neurology shall consist of and include that branch of osteopathic medical science which deals with the neuromuscular system, both normal and diseased. It includes all accepted therapies, assessments, and diagnostic studies.

2. The practice of psychiatry shall consist of and include that branch of osteopathic medicine which deals with disorders of the psyche of organic and functional nature. This includes all accepted therapies, assessments, and diagnostic studies.

3. The practice of child psychiatry is the specialty of psychiatry as defined above and as it relates specifically to the pediatric and adolescent age group. This includes all accepted therapies, assessments, and diagnostic studies.

4. The practice of child neurology is the specialty of neurology as defined above as it relates specifically to the pediatric and adolescent age group. This includes all accepted therapies, assessments, and diagnostic studies.

Requirements for certification

Section 1. To be eligible to receive certification from the AOA through the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, the applicant must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. The applicant must be a graduate of an AOA-accredited college of osteopathic medicine.

2. The applicant must be licensed to practice in the state or territory where his/her practice is conducted.

3. The applicant must be able to show evidence of conformity to the standards set forth in the Code of Ethics of the AOA.

4. The applicant must have been a member in good standing of the AOA or the Canadian Osteopathic Association for the two years immediately prior to the date of certification.

5. The applicant must have satisfactorily completed an AOA-approved internship.

6. A period of three years of AOA-approved training in neurology shall be required, after the required one year of internship.

a. One year of credit may be given for two (2) years in an AOA-approved residency training program as determined by this Board (i.e., Internal Medicine, Neurological Surgery).

A period of three years of AOA-approved training in psychiatry shall be required after the one year of internship.

A period of two (2) years of an AOA-approved training program in child neurology, at least two (2) years of AOA-approved residency training in general neurology; or one (1) year of general neurology and one (1) year of an AOA-approved residency training in pediatrics shall be required after the prerequisite one (1) year of internship. Each applicant for certification in child neurology must be certified by the Board in general neurology prior to applying for examination in child neurology.

A period of four years of AOA-approved training program in child psychiatry (two (2) years child, two (2) years general) shall be required after the prerequisite one (1) year of internship. Each applicant for certification in child psychiatry must be certified by the Board in general psychiatry prior to applying for examination in child psychiatry.

7. Following satisfactory compliance with the prescribed requirements for examination, the applicant is required to pass appropriate examinations planned to evaluate an understanding of the scientific bases of the problems involved in neurology, psychiatry, child neurology, and/or child psychiatry; familiarity with the current advances in neurology, psychiatry, child neurology, and/or child psychiatry; possession of sound judgment and a high degree of skill in the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures involved in the practice of neurology, psychiatry, child neurology, and/or child psychiatry.

a. Oral, written, and clinical examinations are conducted and required in the case of each applicant. Upon successful completion of the written examination, the applicant is eligible for the clinical and oral portion of the examination.

b. The members of this board shall review, if not perform, the grading of each written examination. The conduct of the clinical examination may be delegated to a committee of not fewer than two individuals maturely qualified in neurology, psychiatry, child neurology, and/or child psychiatry.

c. A full description of the method of conducting the examination is formulated in this Board's Regulations and Requirements, and provision for reexamination is made.

d. Applicants desiring examination for certification are required to file an application which shall set forth the applicant's qualifications for examination as stated in paragraphs 1 through 7 in Section 1 of this article. The procedure for filing applications is set forth in the Regulations and Requirements.

Section 2. Requirements for Certification of Added Qualifications in Addiction Medicine

The examination program for certification of added qualifications in addiction medicine is designed to recognize excellence among those with advanced or concentrated training in addiction psychiatry. Applicant must meet the following minimum requirements:

a. Hold primary certification awarded by the AOA in Psychiatry or Neurology

b. Hold a valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the state where practice is conducted.

c. Be a current member in good standing in the American Osteopathic Association or the Canadian Osteopathic Association for at least two consecutive years prior to the date of the Certification of Added Qualifications.

d. Completion of one year of AOA training in addiction psychiatry evidenced by a copy of the addiction psychiatry certificate and letter of recommendation from the program director, or

e. Completion of at least four (4) years of practice experience with at least 25% of the total practice devoted to addiction psychiatry or medicine with the documentation of at least 200 CME hours per the AOA Individual Activity Report within the four (4) year period and with at least 100 hours in addiction medicine.

f. The period of eligibility is six (6) years from the date of completion of the AOA-approved addiction psychiatry program. The clinical practice pathway will only be available for six (6) years from the date of the first offering of the exam, until the end of the year 2002.

g. The application must contain substantiation of the diplomates satisfactory clinical competence in addiction psychiatry. This substantiation must be provided by the program director in the addiction psychiatry approved training program or, if applying under the clinical practice pathway, verification of competence and good standing in the addiction psychiatry medical community from a minimum of two (2) sources. Clinical practice pathway applicants must submit a letter of recommendation from the medical director or department chairperson and another from a physician practicing addiction psychiatry/medicine in the applicant’s community.

Section 3. Subject to the recommendation of the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists and to the approval of the AOA Board of Trustees, the Board may require such further training in each of the fields coming under its jurisdiction as, in its judgment, such field may require, provided that the additional requirements for each field are clearly set forth in the Regulations and Requirements of this Board. Additions to requirements shall go into effect one year subsequent to the announcement of such change.

Recertification

The American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry offers recertification examinations in neurology, psychiatry and sub-specialties to those physicians requesting recertification. Recertification certification will be valid for ten (10) years. Physicians are to recertify within ten (10) years. Failure to recertify within ten (10) years will result in loss of continued certification.

Recertification certificates will be offered to those physicians successfully completing recertification.

All applicants for certification in any of the disciplines falling under the jurisdiction of the Board will present the following:

1. An application in writing to the secretary of the Board not later than ten years following the anniversary date of the diplomate's original certification. (Applicants certified prior to 1970 may have applied as soon as the recertification process became operational).

2. Evidence acceptable to the Board that the diplomate has been in continuous active practice of the specialty as listed in accordance with the Bylaws of this Board and compliant with the original certification requirements

Certificate Longevity

Certification by the AOA through the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology & Psychiatry is valid for 10 years, beginning with certificates issued after January 1, 1996.