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ABPS: A Nationally Recognized Choice in Physician Board Certification

ABPS: A Nationally Recognized Choice in Physician Board Certification

Founded in 1952, the American Board of Physician Specialties® is unique among certifying bodies in that it certifies both allopathic and osteopathic physicians. This spirit of inclusion filled a void at a time when certifying organizations discriminated on the basis of training. Today, the ABPS proudly maintains a non-discriminatory approach and the sense that it’s a community of diverse but like-minded professionals.

Many doctors certified through the ABPS hold dual certifications. The most familiar of the Member Boards of the ABPS is the Board of Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM), which, unlike the American Board of Emergency Medicine, does not require its Diplomates to complete an emergency medicine residency training program. “We offer a way for primary care residency-trained physicians with substantial emergency department experience to get certified in emergency medicine,” says Jeff Morris, executive director of the ABPS. Considering that more than 40 percent of physicians practicing emergency medicine today are not EM residency trained, certification through the BCEM ensures a stronger and more qualified EM force, adds Morris.

ABPS Offers Certification in Emerging Medical Specialties

With an emphasis on innovation, the ABPS assesses the needs in the medical field in order to create groundbreaking boards. For example, through its Board of Certification in Family Medicine Obstetrics, the ABPS has helped support the need in rural areas for obstetricians by giving family medicine doctors a way to demonstrate, through rigorous oral and written exams, the knowledge they gained in surgical obstetrics training. Likewise, Member Boards such as the American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM), the American Board of Disaster Medicine (ABODM), and the Board of Certification in Family Medicine Obstetrics® (BCFMO) were created to provide opportunities for physicians to display mastery in vital and fast-growing specialties.

Career emergency medicine physicians find much to appreciate about the ABPS. Previously, those trained in primary care fields but seeking recognition for their emergency room expertise did not qualify for emergency medicine certification. However, the ABPS’ emergency medicine fellowship program now provides these professionals with a route to certification in this specialty.

Overall, the ABPS comprises 12 Member Boards and has Diplomates certified in 20 specialties, showcasing the organization’s broad reach and influence in the medical community.

ABPS Member Boards Must Adhere to High Standards

Creating a new ABPS board usually takes about two years. “It’s like developing a new product,” Morris says. “You have to do market analysis, market valuation.” If it’s shown that the new board would contribute to improved patient care, then the difficult and detailed process of developing board certification exam questions begins. The founding board, which consists of physicians who are leaders in that board’s specialty, must adhere to specific industry standards to ensure that each question is a valid and reliable measure of competency.

Requirements for ABPS Board Certification

To be eligible for ABPS certification, applicants must fulfill general requirements as well as specialty-specific criteria determined by ABPS Member Boards. While these requirements differ across specialties, they are all designed to validate a physician’s skills and knowledge.

Certification for each specialty includes a written examination consisting of multiple-choice questions. Additionally, some specialties require an oral examination to demonstrate diagnostic and treatment abilities. All ABPS certifications cover the essential technical knowledge and skills relevant to each medical specialty. The standards for recertification vary by specialty board.

Certification with any ABPS Member Board lasts for eight years. Although the ABPS has no Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process, physicians are required to take ethics training and sit for a recertification exam every eight years. “The idea of having just a CME requirement is great for your medical license, but we are a board certifying body, we have to certify to the public that physicians have successfully demonstrated their knowledge,” says Morris.

Benefits of Certifying Through an ABPS Member Board

Board certification through one of the 12 administrative boards of the ABPS not only serves as tangible evidence of a physician’s expertise but also enables physicians from various medical specialties to:

  • Become part of an esteemed community of physicians dedicated to advancing patient care and safety.
  • Share clinical experiences and best practices with peers.
  • Access numerous leadership opportunities within the community.
  • Contribute meaningfully as respected members of the community.

Contact the ABPS today to learn more about our Member Boards and our dedication to identifying professionals supremely qualified to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the public.

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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.

Far too often, medicine is led by less than 5% of non-practicing physicians taking away and replacing the voice of the 95% of physicians practicing and placing patient safety and care first on the front lines every day. The American Board of Physician Specialties has raised the standards in physician board certification not only in the quality of their boards of certification, but in hearing and allowing for the voice of those active physicians caring directly for patients. Having been a part of the ABPS over the last 28 years has allowed me to grow as a woman leader in a field often wrought with challenges. It helped me and others raise the bar of the standards of care in my specialty, Emergency Medicine, through their Board Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM). ABPS also helped raise the standards of care for 21st century medicine through their certifications in other specialties, particularly in Integrative Medicine & Disaster Medicine. Having physician voices heard matters to medicine and is essential in the betterment of patient safety and care.

Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Emergency Medicine
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
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