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EM Board-Certified Physicians Earn More

EM Board-Certified Physicians Earn MoreBoard-certified emergency physicians earn more than non-board-certified emergency physicians. That’s the finding of a 2017 salary survey conducted by Emergency Medicine News. The survey also revealed that in the highest income group, the gap between those with and without EM board certification has widened since 2015. When you also consider that in the survey’s lowest income group, fewer board-certified EM physicians reported a drop in salary, the link between EM board certification and salary size becomes clear.

In short, the survey – the results of which were published in the July 2018 edition of Emergency Medicine News – suggests that EM board certification garners growing prestige in the healthcare industry. At the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS), we understand why: When qualified EM physicians become board certified they prove that they are fully competent in the specialty. Through consistently exceptional performance and rigorous testing, they show that they have the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to deliver critical medical care in a stressful environment. Increasingly, hospitals regard board certification as a trusted indicator of a physician’s knowledge and expertise. Thus, more hospitals are choosing to staff their emergency rooms with doctors certified in emergency medicine.

Why Physician Board Certification Is a Career Investment

Because board certification also boosts a hospital’s reputation and fosters respect among fellow EM physicians, hospitals place great value in EM-certified doctors, as the salary survey strongly indicates. Considering this, EM board certification should be viewed as a career investment. The ABPS offers EM certification through its Member Board, the Board of Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM). BCEM certification expands a physician’s opportunities for career advancement as well as jobs. In addition, it positions them as leaders in their medical field and gives them the opportunity to share EM knowledge, review research, and network with other medical professionals.

The BCEM Invites Qualified Primary Care Doctors to Apply for Certification

The ABPS encourages emergency room physicians who have completed an accredited residency in a primary care specialty, such as family medicine, internal medicine, pediatric medicine, or general surgery, and who have completed at least five years and 7,000 hours of emergency room casework, to apply for certification with the BCEM.

To become BCEM-certified, candidates must meet the ABPS general requirements. This entails graduating from a recognized U.S. or Canadian allopathic or osteopathic medical college and possessing a valid, unrestricted medical license in the United States, its territories, or Canada. The BCEM has specific eligibility criteria for certification, which include three pathways:

  • Completion of an accredited residency in emergency medicine, recognized by ACGME, AOA, RCPSC, or CFPC.
  • Completion of a residency in primary care specialties such as family practice, internal medicine, pediatric medicine, or general surgery, recognized by ACGME, AOA, RCPSC, or CFPC, along with at least 5 years and 7,000 hours of full-time emergency medicine experience.
  • Completion of an accredited residency in family practice, internal medicine, pediatric medicine, or general surgery, followed by a 12- or 24-month emergency medicine fellowship approved by the AAEP.

All three pathways require candidates to pass both a written and oral examination for BCEM certification. The written exam is computer-based, consisting of 325 multiple-choice questions. Passing the written exam is a prerequisite for eligibility to take the oral exam.

If you would like more information about the BCEM’s eligibility requirements, or the benefits of obtaining certification through the BCEM, contact the ABPS today.

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Patient Care Is Our Priority

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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