Articles - General Certification Information

ABPS Physician Certification Examinations for 2021

To earn board certification with the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS), candidates must pass a written exam. Our standardized psychometrically validated exam tests core concepts of a specialty area and measures how physician candidates have mastered the subject matter. Depending on the specialty, candidates can sit for exams in May, August, or October at select testing centers in the ...

Important ABPS Facts for Physician Board Certification Candidates

As a physician, you’ve dedicated many years of your life to become the medical professional you are today. Your rigorous medical school and postgraduate training, and the thorough approval process from your state’s licensing board—all of that is behind you. But, now, you’ve realized that to differentiate yourself in today’s competitive medical environment, your next logical step is to pursue ...

How to Prepare for an ABPS Board Certification Exam

Candidates for certification by a Member Board of the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) must pass a computer-based, written examination in order to achieve board certification. Some Member Boards also require an oral exam. For those boards, candidates must first successfully complete the written component before they are permitted to take the oral exam. The written exam consists of ...

Board Certification Benefits Patients, Employers, and Physicians

Board certification serves as a validation of a physician’s expertise, and through recertification, physicians can stay updated about medical innovations and practices, and expand their knowledge base. While certification is indisputably one of the highest honors a physician can receive, its benefits also extend to patients and employers. Let’s consider each in turn. Benefits to Patients Board certification gives patients ...

What Board Certification in a Physician’s Specialty Means to Patients, Employers, and the Doctor’s Career

A patient’s decision to consult a specialist is not something that’s taken lightly. It often comes after the patient has already visited a primary care physician and tried various treatments without success. Or, it’s a sober acknowledgment that the patient’s condition requires the care and attention of someone with specialized knowledge and skills. Patients visit specialists fully expecting them to ...

Some Physicians Who Missed their Board Certification Deadline Have Another Option

Board certification is one of the most recognized honors that physicians can achieve. It’s also one of the most beneficial as it enhances physicians’ career opportunities, bolsters the reputation of medical organizations, and deepens patients’ trust that they will receive the best medical care available. But certification entails a demanding process. Before even being granted the opportunity to sit for ...

Physician Certification Advertising Rules

In September 2018, in response to a Maryland bill promoting competition in physician certification, the U.S. Department of Justice issued an opinion in favor of more board certification options. The DOJ placed a special focus on medical industry influencers who back proposals that impose unnecessary requirements on physicians, which can “constrain the supply of specialized practitioners.” One such proposal targets ...

What State Legislators Need to Know About  Physician Board Certification Advertising

Physician board certification is one tool hospitals and healthcare systems use to advance patient safety and quality of care. But, this benefit is under threat by recent legislative bills regarding truth in advertising. Proposed Guidelines Misleading Over the past four years, there has been a rigorous push for new laws which would limit highly qualified physicians certified by the American ...

What State Legislators Need to Know About  Physician Board Certification Advertising

Physician board certification is one tool hospitals and healthcare systems use to advance patient safety and quality of care. But, this benefit is under threat by recent legislative bills regarding truth in advertising. Proposed Guidelines Misleading Over the past four years, there has been a rigorous push for new laws which would limit highly qualified physicians certified by the American ...

Certification Eligibility & Testing for the American Board of Physician Specialties®

The American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) – committed to Enhancing Patient Care through Physician Excellence – is one of the most highly respected multispecialty certifying organizations in North America. It is the mission of the ABPS to establish the highest standards in physician board certification, and to help the physician specialist achieve success in a rapidly changing healthcare landscape. ...

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