About the Program
Setting a new Standard for Travel Medicine
The fifth ISTM Certificate of Knowledge Examination was administered on May 24, 2009, at the 11th Conference of the ISTM in Budapest, Hungary.
When Will the Next Examination be Administered?
The ISTM plans to give the next exam in March 2010 prior to the opening of the 4th Regional Conference of the ISTM in Miami, Florida (USA).
What is the ISTM Certificate of Knowledge?
The Certificate recognizes individual excellence in knowledge in the field of travel medicine, associated with pre-travel care and consultation. The exam focuses specifically on the level of knowledge that is necessary to practice travel medicine. Knowledge of specific tropical diseases and treatments will be limited to that which should be known to advise travellers (for example, in the diagnosis and treatment of traveller's diarrhea or rabies immunoprophylaxis), including post-travel triage of travellers and post-travel screening. Knowledge of tropical medicine is not required.
Developed by an international panel of travel medicine experts representing a variety of professional disciplines, the Certificate will be awarded to eligible professionals who pass the Certificate of Knowledge Examination. The Certificate is a symbol of your achievement in the field - proof of your commitment to excellence. Those passing the examination will receive a Certificate of Knowledge and will be granted a "Certificate in Travel Health®" or "CTH®." ISTM members who receive the Certificate will also be recognized in the ISTM Directory of Travel Medicine Providers and within the Travel Clinic section of the ISTM website.
What are the Purposes of the Program?
The ISTM Certificate of Knowledge Program was created to:
- Establish an international standard for travel medicine practitioners
- Encourage individual and global professional development in the area of travel medicine
- Formally recognize individuals who pass the Certificate of Knowledge Examination
- Serve the public by promoting quality travel medicine services
- Demonstrate the global validity of epidemiological data and of preventive strategies
Who is Eligible to Take the Exam?
The ISTM welcomes applications from all qualified professionals who provide travel medicine-related services on a full- or part-time basis. The exam is open to all licensed travel medicine professionals, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists and others. Both ISTM members and non-members are eligible to participate.
What Topics are Covered on the Exam?
The 200-multiple choice exam is designed to reflect the reality of day-to-day pre-travel practice. It covers six key areas:
- Epidemiology of travel-related problems
- Common and important diseases acquired during travel and their prevention
- Other conditions associated with travel
- Pre-travel consultation and management
- Products used in travel medicine
- Vaccines
- Drugs
- Other
- Preventive strategies (where there is global consensus)
- Appropriate post-travel triage
- General travel health issues
How Do I Prepare for the Exam?
The Body of Knowledge, upon which the exam is based, has been published on this website and in the Journal of Travel Medicine, Volume 13 Number 5 (September 2006), for review purposes. Also on the website, examinees can find a list of references to read before taking the exam. A number of travel medicine conferences and courses are listed as means of review, as well. Sample questions are available on this site to give test-takers an idea of the types of questions that will appear on the exam.
How Can I Get More Information?
As the next exam administration approaches, the ISTM will post information on this website that will instruct you on how to obtain a Candidate Bulletin of Information. The useful publication contains:
- the test date and location
- the cost of the exam
- test administration procedures
- steps to follow if you wish to apply for the certificate
- a description of how the exam was developed
- sample questions to familiarize yourself with the types of questions that will appear on the exam
Please "stay tuned" to this website to find out when Candidate Bulletins of Information will be available.
You can also contact ISTM for answers to specific questions you may have about the Certificate of Knowledge Examination and Program. Please email your questions to exam@istm.org.
The ISTM Certificate of Knowledge is voluntary and is not meant to limit or restrict, in any way, the professional activities of travel medicine practitioners. Nor is the certificate intended to be a substitute or replacement for credentials offered by national societies or other organizations.
