Written Exam
Eligibility
The following training requirements must be completed before a candidate may sit for the Written Exam for subspecialty certification in Medical Toxicology.
- Be a diplomate of the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine.
- Have completed an AOA-accredited/ACGME fellowship training program in Medical Toxicology.
- Hold an active license to practice emergency medicine in the state or territory where you practice before and during the certification process.
- Adhere to the AOA Code of Ethics.
- Demonstrate eligibility for examination in any other manner required by the board.
Exam Fees
An exam fee of $600 must be submitted with your completed application. No application will be considered complete until all fees have been paid. The application deadline will be set 90 days before the exam administration.
Exam Dates & Deadlines
The Written Exam in Medical Toxicology is offered each spring via a remote proctored platform. The application period opens approximately five months prior to the exam administration date. After applying, candidates will receive further instructions.
Exam Content Outline
The exam is in a multiple choice format, with most questions directing candidates to choose the one best answer among five possible answers. Candidates will have three hours to answer 150 questions.
Exam Scoring
Scoring Criteria
AOA reports candidates’ certification results using standardized scaled scores. Scaled scores are more valid and reliable compared to raw scores and make scores comparable across different forms of the exam. The AOA reports scores on a 200 to 800-point scale with a scaled score of 500 or higher required to pass.
- A scaled score of 500 represents the minimum level of knowledge and skill necessary to pass the exam as established by AOA Certifying Boards.
- The highest possible scaled score is 800.
- The lowest possible scaled score is 200.
- Overall scores are based on the total number of items answered correctly, regardless of content area.
Results by Content Area
- When possible, a breakdown of exam scores by content area is provided to help you identify your areas of strength and areas that may need more development.
- The number of items for each content area indicates the relative amount of test questions on the exam for that content area.
- Content area scores are not weighted to calculate your overall score; each content area is scored separately after the overall analysis is complete.