ABMM Exam Hub

ABMM Exam Hub

Key dates and fees official

  • Applications open year-round. Deadlines: 1 Feb (experience path), 1 Mar (CPEP or fellowship paths)
  • Application fee $450 for ASM members, $575 for others (non-refundable). Exam registration $400 once approved
  • Registration 15 Apr – 24 Jun · Exam window 1–30 Jun · Scores 1 Sep
  • Source: ASM application instructions

Eligibility official

  • An accepted doctorate (DCLS and PharmD not accepted)
  • Plus one: 3 years of director-level experience, 2 years of CPEP training, or an ACGME, CCM or RCPSC programme, all completed after the doctorate
  • You can apply if you’ll finish within 60 days after the exam
  • Source: ABMM eligibility PDF (2023)

Exam format official

  • 200 single-best-answer questions in 6 hours, computer-based, at Kryterion test centres worldwide
  • Testing 44.5% · Consulting 25% · Administration 19% · Safety 11.5% (outline updated Oct 2023)
  • Source: ABMM exam information

Pass rates official

YearExamineesPassedOverallFirst-time
2026481429%35%
2025452657%67%
2024502448%66%
2023493571%73%
2022532955%76%

Source: ABMM Exam Information PDF

Resources

  • Official suggested references: Manual of Clinical Microbiology 12e, Koneman 7e, Larone 7e, BMBL 6e, CLSI M100/M60/QMS04, Red Book, CLIA, CDC DPDx official
  • MMWR, CDC and CLSI sites, and case reports official
  • ASM Microbe board review course peer Reddit, Jan 2024
  • APHL Lab Director Board Exam Boot Camp APHL

Tips and cautions

  • Weight your study to the blueprint. Testing and consulting make up about 70% of the exam official
  • Register as soon as the window opens to get your choice of test centre official
  • Use current editions, because CLSI breakpoints change every year official
  • Do timed, full-length practice and review your misses by domain peer
  • Pass rates fell sharply in 2026, so plan to start early official
  • Avoid “dump” sites that claim to have real exam questions

Last updated 1 November 2026. Always confirm details with ASM.

Scroll to Top