Approved August 2026

Purpose: To establish a clear, official ACMT definition of a medical toxicologist, distinguish the specialty from other toxicology disciplines, and promote consistent use of terminology by describing the education, training, certification, and expertise required of medical toxicologists. 

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What is a Medical Toxicologist?

The term “toxicologist” encompasses a diverse group of scientists and clinicians with overlapping fields of expertise.

Broadly speaking, a toxicologist is a scientist who studies the harmful effects of chemicals and physical agents on living organisms and the environment. Toxicologists typically have advanced training in disciplines such as chemistry, biology, molecular biology, and epidemiology. These experts conduct research and provide consultation, typically in government, industry, or academic settings.

A clinical toxicologist is a health care professional- including pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and others- with expertise in the management of chemical and drug exposures, poisonings, and other toxicological emergencies.

A medical toxicologist is a physician who specializes in the prevention, evaluation, treatment, and monitoring of injury and illness from exposure to drugs and chemicals, as well as biological and radiological agents. (Although medical toxicology fits within the umbrella of clinical toxicology, as physicians, we prefer the term medical toxicologist as more precise and specific.)

Important areas of medical toxicology include acute drug poisoning, adverse drug events, substance use disorders, including addiction and withdrawal, chemicals and radiologic materials, terrorism and emergency preparedness, venomous bites and stings, and environmental and workplace exposures. In the United States, medical toxicologists have completed a residency in their primary specialty, a 2-year subspecialty fellowship training in medical toxicology, and passed a medical toxicology board certification examination.