Certificate of Added Qualification
in Headache Medicine (AQH) from the National Headache Foundation

Why should you earn the Certificate of Added Qualification in Headache Medicine (AQH) from the National Headache Foundation?

• Validation of a level of expertise in headache medicine to be recognized by your colleagues and patients.
• Possibility of more patient referrals.
• Enhanced credibility and the personal satisfaction of providing your patients with the best possible care.
• Recognition of skills when dealing with managed care and government agencies.

To be eligible for the AQH competency examination, candidates must be a licensed healthcare practitioner who can evaluate and manage headache patients independently, including physicians (M.D. and D.O.), physician assistants, advance practice nurses, dentists, and clinical psychologists. The candidate’s license must be in good standing. Each candidate must provide documentation of three or more years involved in headache medicine.

You can sign up to receive the application package or call 1-888-NHF-5552. This will contain the general application and information about the examination structure and location of testing sites.

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

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

• NHF members: $600 ($300 for NPs and PAs)
• Non-members: $800 ($500 for MDs and DOs)

If the application is received between the application postmark deadline and the late application deadline, a late fee of $75 will be charged. Late fees are:

• NHF members: $675
• Non-members: $875

Become a National Headache Foundation member.

Maintenance of your Certification

Certificates of Added Qualification in Headache Medicine are valid for five years after receipt. To maintain the certification, the health care provider has two options:

• Submit documentation of 60 hours of headache-related educational units through a curriculum accredited through ACCME or an equivalent nursing CEU accreditation body. The CME/CEU credits may be accumulated over a five-year span.

OR

• Reexamination at the end of the five years.

Certification Awards

• You will receive a frameable certificate.
• A sample announcement will be provided by the NHF to assist you in alerting your local media outlets and professional societies 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 HeadFirst, the NHF’s monthly digital newsletter.