Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Eligibility Requirements
Updated January 2026
To be eligible for certification in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy through the Board of Certification in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (BCGE), the applicant must:
ABPS General Requirements:
- Be in conformity with the Code of Ethics of the American Board of Physician Specialties, be known in his/her community as an ethical member of the profession, and be an active specialist in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
- 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(s) to practice medicine in the United States, U.S. territories, or Canada.
Interventional Pain Management Training and Experience:
- Residency – All applicants must have completed a residency program approved by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).
- Board Certification – Must currently hold, have previously held, or be eligible to hold, certification in their (residency) specialty through ABMS, ABPS, AOA, or RCPSC.
- Training – Must have completed identifiable training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy during residency, after residency, or fellowship.
- For those completing training in the last three years, provide a letter from a faculty member or trainer detailing participation in training and including the period(s) of service.
- For those actively practicing Gastrointestinal Endoscopy for more than three years, provide a letter on facility letterhead signed by a hospital/facility administrator (Medical Staff, Chief of Department, Program Director, etc.),detailing active privileges and including the period(s) of service covering at least three years.
- Case Log – Candidates must submit a residency- or facility-generated case log of all Gastrointestinal Endoscopy procedures performed in the thirty-six (36) month period preceding the application and demonstrate evidence of having performed a minimum of 35 esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGD) and 50 colonoscopies as the primary physician, or under supervision during training, during this period. Documentation on letterhead from a hospital/facility administrator attesting to the validity of the list is required.
Additional Application Requirements:
- 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.







