Become Certified in Lifestyle Medicine Practice

Certification in lifestyle medicine indicates that the individual has mastered the science of preventing, treating, and reversing chronic disease in an evidence-based manner with official acknowledgment from the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine or the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

Physician Pathway

Health Professional Pathway

The 2024 exam registration deadline is 9/30/2024 at 6 pm PT. All candidates registered by this date will receive an invitation shortly post-close of the deadline to reserve their seat at a Prometric center during 2024 exam weeks which will occur November 23^rd – December 8^th, 2024.

	Certification Process and Timelines
September 30th	registrations close
October 4th/5th	invites to reserve a seat go out from Prometric
October 23rd	prerequisites are due (exception: ACLM conference CME/CE earned Oct 27-Oct 30 may be submitted once earned.)
November 23rd	exam weeks start
December 8th	exam weeks close
December 23rd	exam results are published
January 1st	MOC intake opens
March 31st	MOC intake closes

Each component of certification is recognized for 36 months. It is possible to complete the online continuing education, attend an approved event, and register and pay for the exam as part of a multi-year plan.

Consider becoming a member of ACLM. Membership unlocks discounts for many of the CME courses and the exam, and it is an optimal way to immerse yourself in ongoing networking and education in lifestyle medicine.
Gather your 30 hours of CME prerequisite from an approved online course.
Gather your 20 hours of CME prerequisite from an approved event. (virtual or in-person)

CME must be no older than 36 months from the date of the exam.

Sign up for the ABLM/ACLM exam in your respective category. The cost includes a non-refundable registration fee, a certification fee, and your entrance to a Prometric testing center. The cost varies between $899 and $1798, based on your professional category and whether you have an ACLM member discount.
Submit documentation of completion of your exam prerequisites 30 or more days before the exam date using the instructions provided to you via email. Please note: physicians must also complete and submit a case study, retrievable via ablm.org/how under ‘What Are The Prerequisites?’. Watch your inbox for important updates from info@ablm.org. CMEs from lifestyle medicine conferences immediately preceding an exam are exempt from the above 30-day rule.
Reserve a seat at a Prometric testing center of your choice after registering for the exam and receiving an invitation from Prometric. This will not happen before the close of registrations, which is always on September 30th at 6 PM PST. You can find Prometric sites here: prometric.com/site-status.

Take and pass the exam, which consists of between 120 and 150 multiple choice questions of NBME standard. Four hours are allowed for completion.

Congratulations! If you are a physician, you will now be a Diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (DipABLM). All other health professionals will be Diplomates of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (DipACLM).
Consider signing up for the MOC pathway. Diplomates will receive an invite to opt-in to the program within the first three months of the year (by March 31st) following initial certification. Existing Diplomates enrolled in the LMMOC must submit payment annually by March 31st as well as fulfill other program criteria annually. Learn more here https://ablm.org/maintenance-of-certification/ or email rebecca.deutsch@ablm.org with questions.
If you are not already an American College of Lifestyle Medicine member, consider joining. As a member, you will receive complimentary continuing education that counts towards your maintenance of certification and can be listed in the public-facing Lifestyle Medicine Pros directory only for certified diplomate members.

The Best Way to Study

This evidence-based course truly establishes a foundation in lifestyle medicine, fulfills the online 30-hours CME prerequisite and is designed to provide a review for the certification exam that will take place between November 23 and December 8, 2024, at a Prometric Testing Center of your choice.

There are three main components included:

A Board Review Course Manual (print and online)
12 online review lectures by experts in lifestyle medicine
10 section quizzes that consist of 180 total quiz questions

Additional preparation resources you may wish to consider: Lifestyle Medicine Question Bank and Lifestyle Medicine Core Competencies

ACLM PREREQUISITE PATHWAY PRICING

Pricing for your certification pathway can vary based on the selected online course and event CME/CE prerequisites.

Why Get Certified In Lifestyle Medicine?

