ADM Practice Test

This page is for physicians preparing for the Board Certified Addiction Medicine Specialist exam from the American Board of Preventive Medicine. It collects free practice sets by topic, worked questions with explanations, a study plan, and the exam logistics we could verify on the official site, including the fee, the test window and registration dates. Practice with the free Board Certified Addiction Medicine Specialist practice test on PracticeTestGeeks (9 questions with answer explanations).

Free Board Certified Addiction Medicine Specialist Study Tools

Interactive Board Certified Addiction Medicine Specialist resources on PracticeTestGeeks, free to start:

• Board Certified Addiction Medicine Specialist flashcards — review key terms and concepts card by card
• Board Certified Addiction Medicine Specialist study guide — topic-by-topic overview of what the exam covers
• Board Certified Addiction Medicine Specialist cheat sheet — one-page printable summary for last-minute review

ADM Exam at a Glance

What changed for ADM in 2026

• Oct 25, 2026: Eligibility changed to Medical degree, unrestricted US/Canadian license, primary board certification, and qualifying fellowship (previously 12+ months ACGME-accredited Addiction Medicine fellowship, unrestricted US/Canadian license, current primary board certification).^[5]
• Oct 25, 2026: Late registration deadline (2027 application) changed to Late applications: July 1–15, 2027 (previously July 1–15, 2027 (late application, $500 extra)).^[2]
• Oct 25, 2026: Registration opens (2027 exam registration) changed to May 19, 2027 (previously May 19 – September 10, 2027).^[9]
• Oct 25, 2026: Exam fee (Examination fee) changed to $2,150 examination fee (previously $2,150 exam fee).^[2]
• Oct 25, 2026: Number of questions changed to 200 multiple-choice questions in four one-hour blocks (previously 200 multiple-choice questions in four 1-hour blocks).^[1]
• Oct 25, 2026: Retake policy changed to Retakes within three-year admissibility period; fees apply (previously Retake allowed within 3-year Period of Admissibility (fees apply)).^[3]
• Oct 25, 2026: Testing window (2026) changed to October 12–November 1, 2026 (previously October 12 – November 1, 2026).^[7]

What the ADM is and how it works

According to American Board of Preventive Medicine, “200 questions delivered in four, one-hour time blocks”^[1]

The ADM exam is the certification exam for addiction medicine, administered by the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM). It is delivered at a Pearson VUE test center. The test is 200 multiple-choice questions in four one-hour blocks.

To apply, the ABPM requires a medical degree, an unrestricted US or Canadian license, primary board certification, and completion of a minimum of 12 months in an ACGME-accredited Addiction Medicine fellowship program.

The examination fee is $2,150. A late application adds a $1,000 total late application fee.

For the 2027 cycle, applications open March 10, 2027 and the cycle closes June 30, 2027. Late applications are accepted July 1-15, 2027. Exam registration runs from May 19, 2027 through September 10, 2027, and the test window is October 11-31, 2027. The 2026 test window is October 12 to November 1, 2026.

Results are posted in the online Physician Portal in February following the exam. A candidate who does not pass may apply to retake the exam within the period of admissibility, and fees apply. Test center availability is limited, so schedule your appointment early.

We have not verified the passing standard or the content outline, so check both on the ABPM site at theabpm.org before you plan your study time. Dates and fees can change, and the ABPM page is the final word.

Worked examples: how to reason through ADM questions

These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.

Example 1

Question: How often should equipment be sterilized or disinfected?

1. Between each patient use according to manufacturer guidelines
2. Once per shift
3. Weekly during routine maintenance
4. Only when visibly soiled

Answer: A. Between each patient use according to manufacturer guidelines

Explanation:

The correct answer is to sterilize or disinfect equipment between each patient use, following the manufacturer's guidelines. Contaminated surfaces and instruments can carry blood and other pathogens from one patient to the next, so cleaning has to happen after every patient, not on a calendar.

Cleaning once per shift is wrong because many patients would use the equipment in between. Cleaning weekly during routine maintenance is wrong for the same reason, and it treats infection control as a maintenance task. Cleaning only when visibly soiled is wrong because dangerous contamination is often invisible.

The rule to remember: infection control is tied to patient contact, not to time or appearance, and the manufacturer's instructions decide the method and the contact time.

Example 2

Question: Why is regular preventive maintenance important?

