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What Do Credentialers Need to Know About Board Certification?

Group of male and female doctorsOne of our top priorities at the American Board of Physician Specialties® is to work closely with those who are in charge of credentialing physicians to better understand the many advantages to board certification through our organization. The ABPS is one of three national multi-specialty physician certifying organizations, and we have Diplomates in all 50 states who are among the most highly trained and experienced specialists in their fields of study. It is our goal to ensure that these physician leaders are duly recognized for their expertise, and we are committed to working with credentialers of all types to ensure that our Diplomates get the opportunities they deserve. So, what should credentialing organizations know about board certification?

ABPS Maintains Rigorous Eligibility Requirements for Board Certification

At the ABPS, our member boards seek to identify and recognize physician specialists who have mastered the core competencies and knowledge that define their specialty. To earn board certification, the candidate must meet our eligibility requirements prior to successfully completing a formal standardized examination. These requirements differ from specialty to specialty, but all ABPS Member Boards share certain requirements, including:

  • Conforming with the Code of Ethics of the ABPS, being known in the community as an ethical member of the profession, and being an active practitioner in the specialty for which you’re seeking certification
  • Having graduated from a recognized U.S., Canadian, or international allopathic or osteopathic college of medicine. International graduates must also hold a valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) Certificate.
  • Holding a valid and unrestricted license(s) to practice medicine in the United States, U.S. territories, or Canada.

ABPS Certification Standards

The ABPS certification process is designed to be rigorous and ensures that our Diplomates represent the best and brightest in their specialties. We emphasize psychometrically evaluated testing, alongside advanced training, ethical integrity, and professional experience. Certification for each specialty requires a written multiple-choice exam. Certain specialties may also include an oral exam to demonstrate diagnostic and treatment proficiency. All ABPS certifications cover the essential technical knowledge and skills pertinent to each specialty. Standards for recertification vary by specialty board.

Benefits of Certification With an ABPS Member Board

Achieving board certification is a demanding yet notable achievement, reserved for the most dedicated and proficient specialists. Recognized as leaders in their fields, ABPS Diplomates attract considerable interest from employers. The rigorous certification process they undergo not only validates their expertise but also enhances their career prospects and potential for increased earnings. Other benefits of certification with an ABPS Member Board including the following:

  • Board certification is a trusted indicator of the most highly skilled physicians in the community, and prospective patients know to look for board certified physicians when researching a specialist in their area.
  • Specialty member boards legitimize emerging medical specialties by establishing requirements for education and training in specialty medicine.
  • Our member boards elevate the standards of practice by giving physicians a goal to attain.
  • Board certification can help protect the public from unqualified physicians in that, in order to become board certified, the physician must have demonstrated extensive experience and knowledge in their field of study and also must commit to ongoing training in order to maintain their status.

ABPS Certification is a Nationally Recognized Mark of Distinction

Ultimately, our message to certifying organizations is that ABPS board certification is a trusted tool for identifying physician specialists who are competent, experienced, and educated. To learn more about what it takes to become board certified through the ABPS, contact us today. You are also invited to confirm certification of one of our Diplomates through our online verification system.

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Medical organizations throughout North America understand that our rigorous certification standards prove that ABPS Diplomates are capable of delivering the best patient care possible.

Far too often, medicine is led by less than 5% of non-practicing physicians taking away and replacing the voice of the 95% of physicians practicing and placing patient safety and care first on the front lines every day. The American Board of Physician Specialties has raised the standards in physician board certification not only in the quality of their boards of certification, but in hearing and allowing for the voice of those active physicians caring directly for patients. Having been a part of the ABPS over the last 28 years has allowed me to grow as a woman leader in a field often wrought with challenges. It helped me and others raise the bar of the standards of care in my specialty, Emergency Medicine, through their Board Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM). ABPS also helped raise the standards of care for 21st century medicine through their certifications in other specialties, particularly in Integrative Medicine & Disaster Medicine. Having physician voices heard matters to medicine and is essential in the betterment of patient safety and care.

Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Emergency Medicine
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
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