Articles - General Certification Information

The ABPS Board Certification Schedule for 2016

One of the central components to earning board certification through the American Board of Physician Specialties® is the successful completion of a standardized, psychometrically validated examination. We use computer-based testing for all of our written examinations, which are offered at a network of testing centers throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. In order to be eligible for ABPS ...

Credentialing Committees: Does Your Hospital Recognize All Three National Multispecialty Physician Certifying Organizations?

If your credentialing committee is concerned with identifying qualified physicians to join your organization, it is vitally important that you recognize the three leading multi-specialty physician certifying organizations in the United States. Increasingly, board certification, while entirely voluntary, is becoming an invaluable designation in the medical community. In order to ensure that you have the best possible talent pool to ...

The Path to Board Certification Through The American Board of Physician Specialties

At the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), we are proud to serve as one of the leading certifying bodies in the United States. ABPS Diplomates practice in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. And one of the defining elements of our organization is a commitment to helping physicians deliver the best possible care to their ...

Perspective on Changes to the Recertification Process for American Physicians

The concept of recertification is nothing new among the healthcare field. For decades, medical doctors have understood that they have an obligation to periodically become recertified in their specialty, ensuring that they are up-to-date in their field and able to provide the best standard of care to their patients. Recertification was also an effective tool for demonstrating to staffing bodies, ...

Physician Objections to Maintenance of Certification Requirements

Physician specialists have begun to voice their objections to the recent implementation of maintenance of certification (MOC) rules that make it more difficult to maintain active physician board certification credentials. Whereas the member boards of the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS®) require recertification after eight years, and other board certifying bodies in North America used to require 10 years ...

ABPS Physician Board Certification Now Listed on Healthgrades.com

Physician board certification through Member Boards of the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) is now listed on the physician referral website, Healthgrades.com. With more than 30 million patients conducting research on providers listed on Healthgrades.com each month, it is crucial that all of a physician’s training, qualifications and areas of expertise are listed in detail. Physicians who hope to ...

Why Physician Specialists Pursue Dual Board Certification

There are two primary reasons physician specialists might seek dual board certification from a multi-specialty certifying body such as the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS). The first is that a young physician starting out in a career might decide that his or her interests lie along two paths, likely in related fields. These new physicians are determined to chart ...

What Must a Physician do to become Board Certified?

In order for a physician to become board certified through one of the Member Boards of the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), he or she must meet the general ABPS eligibility requirements and the eligibility requirements that are specific to his or her chosen specialty. It is important for students who are just beginning their medical studies to understand ...

Who is Eligible for ABPS Physician Board Certification?

While the specific eligibility requirements to apply for the opportunity to achieve physician board certification through the American Board of Physicians Specialties (ABPS) differ from specialty to specialty, there are a number of general eligibility requirements that are shared by our Member Boards. The examination standards of the ABPS are as rigorous as any physician certifying body in North America, ...

The Origin of Physician Board Certification

Physician board certification in the United States originated in the early 20th 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 ...

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Patient Care Is Our Priority

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