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©

video-cover-AQH

Prepare for the AQH©

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):

National Headache Foundation study navigation guide currently in development

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 in the last 36 months prior to application, 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).

Apply for the AQH©

The AQH exam is currently under review

The AQH examination is available one of two ways:

  1. On-site examination, or
  2. Online examination with remote proctor

Upcoming AQH Examination Dates

Will be posting before the end of July, 2025. We’re almost there, thank you so much for your patience.

Be the First To Know When AQH Testing Is Available

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

Maintenance of Existing Certification

AQH Certification must be renewed every five (5) years.

You have two options:

Option 1: All saved, scanned and emailed to Susan at: [email protected]

  1. Renewal Application: Completion
  2. Continuing Education: Completion of at least 50 hours over the last 36 months prior to renewal or at least 75 hours over the last 60 months prior to renewal, of AMA PRA Category 1 CME focusing on headache medicine.
  3. Valid Current License: Provide copy
  4. Renewal Fee: $250.00

Option 2:
New Application and Re-examination

For questions about either option or to receive a renewal application please contact Susan at: [email protected]

Subscribe for News and Updates

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