Frequently Asked Questions

A.TAGME does not function under the auspices of the ACGME or any clinical specialty national board. It is an independent certifying organization. However, TAGME monitors updates from those organizations as they pertain to the assessment of the knowledge, skills and abilities of managers/coordinators of graduate medical education programs.

Q. Can I submit a TAGME application for certification before I have completed 3 years of employment in my current position?

A. Applicants can submit an application for certification if their 3 year anniversary date of employment in a field that offers certification is obtained on or before the close of the application window. Example: training administrators that apply for certification for the Fall monitored assessment application cycle must have completed 3 or more years of experience in their current position on or before May 31 to meet the requirement for experience.

A.The candidate for certification must meet the established criteria to be eligible for certification. The process of certification includes the completion of the application materials and the assessment tools. The assessment tools are given in two parts. One part is completed in a monitored setting; the other is a work effort product completed at your desk, on your own time. Your clinical specialty must have had their assessment tools approved by TAGME to offer certification.

Q. Can I sit for certification if my clinical specialty has not had their assessment tools approved?

A.No.

Q. What does my clinical specialty have to do to be able to offer certification?

A.The first step is to survey training administrators in your specialty regarding this interest. If the conclusion is that this certification would be welcomed, a group of 4-5 training administrators interested in being part of the development of certification assessment tools would get together to form a taskforce that would move this initiative forward . A taskforce chair who will lead this initiative must be selected by the group. This individual will contact the New Specialty Development Committee (NSDC) who will provide direction as to next steps necessary for the taskforce to receive official TAGME recognition for that specialty and begin the process.

Q. Does TAGME provide any assistance with the development of the clinical specialty certification assessment tools?

A.Yes, each clinical specialty is assigned a mentor from the New Specialty Development Committee (NSDC) to guide them through the process of certification assessment tools development. This mentor will work with the clinical specialty from the formation of the taskforce, throughout the assessment development stage, to the approval of certification assessment tools and permanent membership approval on the TAGME Board of Directors.

Q. Is there a standard format for clinical specialties to follow in the development of their certification assessment tools?

A.Yes. All TAGME approved task forces receive mentor help, templates and guides to outline the process, and core questions that will become part the clinical specialty's certification assessment tools. All TAGME approved task forces follow the same format and process.

Q. What happens after my clinical specialty develops certification assessment tools?

A.The New Specialty Development Committee (NSDC) advises the clinical specialty when their tools are ready for board approval. A representative of the task force must make the presentation of their certification assessment tools in person at a scheduled TAGME Board of Directors meeting. Once TAGME has approved membership and assessment tools, the clinical specialty becomes a permanent member of the Board of Directors and can offer certification.

Q. I am a subspecialty of another core clinical specialty. Are we eligible to begin the process of developing certification assessment tools?

A.Yes - only if your core specialty already offers certification. The main clinical specialty must be able to offer certification before the subspecialties can begin that process. An ex-officio member from the core specialty is appointed to serve on the subspecialty taskforce developing certification assessment tools.