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 the mission of the American Association of Physician Specialists (AAPS), Inc., which is the parent organization of the ABPS. Medical ethics training is important ...

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 ...

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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