The American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM), established by ASM in 1959, administers certifications recognized by federal and state governmental agencies as a significant component toward meeting licensure requirements to direct laboratories engaged in the microbiological diagnosis of human disease.
The ABMM is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)-approved board that tests and certifies doctoral-level microbiologists to direct medical and public health microbiology laboratories and perform high complexity testing.
The ABMM is recognized under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988 final rule and in all 12 states that require licensure: California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Tennessee and West Virginia.
August 2022: Please be advised that the application deadlines and some eligibility requirements have changed.
Review the steps, deadlines, and application to earn the ABMM.
The board-certified medical microbiology laboratory director is medically, scientifically and administratively responsible for all that happens in the laboratory and is therefore able to affect appropriateness, speed, cost-effectiveness and quality of patient care.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
With technology continuously expanding, and over 70% of medical decisions relying on laboratory testing, an ABMM-certified medical microbiologist offers a unique skillset for hospitals, healthcare systems, reference laboratories and industry as a key leader in navigating the ever-changing landscape of infectious disease diagnostics.
An ABMM-certified medical microbiology laboratory director aids the healthcare team in a variety of ways. A few of these are listed below:
Learn why experienced and appropriately qualified medical microbiology laboratory directors are critical to patient care.
Read this first-hand account of the impact of ABMM on a career of service to medical institutions.
