The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Boards have gathered data and information from practicing physicians, educators and professional societies to create new recommendations on what procedural competencies should be required for Board Eligibility in their respective disciplines. The tables on the following pages summarize those recommendations. Each discipline has offered an independent recommendation of what level of competency should be required for each of the procedures. Where a change in standard is recommended, a rationale has been provided.
You may use this opportunity to share your thoughts on the respective Specialty Board's decisions.
The definition for each level of competency is as follows:
- Do Not Require: Training should not be required.
- Knowledge standard: All fellows must demonstrate knowledge of the indications, contraindications, limitations, complications, alternatives and techniques of this procedure. They are not required to train in performing the procedure.
- Opportunity to Train (OTT): All fellows must demonstrate knowledge of the indications, contraindications, limitations, complications, alternatives and techniques of this procedure. Fellows must have the Opportunity to Train in this procedure to the level of competent and independent performance if they request the training for their future practice. Not all fellows would be required to perform this procedure to be eligible for certification, but all fellows would be required to meet the knowledge standard as defined above.
- Perform competently: Required to perform independently at the end of fellowship training.
Statement on Procedures Going Beyond Technical Skill
Assessment of competency in many procedures goes beyond the technical skill required to perform the procedure and may include a comprehensive assessment of aspects of peri-procedural patient management, where relevant.
Note: The Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine Boards anticipate finalizing the list of procedural competencies for Board Eligibility in Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine by winter 2026. The new requirements would go into effect for fellows beginning their fellowship training July 1, 2027 and after.