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Earn board certification as a lifestyle medicine physician

“Lifestyle medicine is the foundation of health, the missing piece in how we practice medicine today. Patients need real solutions, and physicians need the right tools. Get certified in lifestyle medicine—for yourself, your patients, and your community.”

Mai-Linh Tran, MD, FAAFP, DipABLM, DipABOM

Join thousands of other physicians worldwide who are leading the way to a healthier future

Demonstrate specialized expertise in chronic disease care

Becoming board-certified in lifestyle medicine demonstrates your leadership and mastery in the science of treating, reversing, and preventing chronic disease with official acknowledgement from the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine.

Get unique career advantages

Lifestyle medicine is (and will continue to be) a highly sought after specialty. With your ABLM board certification, you will gain recognition as a subject matter expert in one of the fastest-growing fields of medicine, gaining a competitive advantage in leadership or advanced practice opportunities.

Elevate team-based care

As a board-certified lifestyle medicine physician, you’ll be recognized as a leader in whole-person, evidence-based care. You’ll be equipped to lead interprofessional teams, drive innovation in chronic disease treatment, and improve patient outcomes across care settings.

The pathway to certification for physicians

The American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM) offers certification and administers the board exam for licensed physicians. To become certified as a Lifestyle Medicine Physician, U.S.-based applicants must hold a primary board certification from an ABMS- or AOA-approved board for at least two years. Canadian and international applicants must hold an MD, MBBS, or an equivalently valid license to practice medicine in their respective countries.

Learn

Physician candidates must complete 30 hours of online CME from an approved course. Most physicians fulfill this requirement with the Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine Board Review course. A complete list of approved courses can be found at ablm.org.

Attend

Physician candidates must complete 20 hours of CME from an approved event or a combination of approved events. Most physicians meet this requirement by attending ACLM’s annual conference, which is available both in person and online. A complete list of approved events can be found at ablm.org.

Register

Register for the exam at ablm.org by paying the certification fee and your non-refundable registration fee. The deadline to register is September 30 at 6:00 p.m. PT.

Shortly after registration closes, you’ll receive an invitation from Prometric to reserve a seat at a testing center of your choice.

Submit

Submit your prerequisite documentation to the ABLM at least 30 days before the exam date using the instructions provided to you via email. This includes a case study detailing the positive effects a lifestyle medicine intervention had on you personally or one of your patients.

Test

Finally, take and pass your 4-hour exam, which consists of 150 multiple choice questions written to NBME standards.

Practice

Congratulations! You’re now a Diplomate of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine (DipABLM). Put your credential into practice and maintain your certification by enrolling in the Lifestyle Medicine Maintenance of Certification (LMMOC) pathway. You’ll receive an invitation within the first three months of the year following your certification. If already enrolled, be sure to submit your annual payment by March 31 and meet all program requirements to stay current.

Certification timeline and major dates

Consider becoming an ACLM member to access discounts on CME, MOC, and exam fees—plus up to 6-8 hours of complimentary MOC credits annually. Membership also connects you with a supportive professional network.

A flexible process that accommodates your busy schedule

While many physicians complete the board certification process within one year, we understand that schedules vary. CME and case study components may be completed up to 36 months before taking the exam, allowing candidates to complete the prerequisites and sit for the exam as part of a multi-year plan.

Schedule

September 30, 2025

Exam registration closes at 6pm PST

October 1, 2025

Prometric sends seat reservation invites

October 22, 2025

Prerequisites due (30 days before exam window begins*)

November 22, 2025

Exam weeks begins

December 7, 2025

Exam weeks end

December 22, 2025

Exam results released

January 1, 2026

LM Maintenance of Certification intake opens

March 31, 2026

LMMOC intake closes

*Important Note: LM2025 (scheduled for Nov. 16-19, 2025) may be used to fulfill the event CME prerequisite for this year’s exam, even though it takes place after the prerequisite submission deadline. Attendees should submit their LM2025 CME certificates as soon as possible after the conference.

Financial investment

ACLM Membership

$249

Foundations of LM Course

Members: $675

Non-members: $899

Annual Conference

Members: $449-$1,049

Non-members: $749-$1,349

Exam Registration

Members: $1,649

Non-members: $1,798

Total

Members: ~ $3,000

Non-members: ~ $3,400

Prepare for your exam

Complete Your Online CME

The Foundations of Lifestyle Medicine Board Review Course builds your foundation, fulfills the 30-hour CME requirement, and gets you exam-ready.

Learn More

Attend an Approved Event

ACLM’s annual conference is the premier option to earn event CME, bringing together thousand of professional for the latest research and practical tools.

Learn More

Gain Confidence

ACLM has compiled 200 practice questions designed to help you prepare for the exam, complete with explanations and supporting references for each question.

Learn More

ACLM scholarships

We are committed to expanding access to lifestyle medicine. Through our scholarship opportunities, we support physicians and other healthcare professionals to pursue certification and advance their lifestyle medicine careers.

Learn more

Maintaining your lifestyle medicine certification

Staying certified through the American and International Boards of Lifestyle Medicine (ABLM & IBLM) is simple and affordable—especially if you enroll in the Lifestyle Medicine Maintenance of Certification (LMMOC) pathway.

*Lifestyle Medicine Intensivists must also meet all listed MOC criteria.

Learn More

Enroll in the LMMOC program and submit payment to the ABLM by March 31 after your initial certification.

Submit your annual LMMOC payment by March 31. 

Read three expert-selected articles and pass associated quizzes (80% passing score; unlimited attempts) by December 31.

Maintain your ACLM membership to receive discounts on ABLM MOC credits, including 6-8 free credit hours provided annually.

Complete 30 hours of lifestyle medicine-specific CME during your 5-year cycle. 

Submit CME documentation by December 31 of your 5th year.

Staying on the MOC pathway eliminates the need for a 10-year recertification exam and costs roughly half as much.

If you choose not to participate in the LMMOC pathway, you must recertify every 10 years by:

  • Completing 30 hours of online CME/CE
  • Completing 20 hours of event CME/CE
  • Retaking the certification exam

Important: If you enroll in the LMMOC pathway but fail to meet requirements (including payments), you’ll be removed from the program and cannot rejoin. You’ll automatically return to the 10-year recertification track.

We use a three-tier pricing system to adjust for global differences in purchasing power. Rates vary by location.

Your guide to lifestyle
medicine certification

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