The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) administered a certification examination in sleep medicine from 1978 to 1990. The AASM then voted to create the independent American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM), and the ABSM assumed responsibility for the exam from 1991 to 2006.
Although the ABSM no longer administers the board exam in sleep medicine, candidates who passed the exam retain lifetime certification as a Diplomate of the ABSM. The ABSM will continue to maintain and verify all of its certification records.
Disclaimer
Certification by the American Board of Sleep Medicine does not in itself confer authority to practice medicine beyond the authority granted by a state that issues a license to practice medicine.
The American Board of Sleep Medicine throughout its history offered non-physicians, specifically PhDs, the opportunity to sit for its examination. Many PhD candidates over the years successfully passed the examination and received the designation “diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine." This designation must not be interpreted to mean that the American Board of Sleep Medicine designation supersedes any state or federal law with regard to medical license requirements for the treatment of patients. Those who have successfully passed the exam MUST be careful not to practice medicine outside of their legal limits.