The National Headache Foundation (NHF) is proud to announce the class of health care practitioners who have successfully passed the exam for the Certificate of Added Qualification in Headache Medicine (AQH). The AQH was originally created in 2000 to recognize physicians with an advanced level of experience in headache medicine. In 2005, board certification in headache medicine was established by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS), and the AQH program became dormant.
Currently, there is no viable pathway for the majority of clinicians to achieve scholarly recognition for excellence in headache management. In 2012, the Board of the NHF recognized the growing number of allied health care practitioners along with primary care physicians, who had gained experience in the diagnosis and treatment of headaches. They also determined, as a
service to those experiencing headaches, that the NHF-endorsed AQH should be reinstated.
The goals are to establish the standards for headache practice and assist those with headaches in locating clinicians who could provide optimal headache-related health care. After establishing the requirements for AQH, the physician members of the NHF Board developed a competency examination for eligible candidates. An exam was given during May 2026, and Puget Sound Neurology’s expert provider has been awarded the AQH in headache medicine: Samuel Urkov, DNP, FNP-C, AQH is now eligible to use the indication of Added Qualification in Headache (AQH) after their name. Congratulations Sam! Contact Puget Sound Neurology to schedule a consult for headaches today.
About the National Headache Foundation
The National Headache Foundation (NHF) is the premier educational and informational resource for individuals with headache, their families, physicians, allied health care professionals, and health policy decision makers. To obtain the name of a Health Care Provider interested in headache medicine, please visit www.headaches.org or call 1-888-NHF5552.