How Patients Can Confirm a Physician has Achieved ABPS Board Certification

If you are a physician who has received a request from a patient to confirm board certification in a particular specialty, or if you are a patient who would like to do so independently, the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) is pleased to provide complimentary online verification for patients on this website.  The ABPS online verification system also provides the opportunity to request written verification of a physician’s board certification for medical professionals, managed care organizations, hospitals, and health care agencies.

Verifying a Physician’s Certification Status Is Easy

At the ABPS, we believe that patients should have the right to choose a provider whose expertise they can trust, just as physicians have the right to choose a certification board that aligns with their values. In order for a patient to confirm a physician’s board certification credentials using our online system, a patient can access the form here, then click on the “Look up a Provider” link under Public Inquiries. Then, the patient should input the physician’s last and first names into the appropriate fields. If the first name is not available, or they’re unsure of the exact spelling, a partial name will return a matching list of physicians, from which the patient may choose the correct result. Clicking on a physician’s name will reveal that physician’s list of all current ABPS board certifications.

Our Database Lists Active ABPS Diplomates

The ABPS public confirmation database contains only physicians with unexpired, active ABPS board certifications. If you are unable to confirm board certification for your physician, or if the name you seek is not on the list, the reason could be:

• The physician’s board certification was achieved through another multi-specialty certifying body.
• The physician’s ABPS certification has expired, and the physician has not sought recertification.
• The physician’s status has been recently updated (you may see a message to contact ABPS for more information).
• The physician is not an active Diplomate of the ABPS.

Representatives of healthcare organizations and agencies who seek written verification of board certification credentials will need to click here for the ABPS Online Verification Database. When you first access the database, you’ll be required to set up a CVO account for your organization. From then on, you’ll only need to enter your username and password to log in. Once you find the physician you’re looking for using their last name, first name, or UPIN (Unique Physician Identification Number), you can view limited information about them. If you wish to purchase the full profile, it will cost $40 and will be billed to the credit card linked to the user account.