Candidates must meet eligibility requirements for the year in which the examination is taken, regardless of prior approval. Eligibility does not carry over automatically from year to year.

A candidate must be a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry, American Osteopathic Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, or Canadian equivalent.

A period of preceptorship in electrodiagnostic medicine that is coordinated with presentation of didactic material must be satisfactorily completed under direct supervision of an experienced electrodiagnostic medicine consultant, preferably an ABEM Board Diplomate. This preceptorship may be taken during and/or after an approved residency training program. The period of preceptorship must be at least 6 months fulltime, or equivalent, with the first 3 months rigidly structured with regard to supervision. Any postresidency course of study in electrodiagnostic medicine must be conducted where there is an ACGME, AOA, or RCPSC recognized neurology or physiatry residency training program, or at a participating institution to a sponsoring institution that has been approved by the ACGME in order to qualify as a portion of the 6-month preceptorship. During these 6 months, at least 200 complete electrodiagnostic evaluations must be performed on separate occasions; these studies must be documented and interpreted.

Competency in electrodiagnostic medicine can only be achieved by performing and interpreting additional electrodiagnostic examinations. Candidates, therefore, must also document at least 1 year of experience following training during which they must perform 200 additional complete electrodiagnostic evaluations on separate occasions. This period of independent experience can only begin after satisfactory completion of the approved residency training program and the 6-month preceptorship. The year of independent experience may be part of a postresidency program (e.g., fellowship) which includes the practice of electrodiagnostic medicine. The time spent in such a postresidency program beyond the minimum 6 months preceptorship shall be counted toward the 1 year of independent experience.

Applications may be submitted prior to the final projected completion date of the independent experience period. However, all training and experience requirements must be satisfactorily completed before February 1, 2010.