The American Academy of Sleep Medicine issued a member announcement telling sleep medicine professionals to be sure to use the appropriate credential designations.

Credential designations vary depending on which body issues sleep medicine certification. According to information issued by the AASM, “The credential Diplomate, American Board of Sleep Medicine or D,ABSM, should be used only by sleep specialists who passed the sleep medicine examination that was offered by the ABSM through 2006. Because Diplomates of the ABSM received lifetime certification, the ABSM continues to verify and maintain the records of the 3,445 individuals who earned the D,ABSM credential.”

The AASM position on ABSM Diplomates states, "The AASM will continue to recognize diplomates of the ABSM as qualifying to serve as a director of a sleep center or laboratory as required in the AASM Standards for Accreditation. However, the Board of Directors strongly encourages all eligible members to apply and sit for the sleep medicine subspecialty certification examination offered by the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, the American Board of Otolaryngology, the American Board of Pediatrics, and the American Board of Family Medicine during the ‘grandfathering’ period."