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EM PhysiciansBoard Certification in Emergency Medicine Strengthens the Credentials of Individual Physicians & the Entire Emergency Department

While experience alone does not guarantee high-quality medical care, the combination of experience and a demonstrated mastery of the knowledge and skills required to provide top-notch emergency care can only strengthen the qualifications of a physician. This, in turn, strengthens the prestige of the entire emergency department and the hospital itself. Hospitals and practice management groups, then, would be well-served to encourage their EM physicians to seek Emergency Medicine board certification through the Board of Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM).

BCEM Certification Signifies Emergency Room Expertise

About 40 percent of emergency department physicians nationally are not Emergency Medicine residency trained or board certified in Emergency Medicine. Many specialize in family medicine or another primary care specialty. Yet, in many cases, these physicians have been actively practicing at the local hospital emergency department for numerous years. One reason board certification in Emergency Medicine should be emphasized is that BCEM applicants must complete a minimum of five years and 7,000 hours of emergency department case work and must be currently working in an emergency department. In short, the credentials of BCEM Diplomates are impeccable, and their presence on any emergency department staff would confirm the commitment to provide the best available emergency medical care.

BCEM Diplomates Are Eminently Qualified EM Professionals

The importance of BCEM board certification also applies when it comes to hiring practices. In addition to encouraging currently employed physicians to seek relevant board certification, it makes sense for hiring committees to seek prospective employees from among the field of board certified physicians. One way to simplify the search for qualified candidates to fill emergency department vacancies is for hiring agents to focus on the pool of physicians who have achieved board certification through the Board of Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM). As a Member Board of the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), the BCEM provides physicians a platform for demonstrating their mastery of the core competencies required to provide the best possible care in an emergency department setting.

Eligibility Requirements of the BCEM

If you’re a career emergency medicine physician who is considering board certification through the BCEM, you must first satisfy the general requirements of the ABPS. These include being a graduate of a recognized U.S. or Canadian allopathic or osteopathic college of medicine and holding a valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States, its territories, or Canada.

The Board of Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM) has its own eligibility requirements that include:

  • Completion of an ACGME, AOA, RCPSC, or CFPC-accredited residency in emergency medicine, or
  • Completion of an ACGME, AOA, RCPSC, or CFPC residency in one of the following primary care specialties—family practice, internal medicine, pediatric medicine, or general surgery—and at least five years of full-time emergency medicine experience, or
  • Completion of an accredited residency and a 12- or 24-month emergency medicine fellowship approved by the BCEM

To earn BCEM certification, candidates in all three pathways must pass both a written and oral examination. The computer-based written exam consists of 325 multiple-choice questions. Candidates must pass the written exam to take the oral component.

For information about dates and fees for the application and the written exam, click here.

Once granted, all ABPS certificates are good for a period of eight years, expiring on December 31st of the eighth year.

The BCEM Invites Qualified Applicants to Apply for Certification

To learn more about how board certification through the BCEM can help simplify the search for qualified candidates to fill emergency department vacancies, contact the ABPS today. The ABPS is the official board certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc.

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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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