Are You Ready to Become a Board Certified Physician?
If you are about to complete your residency and have been considering the next step for your medical career, you might be ready to become a board certified physician in your chosen specialty. Or, if you are a long-time practitioner and have been wondering about career advancement, you might wish to consider seeking board certification in a new specialty. Either way, no matter if you are just starting out or have already built a long, rewarding career, the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) can help.
The value of physician board certification is all too obvious to most medical students early on in the educational journey. Even the earliest undergraduate student with an eye on a long, gratifying, and successful career ahead understands that becoming a board certified physician demonstrates to potential employers and patients that the physician has achieved a mastery of the core body of knowledge and skills necessary to provide the best possible care. Similarly, a physician who has spent decades working in a hospital emergency department might wish to seek board certification in Emergency Medicine or Hospital Medicine to set themselves apart from the field. Or, if he or she seeks a less-intense work setting at one of the many urgent care clinics that have sprung up nationwide, one option available only from the ABPS is Urgent Care certification.
Why become a board certified physician through the ABPS? Because, in addition to the benefits mentioned above, a physician might also want to be part of a diverse, eminent community of his or her peers whose priority is the advancement of patient care and safety. In addition, every ABPS Diplomate has access to many leadership opportunities within the organization, and every voice is heard and valued.
Eligibility Requirements for ABPS Certification
To obtain ABPS certification, candidates must meet both general requirements and specific criteria as defined by our specialty boards. These standards are designed to validate a candidate’s proficiency in their specialty’s core competencies. All ABPS Member Boards emphasize psychometrically evaluated testing, advanced training, moral character, and professional experience.
Certification in each specialty involves passing a written examination comprised of multiple-choice questions. Additionally, some specialties require an oral exam, providing candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their diagnostic and treatment capabilities. All ABPS certifications evaluate the crucial technical knowledge, skills, and abilities vital to the practice of each certified physician’s medical specialty. Recertification standards are tailored to each specialty board, but all ABPS Member Boards mandate the following universal criteria:
- Strict adherence to the ABPS Code of Ethics, demonstrating ethical conduct within the profession and active engagement in the specialty.
- Completion of medical education at an accredited allopathic or osteopathic medical school in the U.S., Canada, or internationally.
- Possession of a valid and unrestricted medical license to practice in the United States, its territories, or Canada.
If you are ready to take the next step toward physician board certification in your chosen specialty, contact the ABPS today to explore the diverse options available through our Member Boards. As a nationally recognized certifying body, the ABPS boasts Diplomates across the United States.