About the CAQ

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 AOBPM is the AOA-approved examining entity, which administers exams for:
(1) Full Board certification in Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Aerospace Medicine, and Public Health & General Preventive Medicine 

             for the osteopathic profession.

(2) A Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

The AOCOPM CME Conferences offer didactics designed to provide the most up-to-date information for doctors who practice in occupational/environmental medicine, disability/impairment evaluations, public health/general preventive medicine, and aerospace medicine.

In addition, the College sponsor a basic course in occupational and environmental medicine designed to provide a basic understanding and expertise in the areas of occupational and environmental medicine while preparing participants to take a written examination qualifying for an AOA-approved, Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ).

The Course is presented in three (3) parts; physicians do not need to take the parts in sequence. For the convenience of the faculty and participants, one part is provided at each of the two (2) conferences presented by the AOCOPM each year (usually in April and October). Each part is a full day didactic program, requires separate registration to the AOCOPM, and provides nine (9) 1-A CME credits (Attendance at the AOCOPM conferences in the spring and fall will provide a total of approximately 70 AOA Category 1 CME credits each year).

Study Text: It is suggested that study include such volume as: "The National Medical Series for Independent Study of Preventive Medicine and Public Health," by Brett J. Cassens, Harvard Publishing; "Occupational and Environmental Medicine," 2nd Edition, Lange Series, by Joseph LaDou; "A Practical Approach to Occupational and Environmental Medicine," 2nd Edition, by Robert J. McCunney, Little, Brown and Company, and "Occupational Medicine" the 3rd Edition by Carl Zenz.

CAQ & Certification

For more information and eligibility requirements for a CAQ or full board certification, please refer to the AOA Membership Directory & Yearbook. You may also contact the American Osteopathic Board of Preventive Medicine,

Michael Shelden, D.O., Executive Secretary. Dr. Shelden can be reached through the AOBPM office at 800-621-1773, extension 8122, e-mail: [email protected] or visit www.aobpm.org

Membership: For information on membership in the American Osteopathic College of Occupational & Preventive Medicine, please call 800-558-8686 or email [email protected] or Visit www.aocopm.org for further information or to see about future conferences.

Eligibility Requirements

Must be Board Certified by the AOA in an AOA- approved primary certification;

Hold a valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine in a state or territory of the United States or a province of Canada;

Show evidence of completion of a basic review course comparable to the one provided through the AOCOPM or document an initial 100 hours of postgraduate training within the past five (5) years in the area of special interest. At a minimum, 50 hours must be in Category 1 and 50 hours in Category II.

Submit practice documents verifying current practice in area of special interest (i.e., letters of agreement from companies, schools, hospitals and/or clinics contracted with or performing service for).

Submit two (2) letters of recommendations from persons competent in the area of special interest.

Submit the required application, fees, and supporting documents to the Executive Secretary of the AOBPM by January 1 prior to sitting for the CAQ examination.

The application to take the CAQ exam must be obtained from the Executive Secretary of the AOBPM - not from the College.
You may contact the AOBPM Executive Secretary:

Michael Shelden, DO, MPH
Executive Secretary
American Osteopathic Board of Preventive Medicine
142 East Ontario Street, Flr 4
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Phone 800-621-1773, Ext 8229 - Fax 312-202-8224
E-mail: [email protected]
Web page: http://www.aobpm.org

Pass appropriate examination designed to evaluate applicant's understanding of the scientific bases of the problems involved in the field of interest and demonstrate current knowledge, sound judgment and a high degree of skill. An oral interview and a written multiple choice examination will be personally conducted, supervised and reviewed by members of the AOBPM.

The Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) is valid from the date of issuance, provided a minimum of 50 hours of Category 1-A in occupational / environmental / preventive medicine is documented every three years.

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

The AOCOPM presents a three-part basic course designed to educate primary care physicians to deal with Occupational & Environmental Medicine issues as they occur in the course of their practices and to assist in the preparation for the CAQ exam.

For more information on the course, contact the AOCOPM at 800.558.8686 or e-mail to: [email protected].