The Office of Graduate Medical Education values and recognizes the critical role and contributions of GME Professionals to the success of our GME programs and their residents and fellows.  In order to illustrate our commitment to their professional development we have created an exam preparation program for GME professionals.  We encourage them consider applying to take the exam, and also to join us at our preparation sessions which are held each summer.  Information about the sessions will be advertised via email, our monthly newsletter and at the program coordinator montlhy meeting. 

If you are considering taking the exam, please review the TAGME application video (51 minutes) and find the new study guide yearly on the TAGME Homepage to learn more about the assessment process. 

Eligibility requirements can be found on the TAGME website: https://tagme.org/  

The Office of Graduate Medical Education has created a template that you can use to present to your department when requesting financial support.

• Letter of Support for the TAGME Exam

Reasons to consider obtaining your TAGME Certification:

• Self Development

• Recognition

• Professional Growth

• Career Advancement

• Performance Appraisal Goal

• Prioritize attendance at regional/national conferences and/or leadership courses, etc. to obtain education credits (ECs)

  • ECs are required for the initial exam and maintenance of certification

The list below is provided to share examples of ways in which you may have obtained the ECs required to qualify.  Review detailed information in the TAGME Certification Guide. 

National GME EC offerings:

• • ACGME Educational Conference

  • AHME Annual Meeting List of Past Events

  • AHME Webinars (hosted by MMCGME), List of Past Events

  • Specialty Organizations Workshops/Conferences 

  • Other

Local GME EC offerings:

• • MMCGME Program Coordinator All-Day Conference

    • Contact RMShelp@umn.edu

  • MMCGME Program Coordinator Development Sessions

  • GMEC monthly Program Development Sessions (0.50 hours each month)

    • Contact gme@umn.edu for a list

  • Other

Broader Professional Development/Growth Examples:

• Coursera Courses

• DEI Workshops

• LinkedIn Learning Courses

• SADI Workshops

• Other

Use the following materials to organize the required items for your application.

1. • One letter of support, using this template, signed by your program director and your supervisor. 

     • In order to receive backing from your department/program for your TAGME exam preparation, initiate a conversation with your supervisor about your intention to take the exam. Subsequently, download the provided Google Document, place it on your department/program letterhead, input your details, and secure the necessary signatures. Keep a copy for your records. 

   • Use this template to document your GME employment history.

   • Use this  template to summarize the required education credits (15 credits).

Preparation:

• Preparation sessions will be held in partnership with the UMN TAGME certified GME Professionals and other GME staff. Information will be communicated through email, the monthly GME Connection Newsletter and the monthly Program Coordinator meetings. 

• Review the OGME TAGME Exam Preparation Guide available at this link.  It is authored by our local GME Professionals based on their experience preparing for and taking the exam. 

We welcome GME professionals to participate in the preparation and study support program to assist them in the retake process or in preparing for their Maintenance of Certification test. 

Maintenance of Certification  (MOC) Tips:

• Keep your CV updated. 

• Track educational credits and other requirements to be eligible for the MOC exam.

•  Do not let MOC lapse or you have to start over. 

• Connect with other TAGME certified GME professionals that are preparing for or have taken their MOC and learn from each other.

TAGME sets the annual assessment cycle which can be found at this link. 

We recommend that your department/program commit to providing you with a minimum of 2 hours/week of protected time to study and prepare for the certification test.  In addition, we recommend that you budget additional time to organize and prepare for the assessment.