Certification of Internal Medicine specialists in Chile by the autonomous corporation for certification of medical specialties

Since 1984, 12.294 different medical specialists have been certified in Chile by the Autonomous Corporation for Certification of Medical Specialties (whose Spanish acronym is CONACEM). Internal Medicine certification started in 1985, approving 1364 candidates thus far. Certification can be obtained in three ways. Sixty one percent of applicants were approved by a reputable university specialization program. Thirty five percent of applicants fulfilled the requirements of a five years practical training program and less than 5% were approved in a training program from another country which was validated in Chile. There are 13 university training programs for medical specialties, lasting three years each. These programs can receive a total of 110 students per year. Half of these programs are not carried out in Santiago. Applicants, who have not completed a certified university training program, must go through a five days practical examination. Since 2002 a written test was added, whose approval is a requisite to gain access to the practical examination. Sixty one percent of applicants have approved the theoretical test. Certifications last 10 years initially and seven years, thereafter. When certifications expire, a recertification mechanism is required, whose requirements are informed. According to the current legislation, certifications must be done by recognized accrediting agencies. CONACEM has been accepted by the authority and its definitive legal recognition should be a reality soon.