The Origin of Physician Board Certification

Physician board certification in the United States originated in the early 20^th century as a means for identifying who was competent to practice particular specialties. Medical advances and scientific breakthroughs engendered a widespread desire by physicians to focus on specific aspects of medical care, rather than generalizing. As physicians gravitated toward specialization, more attention was paid to the means and methods for training specialists – and to ways a physician specialist’s qualifications might be objectively measured.

By the 1930s, the U.S. government and leading medical minds around the country recognized the need to standardize board certification on a nationwide basis, rather than state to state. There also was an acknowledged need for organized oversight of the various specialty boards that had begun to form around the country in order to ensure that the entire medical profession and the country’s citizens were best served. Formal board certification began to take hold. The medical profession took its first big step toward the industry as we know it today.

ABPS: High Ethical Standards for Nationally Recognized Board Certification

Much has changed since the early days of physician board certification. Yet, even as the concept of board certification has matured and evolved, the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) has maintained its position as an advocate for prioritizing patient care ahead of the business of medicine. Our mission and values have not changed. We manage and govern under standards of physician board certification that are as rigorous as any certifying body in North America, at all times furthering patient care, not only in the major cities, but in rural areas that are sometimes overlooked. Our allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) physicians place patients first and abide by the highest ethical standards. These include:

• Integrity, trust, respect and open communication – Our organization and Diplomates conduct themselves with the highest level of integrity ensuring patient safety while providing for the highest level of care.
• Sharing knowledge and best practices – Together, our board certified physicians strive to share experiences, learnings and best practices in order to advance the level and quality of patient care.
• Advocating for the highest level of patient care – Our rigorous standards for testing and eligibility ensure that our physician Diplomates will provide the highest level of patient care.
• Compassion – Our physicians demonstrate compassion in every aspect of their practice.

Why Physicians Certify With the ABPS

Since granting our first certification in 1960, the ABPS has recognized a multitude of deeply qualified and highly skilled physicians across traditional medical specialties, including dermatology, family medicine, and internal medicine. We stand out as the only multi-specialty board that certifies in family medicine obstetrics and newer fields like disaster medicine and integrative medicine, offering a wide array of specialty certifications.

Driven by a commitment to fairness in board certification, the ABPS aims to give physicians across various medical disciplines the chance to prove their knowledge, skills, and dedication to ongoing education and training. Physicians who earn ABPS board certification meet stringent eligibility criteria and complete exams that are psychometrically validated and adhere to the highest industry standards. True to expectations, only the most committed and capable physicians achieve certification through the ABPS.

Why Medical Organizations Hire ABPS Diplomates

By employing ABPS-board certified physicians, healthcare leaders communicate a strong, positive message to patients who often base their healthcare choices on the credentials of the physicians at a hospital or clinic. Patients treated by ABPS Diplomates can trust that they are receiving the highest quality of care available. Furthermore, ABPS Diplomates give their colleagues solid confidence that they are collaborating with medical professionals of the highest caliber who are committed to staying current with innovative techniques and treatments. With their extensive training and experience, coupled with the respect of their peers and a strong community of practitioners, ABPS Diplomates are ideally equipped to influence the future direction of the medical field.

To learn more about physician board certification and the role played by the ABPS in the past, present and future, contact us today.