AQH Certification

For planning purposes: To be eligible for the AQH competency examination, a candidate must be a licensed healthcare practitioner who evaluates and manages headache patients independently, including physicians (MD and DO), physicians assistants, advance practice nurses, dentists, and clinical psychologists.

Each candidate must provide documentation of the following criteria regarding license, continuing education, and experience for each of the following three (3) areas prior to application:

1. License: The candidate’s license must be in good standing.

2. Continuing Education: Completion of at least 50 hours, over the last 36 months prior to application, of AMA PRA Category 1 CME focusing on headache medicine, prior to application.

3. Experience: Meet at least one of the following four (4) options:
• A minimum of 25% of the time in direct diagnosis and management of headache in the last 36 months prior to application, or
• A professional who has completed an accredited Neurology residency (MD or DO), or
• A professional who has successfully completed an accredited headache fellowship, or
• At least one or more years of experience at either a headache clinic or Veterans Affairs (VA) Headache Center of Excellence (HCoE).

For more information, please contact Susan Stone at [email protected]

All fees for the examination are in U.S. dollars.

Provided the early postmark deadline is met, the examination fees are:

• Under Review. Please stay tuned.

Maintenance of Certification:  For those that achieved AQH certification September, 2023 and before; you must renew every 5 years to stay current, and your license must be in good standing.

You have two options:

Option 1: 

• Continuing Education: Completion of at least 50 hours over the last 36 months or at least 75 hours over the last 60 months prior to renewal, of AMA PRA Category 1 CME focusing on headache medicine.
• Submit the certification fee:  $250.00 to Maureen at: [email protected].  She will contact you to safely allow you to pay by credit card. 

Option 2:

• Reexamination
  • Pay the reexamination fee:  $800.00

Certification Awards

• A sample announcement and support materials will be provided by the NHF to assist you in alerting your local media outlets, professional societies, and payors that you have received the credential.
• Please submit a high-resolution headshot for us to distribute with a press release.
• The announcement of AQH recipients will be included in NHF communications.