ACGME Releases Proposed Changes to EM Program Requirements

Updated March 21, 2025

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has released new proposed emergency medicine program requirements and rationale for the updates.

Share Your Comments with the ACGME
Deadline - May 1

Key proposed changes include:

Length of training – recommended at 48 months for all programs
Curricular building blocks
1. Rotations
  1. Increased EM time overall
  2. Added requirement for low-resource ED, low acuity setting
  3. Increased Critical Care and Pediatric time
  4. Added time for obstetrics, toxicology and addiction medicine, administration and EMS
2. Structured Experiences
  1. Acute Psychiatric Emergencies
  2. Airway Management
  3. Non-Laboratory Diagnostics (Ultrasound Procedural/Diagnostic and EKG/Radiology Interpretation
  4. Observation Medicine
  5. Ophthalmology
  6. Perform Sensitive Exams
  7. Primary Decision Maker in Multidisciplinary Teams
  8. Telemedicine
  9. Transfers and Transitions of CareCurricular building blocks.
Resource requirements (volume of patients, critical care patients and faculty)
Procedural requirements
Scholarly requirements
Didactics

ACEP Makes Sure Your Voice is Heard

ACEP has participated in the process from the start to make sure your voice is heard. Additionally, ACEP will be submitting a formal response. To help inform the comment of its response ACEP President Alison Haddock, MD, FACEP hosted a Town Hall on March 18.

Due to member interest, a second Town Hall listening session to hear your thoughts on the proposed changes is slated for 10 a.m. (CT) on April 3.

You can also send Dr. Haddock an email with your thoughts.

ACEP encourages everyone to also submit their comments directly to the ACGME so they can hear from individuals, as well.

The ACGME developed these proposed program requirements based on data collected and feedback from stakeholders including program directors, residents, and the larger EM community. These requirements are designed to equip trainees with the knowledge and skills to practice for the next 25 years.

Once finalized, the requirements would be effective no earlier than July of 2027. Residents who start in July of 2026 would complete their training under the old requirements.