The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) Offers Residents Options in Physician Board Certification

As one of the highest honors that physicians can receive, board certification represents an abiding commitment to patient care. By providing physicians with an opportunity to thoroughly demonstrate their base of knowledge, professional skill, and dedication to ongoing education and training, certification serves as measurable proof of a physician’s expertise. If you are a resident seeking to distinguish yourself and bolster your career through certification, you should know that the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) offers certification options.

Nationally Recognized for Certifications in Traditional & Emerging Specialties

Since certifying our first physician in 1960, we have become a nationally recognized choice for certification, offering a path toward board certification and recertification in 18 different specialties. We have certified numerous extensively qualified and highly talented physicians in traditional medical fields such as dermatology, family medicine, and internal medicine as well as in innovative specialties such as disaster medicine, integrative medicine, and family medicine obstetrics. In fact, as one of three prominent multi-specialty certifying bodies in the United States, we are the only one that offers certification in these emerging specialties. Currently, ABPS Diplomates across the various specialties practice at some of the finest healthcare institutions in the country and are in all 50 states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

What’s more, the ABPS is:

  • Recognized in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook as a choice for physician board certification
  • Supported by Aperture Credentialing, the nation’s most experienced healthcare provider credentialing company
  • The only multi-specialty certifying body that requires its Diplomates to complete a medical ethics course to achieve recertification

Benefits of Board Certification With an ABPS Member Board

When you become board certified with an ABPS Member Board, you will become part of a community of like-minded physician leaders who represent some of the most skilled physicians in your area of expertise. Furthermore, the ABPS will advocate diligently on your behalf, as we have a strong track record of work with credentialing authorities, hiring groups, hospital organizations, and legislators to get our Diplomates the credit and opportunities they deserve.

As more hospitals and healthcare organizations prioritize hiring board-certified physicians, board certification will continue to grow in prominence. At the ABPS, we believe that certification offers physicians benefits that are less obvious than career advancement but no less important, including:

  • The respect of their peers and the fellowship of practitioners who share best practices
  • Extra incentive to remain as updated as possible about new techniques and treatment methods in their chosen specialty so as to achieve recertification
  • An opportunity to be viewed as leaders in their chosen specialty, and to shape the course of the medical profession for years to come

Why Certify With the ABPS?

The ABPS believes you have the right to choose a board that aligns with your values. As a board that offers several nationally recognized certification options, we believe that more choices foster increased competition, which results in innovation and advancement that results in improved patient care.

For more information about the ABPS, including details about our eligibility requirements for certification, contact us today.

Save the Date
House of Delegates & Annual Scientific Meeting
Innovation & Overcoming Challenges
June 10-15, 2022
Patient Care Is Our Priority

Medical organizations throughout North America understand that our rigorous certification standards prove that ABPS Diplomates are capable of delivering the best patient care possible.

On October 18, 2007, President George W. Bush released Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21 (HSPD-21), calling on our nation, among other initiatives, to “collectively support and facilitate the establishment of a discipline of disaster health”. It is a great testament to the wisdom and foresight of the American Board of Physician Specialties that it immediately set to work and created, within the short span of only one year, an educational blueprint and set of certification examinations, both written and oral, for a new subspecialty of disaster medicine—and it is why I chose to be part this vital initiative and this wonderful organization. This is but one of the many innovative programs initiated by the American Board of Physician Specialties over the years, and why I am proud to support its work on behalf of our nation’s public health.

Art Cooper, MD
Disaster Medicine
When the American Board of Physician Specialties offered to host the American Board of Integrative Medicine, ABPS became a landmark organization working to move medicine into the twenty first century. Certifying physicians who have completed rigorous academic training in Integrative Medicine ensures that the field of Integrative Medicine will continue to develop academically, clinically, and professionally. The leadership of ABPS continues to impress me - they are diligent in constantly innovating to provide certifications for physicians who want to advance their careers and their areas of expertise. I am honored to be a part of this organization.

Ann Marie Chiasson, MD
Integrative Medicine
There are many ways board certification advances a physician career. ABPS Board examination verifies your accuracy, precision, and reflects your mastery of your residency training verifying your expertise. ABPS Board certification demonstrates your level of expertise beyond your practice experience, primary education degrees, and training which are necessary for insurance reimbursement and practice privilege requirements. Attaining your ABPS Board Certification will clarify your purpose, secure your practice growth, and expand into leadership positions. Board certification can serve as an indication of a physician’s commitment to medicine, beyond the minimal standards and competency of training, their measurement to quality of care, and attaining an award for excellence.

Chris Kunis MD
Internal Medicine
When I think historically, advancement in medicine and patient safety and care has been driven by the diversity of people and scientific thought. That’s what I found at the ABPS and more. For over 60 years that is just who we are. I found a physician certifying body that provides a choice and voice to all physicians ensuring that patients are always placed first.

Jerry Allison, MD
Emergency Medicine
When I decided to pursue a full time role as a physician executive it was important to me to obtain additional professional training, education and work experience. Board certification through the ABPS in Administrative Medicine is validation of my efforts and a demonstration of dedication to professional development. We need more physicians to become full time health care executives, knowing there is a board certification option in Administrative Medicine encourages physicians to take the leap from full time clinical practice to healthcare organizational leadership.

Richard Paula, MD
Administrative Medicine
The American Board of Physician Specialties has provided me with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of internal medicine through board certification. As a hospitalist, board certification is an expected credential, and hospitals recognize the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) as one of the three standard credentialling bodies for Internal Medicine. Additionally, the ABPS has helped me develop leadership skills as a Board member and Committee Chairperson. ABPS has also helped me sharpen critical thinking skills as a test question developer and reviewer. The Allopathic (MD) and Osteopathic (DO) physicians in the ABPS are lifelong learners and frequently pursue multiple board certifications. I enjoy the camaraderie of my peers in ABPS.

Loren Jay Chassels, DO
Internal Medicine