1. It extends equipment life, ensures accuracy, and prevents unexpected failures
2. It is only needed to meet warranty requirements
3. It reduces the need for training
4. It is optional for newer equipment

Answer: A. It extends equipment life, ensures accuracy, and prevents unexpected failures

Explanation:

Regular preventive maintenance is important because it extends equipment life, keeps readings and measurements accurate, and prevents unexpected failures that could interrupt care or put patients at risk.

The claim that it is needed only for warranty requirements is wrong because warranties are a side effect, and the real purpose is safety and reliability. The claim that it reduces the need for training is wrong because staff still need to know how to use equipment correctly. The claim that it is optional for newer equipment is wrong because new devices can drift or fail too, and many have scheduled service requirements from the start.

The rule to remember: maintenance is planned in advance to prevent problems, and it applies to all equipment in clinical use, whatever its age.

Example 3

Question: Which pharmacokinetic property makes once-monthly injectable buprenorphine (Sublocade) advantageous over daily sublingual formulations?

1. Faster onset of action reducing withdrawal symptoms sooner
2. Elimination of peak-and-trough plasma fluctuations
3. Higher bioavailability resulting in lower total dose requirements
4. Renal excretion allows dose adjustment in hepatic impairment

Answer: B. Elimination of peak-and-trough plasma fluctuations

Explanation:

The correct answer is the elimination of peak-and-trough plasma fluctuations. An injectable depot releases buprenorphine slowly under the skin, so blood levels stay steadier than with daily sublingual doses, which rise after each dose and fall before the next.

Faster onset is wrong because a depot formulation is built for sustained release, not rapid effect. Higher bioavailability with a lower total dose is wrong because the advantage is the stability of levels, not dose savings. Renal excretion allowing adjustment in hepatic impairment is wrong because buprenorphine is cleared mainly by the liver, and the statement does not describe what a depot does.

The rule to remember: when a question asks why a long-acting formulation is advantageous, think steady-state levels and fewer fluctuations, not speed of onset.

How to use these practice tests

Start with the official ABPM pages for addiction medicine and exam content, and write down the eligibility rules, the exam format and the dates that apply to you. That tells you how much time you have and what the exam will feel like on the day.

Next, take a short diagnostic across several topics so you know where you stand. Try substance use disorders and diagnostic criteria, pharmacotherapy and medication-assisted treatment, and co-occurring disorders. Note the topics where you miss questions.

• Spend most of your sessions on your weakest sets, then return to the stronger ones to keep them fresh.
• After each set, read every explanation, including those for questions you got right, and write the general rule in your own words.
• Use ethical, legal and regulatory considerations and neurobiology of addiction to check reasoning, not just recall.
• Practise in long sittings that match the exam's block format, so you build stamina.

In the final stretch, take the full practice test, review your misses against the official material, and confirm your test center appointment.

Sources & last verified

1. American Board of Preventive Medicine — number of questions (official source). “200 questions delivered in four, one-hour time blocks” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 20, 2026.
2. American Board of Preventive Medicine — exam fee, late registration deadline (official source). “Examination fee | $2,150” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 20, 2026.
3. American Board of Preventive Medicine — retake policy (official source). “may, upon timely application and payment of appropriate fees, be admitted to reexamination for initial Certification within the Period of Admissibility.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 20, 2026.
4. pearsonvue.com — delivery (official source). “Appointments can be scheduled up to one business day in advance, and test center availability is offered on a first‑come, first‑served basis.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
5. American Board of Preventive Medicine — eligibility (official source). “Requires successful completion of a minimum of 12 months in an ACGME-accredited Addiction Medicine fellowship program.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
6. American Board of Preventive Medicine — score release (official source). “The results of the initial certification examinations will be posted in the online Physician Portal in February following the exam.” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 20, 2026.
7. American Board of Preventive Medicine — testing window (official source). “Oct 12, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026” Verified Oct 25, 2026 · source checked Oct 20, 2026.
8. American Board of Preventive Medicine — registration opens, registration deadline (official source). “ABPM will begin accepting applications for the 2027 certification exams on March 10, 2027.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
9. American Board of Preventive Medicine — registration opens (official source). “Registration for all 2027 certification exams opens on May 19, 2027, and closes for all exams on Sept. 10, 2027.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
10. American Board of Preventive Medicine — registration deadline (official source). “Register for the ABPM’s 2027 certification exams from May 19, 2027, through Sept. 10, 2027.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.
11. American Board of Preventive Medicine — testing window (official source). “All 2027 certification exams will be administered at Pearson Vue Testing Centers Oct. 11-31, 2027.” Verified Oct 25, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.