Articles - General Certification Information
Why Physicians Should Consider Seeking Multiple Board Certifications
There are as many reasons to earn physician board certification as there are physicians. Every Diplomate of a board certifying body has his or her own reasons for choosing a particular specialty. Those reasons might be personal or professional, or they may simply be a result of a combination of circumstances that compelled a physician to move into a certain ...
Why the Medical Ethics Requirement for ABPS Recertification is Important
The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) is the only multi-specialty board certifying body that requires its Diplomates to complete a medical ethics course in order to achieve recertification. This requirement is a vital component of our mission to provide the highest standards in physician certification that meets the public’s healthcare needs while benefiting physicians and helping them succeed. Medical ...
Why Physician Board Certification Matters
The achievement of physician board certification provides different values to different stakeholders. Patients, physicians, practice management groups, and others with an interest in healthcare have differing interpretations about why board certification matters. Make no mistake, though: It does matter to anyone who cares about the effectiveness of the American healthcare system and the advancement of public health. It starts with ...
VA Physician Shortage Exacerbated by Physician Board Certification Politics
The quality of health care provided to America’s veterans is in jeopardy because of a shortage of physicians working for Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals and for other institutions associated with the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). The fact that there are more than 1,400 unfilled positions in the nation’s VA health system parallels the overall physician shortage crisis nationwide. However, ...
Physician Certification vs. Medical Licensure
Physician certification and medical licensure are both vital for career advancement. Yet, the two are important for very different reasons. Here is the major difference: medical licensure is required, while physician board certification technically is a voluntary achievement. It is technically voluntary, because anyone who hopes to achieve meaningful advancement in the field of a particular specialty will almost certainly ...
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 ...
Can You Seek Physician Certification and Recertification from More than One Multi-Specialty Certifying Body?
There are only three major multi-specialty board certification bodies in the United States, along with many certification bodies that focus solely on particular specialties. Many physicians currently are credentialed by more than one certifying body. The Member Boards of the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) welcome qualified practitioners who have achieved physician certification through other multi-specialty bodies, including the ...
Physician Board Recertification Standards of the ABPS
The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) requires its Diplomates to obtain recertification every eight years. In order to achieve recertification, an ABPS board certified physician must participate in a regular schedule of maintenance and enhancement of competency (MAEC) in his or her specialty. The physician board recertification standards of the ABPS are just as stringent as the eligibility requirements ...
General Eligibility Requirements for ABPS Board Certification
While the eligibility requirements differ for medical board certification through the American Board of Physicians Specialties (ABPS) from specialty to specialty, there are certain general eligibility requirements that are shared by our Member Boards. These requirements are stringent, but they also serve to distinguish the ABPS from other multi-specialty medical board certification bodies in the United States. In general, in ...
When and How Specialty Examinations are Offered by the ABPS
Written medical specialty examinations are offered by the American Board of Physician Specialties (APBS) in November and May of each year in a computer-based, multiple choice format at test centers throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. Oral examinations and simulations are offered in March, April, or October, depending on the specialty, and take place in Tampa, Florida. The ...