Board Certification for Family Medicine Physicians
A trend among hospitals across the country is that CEOs, physician recruiters, and other healthcare leaders are increasingly hiring physicians who have earned board certification in medical specialty. This stands to reason as there are marketing advantages that come from advertising that your healthcare facility is staffed with board-certified physicians. The problem for some family physicians, however, is that these men and women have often made their careers working in other areas of healthcare to fill a need in their community, and, as a result, may not have board certification in their specialty. This could lead to instances where a family physician with decades of experience working in an emergency department isn’t eligible for advancement because he or she isn’t board certified in emergency medicine. Fortunately, at the American Board of Physician Specialties®, we offer a solution for highly qualified and experienced family physicians by offering an opportunity to achieve board certification in a variety of medical specialties based, in part, on case experience and proven knowledge.
ABPS Offers Certification in a Range of Medical Specialties
While the process of becoming board certified through one of our member boards is rigorous, it provides family physicians the opportunity to earn the board certification that they’re entitled to based on their expertise in their specialty. Qualified family physicians can pursue board certification from the ABPS in several disciplines, including:
- Disaster medicine
- Emergency medicine
- Family medicine
- Family medicine obstetrics
- Integrative medicine
How to Apply for ABPS Board Certification
To apply for ABPS certification, candidates need to meet general requirements and specialty-specific eligibility criteria set by our boards. These criteria vary by specialty but are designed to show expertise in core competencies. As noted above, the ABPS emphasizes psychometrically evaluated testing, in addition to advanced training, moral character, and experience.
Certification in each specialty involves a written exam with multiple-choice questions. Some specialties also require an oral exam to showcase diagnostic and treatment skills. All ABPS certifications cover the essential technical knowledge and skills relevant to each medical specialty. Recertification criteria vary across specialty boards.
How ABPS Certification Benefits Physicians
The ABPS board certification process and exams are notably rigorous, but when you become ABPS certified, you join a varied group of medical professionals who are well-regarded in healthcare. As an ABPS-certified physician, you’ll have:
- Plenty of networking opportunities
- More opportunities for career advancement and higher earnings
- A meaningful voice as a valued participant in the community
- Opportunities to share your expertise and clinical insights.
Learn More About Certification With an ABPS Member Board
If you are a family physician who is interested in becoming board certified in your area of expertise, contact the ABPS today. We’ll be glad to explain the various eligibility requirements to be considered for certification through our Member Boards. You can also read about the ABPS certification policies here, including details about our application process.