The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is committed to behavioral sleep medicine, an important and first-line therapeutic option for insomnia as well as a growing area of interest in sleep medicine.

The domain of behavioral sleep medicine comprises the behavioral dimension of normal and abnormal sleep mechanisms and prevention, assessment, and treatment of sleep disorders and associated behavioral and emotional problems through the application of established principles of behavior change.

In addition to educational opportunities in behavioral sleep medicine, the AASM offers a certification examination each June at the SLEEP Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies. Certification, which is optional, recognizes candidates that have relevant experience in behavioral sleep medicine and successfully passed the examination.

Recently, changes have been made to the eligibility criteria and application for the behavioral sleep medicine examination as well as the administration of the examination.  Please note the eligibility requirements and application for as well as the administration of the 2008 certification examination follow the old guidelines.  These guidelines allow candidates who possess a medical degree (e.g., MD) or postdoctoral degree (e.g., PhD) and valid license and meet the eligibility requirements to sit for the examination.  The examination will be offered in June at the SLEEP 2008 Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.     

After the completion of the 2008 examination cycle, the administration of the certification examination in behavioral sleep medicine will be assumed by the American Board of Sleep Medicine.  At that time, new eligibility and application requirements will also take effect.  These new guidelines are effective for the 2010 certification examination in behavioral sleep medicine.  An examination will not be offered in 2009.  

The eligibility requirements have been expanded and format of the examination has been revised to better promote behavioral sleep medicine and foster the growth of individuals certified behavioral sleep.  One major change to the eligibility requirements is that individuals who possess a master's degree and valid license, and meet the educational and training/experience requirements outlined in the eligibility guidelines may apply for the certification examination in behavioral sleep medicine.  The examination will remain open to applicants who possess a medical degree (e.g., MD) or postdoctoral degree (e.g., PhD) and valid license, and meet the outlined educational and training/experience requirements.  PLEASE NOTE TWO EXAMINATIONS WILL BE OFFERED FOR CERTIFICATION IN BEHAVIORAL SLEEP MEDICINE: ONE FOR MASTER'S LEVEL CANDIDATES AND ONE FOR DOCTORAL LEVEL CANDIDATES.  Please refer to the new requirements for specific information on both examinations.  Master's level candidates who successfully pass the examination may use the designation CBSM-ML, and doctoral level candidates who successfully pass the examination may use the designation CBSM-DL. 

Individuals interested in taking the certification examination in behavioral sleep medicine in 2010 should note the date and location have yet to be determined; more information will be announced as it becomes available.

Click here to download the new requirements for the ABSM’s Behavioral Sleep Medicine Certification Examinations.