Be Recognized for Your Knowledge in Headache Medicine

AQH© Certification recognizes your knowledge and experience in caring for the most prevalent neurological disease in the world.

Demonstrate your headache experience in the classification, diagnosis, treatment and management of primary headaches, secondary headaches, and painful lesions of the cranial nerves and other facial pain.

To be eligible for the AQH examination, a candidate must be a licensed healthcare practitioner with prescriptive authority who has experience in independently evaluating and managing headache patients.

Benefits of Advanced Qualification in Headache Medicine(AQH©) Certification

Validation

Recognition as a health care provider capable of providing quality care for people living with migraine disease and headache disorders.

Recognition

Provider Finder Listing on www.headaches.org, where patients search to locate certified headache providers near them.

Dedication

Demonstrates your dedication and commitment to the latest developments in headache medicine

Credibility

Increased credibility of headache medicine experience, when seeking justification of treatment necessity during reviews with public and private payers.

Earning Your AQH© Certification

video-cover-AQH

AQH© Certification Timelines

Fall 2025

Step 1: Explore Further & Collect Documentation

July 25 – August 17, 2025
• Review eligibility and exam requirements
• Begin gathering documentation

Step 2: Submit Application Online (Fall 2025 only)

August 18 – September 19, 2025
• Complete online application and location
• Include required documentation
• Pay examination fee

Step 3: Application Status & Schedule Examination

September 22 – October 15, 2025
• Applicants notified of acceptance status
• Accepted candidates schedule examination

Step 4: Take the Examination

November 3 – November 24, 2025
• Access local test center or join online
• Complete AQH© examination

Step 5: Results & Recognition

December 2025
• Receive notification of results
• Recognition on NHF website & social media
• Provided a frameable certificate

Spring 2026

Step 1: Explore Further & Collect Documentation

 September 20, 2025 – February 15, 2026
• Review eligibility and exam requirements
• Begin gathering documentation

Step 2: Submit Application Online (Spring 2026 only)

February 16 – March 20, 2026
• Complete online application and location
• Include required documentation
• Pay examination fee

Step 3: Application Status & Schedule Examination

March 23 – April 17, 2026
• Applicants notified of acceptance status
• Accepted candidates schedule examination

Step 4: Take the Examination

May 4 – May 22, 2026
• Access local test center or join online
• Complete AQH© examination

Step 5: Results & Recognition

June 2026
• Receive notification of results
• Recognition on NHF website & social media
• Provided a frameable certificate

Prepare for the AQH© Examination

Those interested in taking the Advanced Qualification in Headache Medicine (AQH©) exam can prepare by reviewing the following resources (this list is not all-inclusive and should be considered as a starting point):

  • AQH© Review Guide
    • Link will be provided to accepted applicants
    • This is more like a checklist – highlighting selected topics that are addressed in the examination
    • Links to publication and online resources
    • Not meant to be a comprehensive guide, just a navigation checklist tool
    • It highlights all of the resources listed in the bullet points above

New Candidate Eligibility

Eligible candidates are licensed healthcare providers with prescriptive authority, independently evaluating and managing headache patients.

Each candidate must provide documentation of the following criteria regarding license, continuing education, and experience for each of the following four (4) areas with the application:

  1. License: Copy of current license.
  2. CV: Copy of current CV
  3. Professional Colleague Letter (on letterhead)-verifying experience in at least one of the following options:
    • A minimum of 25% of the time in independent direct diagnosis, treatment and management of headache for the last 36 months prior to application (or last 60 months if not continuous), or
    • Completion of an accredited Neurology residency (MD or DO), and manages headache patients, or
    • Completion of an accredited headache fellowship, or
    • At least one or more years of experience at either a headache center or Veterans Affairs (VA) Headache Center of Excellence (HCoE).
  4. 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. (Ideally 20 CME are in the last year).

AQH© Certification Fees, Terms, & Policies

Applicants should review all documents prior to applying.

Apply for the AQH© Examination

Readiness for Completing Application

Part A:  Before applying review all fees, terms, and policies above so you are ready to attest to agreement

Part B:  Prepare all documentation requirements for upload (see above) 

Part C:  Prepare to select your  examination location (1) in a test center or (2) via online proctoring

Part D:  After submitting application be prepared to pay the $875.00 application fee

Part E:  The applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Part F:  You will be notified of the results of the review. 

AQH© Fall 2025 Online Application:

This application is only for the Fall 2025 cohort, and if approved, will be for the November 2025 testing window. 

  • Live:  Monday, August 18th at 8:00amCT.
  • Closes: Friday, September 19th at 5:00pmCT.   

#1:  Complete Application

#2:  Include Required Documentation

#3:  Pay Examination Fee of $875.00

AQH Certification: Five (5) Years

Apply Now

For questions please contact us at: [email protected]

Maintenance of Existing Certification

AQH© Certification: Five (5) Years

AQH© recommends that you begin the renewal process at least 6-9 months before your expiration.  If you are not sure when your certificate expires, please contact [email protected] and an AQH Team Lead will be glad to provide the information. 

  • Once certification expires, you will have up to two (2) years for consideration to re-instate your certification.
    • If more than two (2) years elapses without fulfilling the MOC requirements, then you will need to submit a new application, pay the application and examination fees, and take and pass the examination again.

To begin the renewal process, you will need to have the following ready:

  1. Completed Online Renewal Application – click on button below and enter all required information into the sections provided .
  2. Continuing Education: At least 50 hours of AMA PRA Category 1 CME focused on headache medicine within the past 36 months (or 75 hours within the past 60 months) –please gather all CME certificates, and scan into a pdf for uploading.
  3. Valid Medical License: upload a current copy of your license
  4. Renewal Fee: $250.00 (pay securely online after submitting your application)

Review process:

  1. Review by AQH© team to ensure the application is complete and all eligibility requirements are met.
  2. The team will contact to correct any areas of deficiency (if needed).
  3. Receipt of an email notification confirming renewal application approval or denial.
  4. When approved, a new certificate will be included in the notification email.
Begin Renewal Application

For questions please contact us at: [email protected]

Keep Up to Date on AQH© Certification Information

Name
Subscribe for News and Updates From NHF

Subscribe for News and Updates

Stay informed with the latest news, updates, and episodes from the HeadWise podcast.