Frequently Asked Questions
I have a chiropractic license and I passed the IANM Specialty Board. I’m certified as a Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine Specialist. Why should I recertify?
Maintenance of your credentials (MOC) demonstrates to patients, state licensing boards, preferred provider organizations, insurers, governmental agencies and medical-legal entities that you are maintaining your education and keeping current with the most evidence-based, patient-centered
healthcare trends and innovations. The IANM is the primary source of verification (PSV) to validate for external organizations that doctors are both board certified and that they are current with maintenance of their credentials. PSV is required for National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) standard credentialing of healthcare providers and is the gold standard for preferred provider organizations and insurers throughout the US. MOC may also be required for certain employers and again would be
validated through IANM.
As of January 1, 2022, all newly board-certified doctors after that date must maintain their credential (MOC) or risk losing the credential. The IANM outlines how the doctor is to maintain their certificate on a yearly basis.
To maintain an active status with the IANM, doctors are required to maintain their credentials on a yearly basis. The reequipments may be found here.
Can I use any post graduate types of hours for maintaining my credential?
No. The following requirements are required by the IANM. The International Academy of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine, (hereafter IANM), accepts MOC hours taught by Board Certified chiropractic specialists. Only MOC hours will be accepted if taught by medical specialists if related to orthopedics and neuromusculoskeletal medicine (here after called NMSM) Board certification means maintaining their specialty board credential. If you have a question about the instructor, contact the respective board to find the status.
In addition, the IANM relies on NMSM sponsoring and teaching institutions to allow a specific number of hours outside the regular teaching syllabus to be applied to the core 300 hours, if the hours were earned in another relevant chiropractic specialty program.
I took a 360 hours orthopedic course several years ago and I have not taken the Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine Specialist/Chiropractic Orthopedic Diplomate examination. Can I use the term Board Eligible on my curriculum vitae?
No. This term is no longer recognized. Having 360 hours of postgraduate study does not make a doctor Board Qualified/Eligible. The application process includes many things of which 360 hours is only one of the many requirements to sit the examination and become certified.
If I am currently not an active member of the Academy, can I still use the FIANM on my stationery, curriculum vitae or my name?
No. The IANM has discontinued the prior Fellowship designations (FACO, FIANM) as they were just simply a fraternal indication and had no educational or learned value. The IANM is developing educational Fellowships that will require additional education, testing, mentoring, residency programs or a hybrid residency, and publishing case studies. Competence in these Fellowships must be maintained. The use of DABCO, DACO and DIANM are appropriate after your name.
Is the Academy Diplomate designation (DIANM) recognized by the American Chiropractic Association?
The ACA House of Delegates voted overwhelmingly on September 23, 2005, to recognize the Academy Diplomate examination process (DIANM) retroactive to its first examination in April 2004. These results were obtained by the cooperation of the Orthopedic Coalition comprised of the Academy (IANM), the American College of Chiropractic Orthopedists (ACCO), and the Council on Chiropractic Orthopedics (CCO). The Academy extends thanks to the ACA and the House of Delegates for this recognition.
Do I have to pay a maintenance fee for my Academy Diplomate (DIANM, DACO, or DABCO) credential?
No. The Academy’s position is that the Diplomate credential (DIANM, DACO, OR DABCO) is an earned credential, similar to an academic Bachelor, Master, PhD or professional Doctor of Chiropractic degree that does not require one to pay a maintenance or usage fee. Your active MOC with the Academy verifies your credential is being maintained and have met the educational standards. To determine is a doctor is current with MOC, the doctors name will be listed in the certified doctor directory on the website.
How can I be involved with Academy activities?
Contact the Academy by e-mail to indicate your desire to participate in Academy Committee activities. The Academy is continually looking for those doctors current with their OC who wish to participate in Academy activities. Contact us at admin@ianmmedicine.org.