CAQ: Occupational Medicine

Current Occ Med Basic Course Offerings

About the Certificate of Added Qualification in Occupational & Environmental Medicine 

The Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in Occupational & Environmental Medicine represents credentialing in the field of medicine. The CAQ is approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) through established criteria and a written exam administered by the American Osteopathic Board of Preventive Medicine (AOBPM). The Certificate is good for 10 years, after which the certificate holder must retake the remotely proctored exam, which is currently 2 hours of approximately 100 multiple-choice items. The cost to take the CAQ exam is $1200.

Eligibility

• In order to take the Occupational Medicine CAQ Certification Exam, applicants must have active certification from any AOA certifying board.  Not AOA boarded?  Consider ABMS reciprocity.
• Satisfactorily complete at least 100 hours of AOA-approved CME within the last five years in occupational medicine. At a minimum, 50 hours will be Category 1. Alternatively, show successful completion of the American Osteopathic College of Occupational and Preventive Medicine’s Occupational Medicine Basic Course or comparable review course (Completion of the AOCOPM Basic Course in Occupational Medicine satisfies this requirement).
• Hold an unrestricted license to practice in a state or territory.
• Adhere to the AOA Code of Ethics.

For more information and eligibility requirements for a CAQ:  certification.osteopathic.org/preventive-medicine/certification-process/occupational-medicine

or full board certification: Primary Certification in Occupational/Environmental Medicine - American Osteopathic Board of Preventive Medicine

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Preparing for the CAQ

To prepare for the CAQ examination, it is recommended that in addition to completing a Basic Course in Occupational Medicine, the applicant contact the AOBPM for a list of study materials. 

Also, AOCOPM offers a downloadable Basic Course Review Primer.

2025 CAQ Exam Date

Occupational Medicine CAQ (Certificate of Added Qualification) Exam
Exam date: Oct. 15, 2025

First deadline: Sept. 5,  2025
Final deadline: Sept. 15, 2025 (Late fee: $360)
Exam fee: $1,200

Details: Eligible physicians must hold an active board certification from any AOA certifying board and be participating in osteopathic continuous certification (OCC) through that board. The CAQ is an added qualification to one’s board certification and requires passing an online multiple-choice exam every 10 years. The CAQ is not a board certification on its own. To renew, physicians must participate in the written exam six months before their expiration date.  Both initial CAQ applicants and recertifying CAQ holders sign up for this exam.