Dermatology Eligibility Requirements
Updated February 2018
To be eligible for certification in Dermatology through the specialty Board of Certification in Dermatology, the applicant must:
ABPS General Requirements:
- Be in conformity with the Code of Ethics of the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), be known in his/her community as an ethical member of the profession, and be an active specialist in Dermatology.
- Be a graduate of 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.
- Hold a valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States, U.S. territories, or Canada.
Dermatology Training and Experience:
- Have completed an Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the AOA, or the the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)-accredited residency in Dermatology. The ABPS accepts medical residencies approved by the RCPSC, including approved residencies outside Canada.
Additional Requirements:
- Provide two (2) letters of Recommendation from Diplomates of any ABPS, ABMS, AOA, RCPSC, or CFPC Board of Certification. All letters of recommendation must be signed by the author, printed on letterhead, dated within the twelve month period just prior to the submission of the application, and must include author contact and board certification information.
- All U.S. physicians must perform a self-query of the National Practitioner Data Bank and submit the report. Get your self-query report at www.npdb-hipdb.hrsa.gov. All Canadian physicians must request a Testament Statement from each province in which a license is held verifying that there have been no disciplinary actions against the applicant.
- Submit a current curriculum vitae, which includes medical school, degrees earned, and work experience, in chronological order.