Summary of Training
Pathways, Application Contacts, Board Certification, and Funding Status
|
Pathway |
Requirements |
Application Submission |
Training Duration |
Board Certification |
Experience Requirements for
Board Certification |
Funding Status |
Openings |
|
ACGME |
MD or MD/PhD following completion
of CP and/or AP pathology residency or infectious disease fellowship required |
Contact Debbie Ribaya, BIDMC for application |
1 year |
Fellowship training in the
program qualifies. |
1 position funded per year |
Open positions available
beginning July 2028. 2026 and 2027 slots are filled. |
|
|
CPEP 2 year |
PhD or MD* |
2 years |
CPEP fellowship qualifies |
Unfunded |
Open, pending available
funding, available for Boston Children’s Hospital ID fellows who commit last two
years of fellowship training to this pathway |
||
|
CPEP 2 year, LTHET |
PhD and/or MD* |
ASM Link AND
contact program directly, |
2 years |
CPEP fellowship qualifies |
Funding from LTHET Program
of equivalent from other service branches |
Open, admission rolling |
|
|
CPEP 1 year |
MD with substantial
relevant clinical training* |
1 year |
American Board of
Pathology, Focused
Pathway Designation (FPD) |
CPEP fellowship + 1.5 years
additional clinical experience, confirm requirements on individual basis with
ABMM board, Fellowship completion would
qualify for FPD |
Unfunded |
Can be pursued as part of
clinical pathology or infectious disease training at BIDMC or Boston
Children’s Hospital with a one+ year time commitment to training. |
|
|
CPEP 2+ Clinical microbiology
scholars pathway |
PhD and/or MD* |
2+ years |
CPEP fellowship qualifies |
As above, integration
within funded mentored clinical/basic scientist development program and
individually developed |
As above |
*Clinical Pathology or 1+
year Infectious Disease Clinical Fellowship Training highly desirable for MD
candidates
PhD and MD scientists serving in the U.S. military are eligible to apply. Prospective military applicants should contact the Program Director directly prior to applying to discuss eligibility and sponsorship pathways. Applicants accepted into the fellowship will be required to submit a formal application through the American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM) website as part of the CPEP training process.
The CPEP-accredited Clinical Microbiology Fellowship does not provide salary support and cannot sponsor or transfer employment visas (e.g., H-1B, J-1). Applicants must have independent funding and appropriate U.S. work authorization for the full duration of CPEP training.
Eligible applicants for the CPEP fellowship include:
- Military-sponsored PhD or MD scientists supported through their respective service training programs
- Physician fellows (MD/DO) whose full fellowship salary support is provided through an ACGME-accredited Clinical Infectious Diseases fellowship program
Applicants who require institutional funding or visa sponsorship cannot be considered.
Certification and Board Eligibility
Completion of a two-year CPEP-accredited Clinical Microbiology Fellowship or a one-year ACGME-accredited Medical Microbiology Fellowship qualifies trainees to sit for the certification examination administered by the American Board of Medical Microbiology (ABMM). ABMM certification is recognized under CLIA ’88 as one of the qualifying credentials for doctoral-level scientists and physicians to serve as directors of high-complexity clinical microbiology laboratories. Fellows in this program are rigorously prepared for board certification.
The American Board of Pathology offers a board certification exam in medical microbiology for graduates of our ACGME-accredited Medical Microbiology Fellowship Program. Note, the American Board of Pathology: ". . .encourages diplomates with ACGME accredited training in Medical Microbiology to also consider obtaining certification by American Society for Microbiology’s American Board of Medical Microbiology" (https://www.abpath.org/images/booklets/ABP_BOI.pdf, page 20)
The American Board of Pathology also now offers a separate certification pathway in Clinical Microbiology, called a Focused Practice Designation. CP and/or AP certified residents are allowed to sit for the exam if they have completed a CPEP Fellowship Program. Therefore, pathology residents completing our ABMM fellowship can now sit for either the ABMM exam and/or the Focused Practice Pathway exam. However, the Focused Practice Pathway is NOT a certification, and the fellows are strongly encouraged to sit for the ABMM exam.