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For Existing AQH© Certified Providers:
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
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 Closed)
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 18, 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 optional resources (this list is not all-inclusive and should be considered as a starting point):
- Headache and Facial Pain Medicine, 1st Edition, by Sait Ashina. Published October 10, 2024
- McGraw Hill Medical – eBook ISBN(s): 9781264804986; ISBN: 9781264803125
- Oxford Textbook of Headache Syndromes (Oxford Textbooks in Clinical Neurology)
- by Michel Ferrari (Author), Andrew Charles (Author), David Dodick (Author), Fumihiko Sakai (Author), Joost Haan (Author)
- American Headache Society
- 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:
- License: Copy of current license.
- CV: Copy of current CV
- 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).
- 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:
The application period is closed for the Fall 2025 cohort.
AQH© Spring 2026 Online Application:
This application period opens February 16, 2026 for the Spring 2026 cohort.
AQH Certification: Five (5) Years
Plan Ahead for Your AQH Certification
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