Education Mastery
Certification in lifestyle medicine indicates that the individual has mastered the science of preventing, treating, and reversing chronic disease in an evidence-based manner with official acknowledgment from the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (for physicians and specialists) or the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (for professionals and practitioners).

Unique Career and Hiring Advantages
Lifestyle medicine board-certified physicians, specialists, professionals, and practitioners are recognized as subject matter experts in the field, giving them a hiring advantage for lifestyle medicine-focused organizations and employers.

Lifestyle Medicine has the power to decrease healthcare spending for both employers and patients, improve overall health outcomes, and activate patient autonomy and motivation for sustainable, lifelong behavior change.

Networking and Recognition
Certification opens the door for valuable and rewarding networking and opportunities for collaboration with like-minded professionals.

Who is Eligible for Certification via ABLM?

To certify as a Lifestyle Medicine Physician you must be primary board certified by an ABMS or AOA approved board for US based physicians; for Canadians you must be licensed to practice as a physician.

Please email info@ablm.org to inquire about eligibility.

Who is Eligible for Certification via ACLM?

To certify as a Lifestyle Medicine Professional, you must hold a Masters or Doctorate degree in a health or allied health discipline.

Bachelor’s level eligibility* will conclude following the 2023 exam. Those who have been certified are eligible to maintain their certification through MOC.

*Beginning in 2024, only those holding bachelor’s degrees in fields that now require master’s level training will be grandfathered in and able to register for and sit for the ABLM exam [ex: physician associates, pharmacists, and dietitians].

Prerequisites

Lifestyle medicine conference attendance and participation (20 earned CME/CE*). You can attend any of these:
- ACLM Annual Conferences
- International Plant-Based Nutrition Healthcare Annual Conferences
- Plant-based Prevention of Disease (P-POD) Annual Conferences
- PCRM Annual International Conferences on Nutrition in Medicine
- Annual AAFP Lifestyle Medicine course
- Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar, Certificate in Lifestyle Medicine
Approved online CME/CE Courses 30 hours total
- American College of Lifestyle Medicine Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine Board Review Course 3rd or 4th Edition
- American College of Lifestyle Medicine/American College of Preventative Medicine Lifestyle Core Competencies Program (LMCC)
- Doane University Lifestyle Medicine Professional Certificate Program
- Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar, Certificate in Lifestyle Medicine
- Universidad Abierta Interamericana (Argentina) – Academic Diploma in Lifestyle Medicine (in Spanish)
- Diplomado de Medicina del Estilo de Vida (Chile- en español) Universidad del Desarrollo- Sociedad Chilena de Medicina del estilo de Vida (SOCHIMEV)

Rules:

Virtual CME credits are accepted from 2021 in light of COVID.
Events attended between 2021-2023 required 10 hours of in-person attendance as an exam prerequisite. From 2024 onward, you must earn 20 hours of event CME and it may be earned virtually or in-person through any combination of approved events.
CMEs must be no older than 36 months from the date of the exam.
Proof of CMEs, credentials and case study must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the certification exam. CMEs from Lifestyle Medicine conferences immediately preceding an exam are exempt from the above 30-day rule.

Refer to the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine website (ABLM.org) for specifics related to pricing, submission of prerequisites, and dates of the examination.

Becoming a Diplomate signifies that you have:

Completed a minimum of 30 hours of lifestyle medicine CME/CE online.
Gathered at least 20 hours of event CME/CE from attending a specific lifestyle medicine-oriented conference
As a physician, you submitted a case study that documents the positive effects of a lifestyle medicine intervention on a patient
Passed a rigorous certification exam

In Person & Online

Save the Date | November 16 – 19, 2025
The Gaylord Texan, Dallas/Fort Worth

Every Fall, ACLM hosts the premier continuing education event focused on lifestyle medicine – the therapeutic dose of proper nutrition, regular physical activity, social connection, restorative sleep, stress management, and avoidance of risky substances.

Learn More