Career EM Physicians Can Accelerate their Careers

Career EM Physicians Can Accelerate their CareersFaced with a shortage of qualified emergency medicine physicians for the last several years, hospitals and other healthcare facilities have staffed their emergency rooms with knowledgeable and skilled doctors trained in primary specialties. These career EM physicians have shown time and again that they are more than capable of delivering critical care in a stressful environment that demands quick thinking, calm confidence, and high-level teamwork. Despite their evident talent and hard work, many of them may find that their careers have stalled when compared with doctors certified in emergency medicine.

Advantages of Certification in Emergency Medicine

Certification in emergency medicine allows physicians to present themselves as some of the most knowledgeable and skilled professionals working in the specialty. Through the rigors of testing, they have demonstrated that they possess the depth of knowledge and expertise necessary to provide exceptional emergency room care. It’s no surprise, then, that more organizations across the country are staffing their emergency departments with physicians certified in emergency medicine. Not only that, EM-certified physicians are regarded throughout the industry as professionals who, because they have dedicated the time and energy to achieve board certification, are singularly committed to the advancement of the specialty.

Board Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM)

Through the Board of Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM), the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) provides career EM physicians the chance to prove beyond dispute that they have the talent and expertise to deliver exceptional critical care. The stringent eligibility requirements and testing standards of the BCEM declare to health care leaders that BCEM-certified physicians are dedicated professionals who can be valuable assets to their organizations. In addition to revitalizing EM physicians’ careers, BCEM certification can boost the reputation of both their organizations and their fellow staffers, and give their patients peace of mind that they will receive the best health care possible.

How to Apply for Board Certification With the BCEM

To be eligible for BCEM certification, physicians must have completed an accredited residency in a primary care specialty – specifically family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, or general surgery – and must have completed a minimum of five years and 7,000 hours of emergency room casework.

After applicants are deemed eligible, they must pass both a written and oral examination. The computer-based written exam consists of 325 multiple-choice questions. Candidates must pass the written exam in order to take the oral component.

For information about dates and fees for the application and the written exam, click here.

Once granted, all ABPS certificates are good for eight years, expiring on December 31 of the eighth year.

Recertification in emergency medicine requires documentation of the required number of Continuing Medical Education (CME) hours, completion of the recertification application, and successful completion of the written recertification examination.

The BCEM Invites Qualified Applicants to Apply for Board Certification

If you are a career EM physician and would like more information about the BCEM’s eligibility requirements, or the benefits of obtaining certification through the BCEM, contact the ABPS today.

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House of Delegates & Annual Scientific Meeting
Innovation & Overcoming Challenges
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