EM Board-Certified Physicians Earn More
Board-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.