Pediatrics-Neurology

Training Requirements for General Pediatrics for the Pediatrics-Child Neurology Pathway

A special agreement exists between the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) whereby an applicant who completes at least two years of accredited training in general comprehensive pediatrics, in addition to the necessary training to meet the requirements for neurology certification with special qualifications in child neurology, fulfills the training requirements of both the ABP and the ABPN.

An applicant may not take the certifying examination of the ABP until all training in both programs has been successfully completed. In order to ensure that trainees receive comprehensive training in general pediatrics and acquire the knowledge and skills to function as a competent pediatrician, the ABP requires specific content to be contained within the two years of training in general pediatrics.

Training in pediatrics must be completed in an ACGME or RCSPC accredited general pediatrics residency program. The curriculum components that constitute the general pediatrics training must be taken from those experiences that have been approved by the Review Committee for Pediatrics as part of the requirements for categorical pediatrics residency training. Except for the provisions specified below, the training must conform to the program requirements for accreditation of general pediatrics residencies.

Pediatric Requirements

The training should be the same as described in the ACGME Program Requirements for Graduate Medical Education for Pediatrics as outlined in this document with the exceptions that follow. The curriculum must include 2 years of clinical experiences and should be organized in educational units.  An educational unit should be a block (four weeks or one month) or a longitudinal experience. An outpatient educational unit should be a minimum of 32 half-day sessions and an inpatient educational unit should be a minimum of 200 hours.

The specific curricular elements are detailed in the following chart: 

Requirements in General Pediatrics for
Training in Pediatrics-Child Neurology
(Effective July 2013)

Component
Educational Unit*
Emergency Medicine & Acute Illness

3 (with at least 2 in ED)

Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics

1

Adolescent Medicine

1

Term Newborn

1

Inpatient Pediatrics (non-ICU)

5 (no maximum)

Ambulatory Experiences to include community pediatrics and child advocacy

2

NICU

2

PICU

2

**Additional Subspecialty

4 (minimum)

*(Educational Unit = 4 weeks or 1 month OR outpatient longitudinal experience of 32 half-day sessions OR inpatient longitudinal experience of 200 hours)

**Additional Subspecialty includes 3 units from 3 different subspecialties from the following list:

  • child abuse
  • medical genetics
  • pediatric allergy and immunology
  • pediatric cardiology
  • pediatric dermatology
  • pediatric endocrinology
  • pediatric gastroenterology
  • pediatric hematology-oncology
  • pediatric infectious diseases
  • pediatric nephrology
  • pediatric pulmonology
  • pediatric rheumatology

Additional 1 unit of single or combined subspecialties from the list above or below:

  • child and adolescent psychiatry
  • hospice and palliative medicine
  • neurodevelopmental disabilities
  • pediatric anesthesiology
  • pediatric dentistry
  • pediatric ophthalmology
  • pediatric orthopaedic surgery
  • pediatric otolaryngology
  • pediatric rehabilitation medicine
  • pediatric radiology
  • pediatric surgery
  • sleep medicine
  • sports medicine

Subspecialty Experience

Educational experiences in the subspecialties must emphasize the competencies and skills needed to practice general pediatrics of high quality in the community.  They should be a blend of inpatient and outpatient experiences and prepare residents to participate as team members in the care of patients with chronic and complex disorders.

Neurology should not be utilized to fulfill the subspecialty requirements during the 2 years of general pediatrics training.

Supervisory Responsibility

At least 3 educational units of supervisory responsibility must be completed during the 2 years of training. 

Continuity Clinic

There must be a minimum of 36 half-day sessions per year of a longitudinal outpatient experience in a continuity clinic at a pediatric primary care site throughout the 2 years of general pediatrics training.  The sessions must not be scheduled in fewer than 26 weeks per year.   The patients should include those previously cared for in the hospital, well children of various ages, and children of various ages with special health care needs and chronic conditions. Residents must have a longitudinal general pediatrics outpatient experience in a setting that provides a medical home for the spectrum of pediatric patients and must care for a panel of patients that identify the resident as their primary care provider.   

The medical home model of care must focus on wellness and prevention, coordination of care, longitudinal management of children with special health care needs and provide a patient- and family-centered approach to care.  

Individualized Curriculum

There is no expectation of an individualized curriculum, but it is acceptable for a resident to complete electives appropriate for their career pathway.  

Eligibility for Certification

Candidates for this pathway should be identified early, preferably before or early in the R-1 year but no later than the end of the R-1 year. This is necessary so that the second year of training can be adapted in such a way that specified curricular requirements in general pediatrics will be met. The program director and candidate will not be required to seek prospective approval by the ABP, but must notify the ABP by means of the tracking roster in May of the R-1 year.

To meet the eligibility requirements for certification in general pediatrics, the trainee must satisfactorily complete two years of core general pediatrics training. Vacation leave, or other absences from training cannot exceed two months during these two years. Verification of clinical competence and the specified curriculum will be required from the general pediatrics program director at the end of the two years of training. An applicant may not take the certifying examination of the ABP until all training in both general pediatrics and child neurology has been successfully completed.

Implementation

These requirements will be effective for those residents entering general pediatrics training as of July 2013.

2/4/06 - approved by ABP Board of Directors
6/10- edited
2/16/13 - Revision Approved by ABP Board of Directors

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