What Are the Advantages of ABPS Board Certification?

Board Certification AdvantagesAt the American Board of Physician Specialties®, we recommend that qualified physicians consider pursuing board certification through one of our member boards as this distinction can greatly benefit patients, employers, and physicians alike:

Earning board certification is one of the highest honors that a physician can receive in their field of study. Make no mistake, the application process for becoming board certified is rigorous and requires the physician to have extensive training and expertise, while meeting numerous eligibility requirements. As you might expect, only the most talented physicians with the deepest level of dedication achieve ABPS certification. But the personal satisfaction that comes from being board certified is immeasurable as it validates years of hard work and sacrifice. Plus, certification makes the physician more marketable to potential employers and may lead to increased earning potential.

Why Healthcare Organizations Value Physician Board Certification

While board certification is not a requirement to practice medicine, it is increasingly becoming prioritized by employers who are looking for ways to differentiate their medical centers apart from the competition. Many insurance providers are also beginning to offer incentives for hiring board certified physicians, further encouraging employers to hire physicians who are board certified.

Board certification benefits patients because it provides peace of mind that the physician they have chosen is highly qualified to provide care. In many cases, there are several specialists in a community to choose from, and while board certification should not be the only factor to consider when interviewing prospective physicians, it is a clear indicator of the physician’s experience and expertise.

ABPS Diplomates Are Well-Positioned to Shape the Medical Profession

Recognized in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Handbook, the ABPS has also earned recognition from other federal organizations, including the Veterans’ Health Administration and the United States Armed Forces under the GI Bill. Our goal is to provide practicing physicians with an opportunity to thoroughly demonstrate their base of knowledge, professional skill, and commitment to ongoing education and training through world-class certification and recertification across a wide range of medical specialties.

Since certifying our first physician in 1960, the ABPS has certified countless extensively qualified and highly skilled physicians in traditional medical specialties such as internal medicine, dermatology, and family medicine. Notably, we are the only multi-specialty board that offers certification in family medicine obstetrics, as well as in emerging specialties such as disaster medicine and integrative medicine. Altogether, the ABPS has 12 Member Boards and Diplomates in 20 specialties. ABPS Diplomates practice their specialties at some of the nation’s most renowned medical institutions.

How ABPS Certification Benefits Physicians

Board certification is a recognized indicator of a physician’s mastery of their field of expertise, and at the ABPS, our Diplomates represent some of the very best medical minds in North America. Certification from an ABPS Member Board enables physicians to:

  • Join a distinguished community of physicians whose priority is the advancement of patient care and safety
  • Exchange information about clinical experiences and best practices
  • Take advantage of abundant leadership opportunities within the community
  • Have a meaningful voice as a valued participant in the community

To learn more about the many ways in which board certification through the American Board of Physician Specialties benefits patients, employers, and physicians, contact us today. Physician Diplomates of ABMS or AOABOS Member Boards are also reminded that they are eligible to recertify with ABPS Member Boards. The ABPS is the official board certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc™.

Board certification is a recognized indicator of a physician’s mastery of their field of expertise, and at the ABPS, our Diplomates represent some of the very best medical minds in North America.

To learn more about the many ways in which board certification through the American Board of Physician Specialties benefits patients, employers, and physicians, contact us today. Physician Diplomates of ABMS or AOABOS Member Boards are also reminded that they are eligible to recertify with ABPS Member Boards. The ABPS is the official board certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc™.

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House of Delegates & Annual Scientific Meeting
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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.

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