Get Board Certified in Emergency Medicine
An increase in emergency room visits and the ongoing shortage of qualified emergency medicine physicians have meant that emergency departments across the nation continue to be staffed by doctors who are not residency-trained in EM. Many ER doctors are instead trained and certified in primary fields, such as family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, and general surgery, and they have proven themselves highly capable of delivering expert medical care in the high-stress ER environment. In fact, many of them go on to establish productive careers in emergency departments.
But as more emergency departments require that their emergency doctors be certified in emergency medicine, non-EM-residency-trained doctors should consider becoming board certified in the specialty. If you are an EM physician who has completed a primary care residency and have had substantial and identifiable experience working in the ER, then it may be time to consider verifying your qualifications to your employer and the public by becoming board-certified in emergency medicine. There is only one pathway to accomplish this.
The Board of Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM)
The American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) offers qualified candidates a path to certification in EM through its Member Board, the Board of Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM). While the BCEM has some of the most rigorous eligibility standards in North America, the benefits of BCEM certification are undeniable. Chiefly, it gives ER physicians the opportunity to display competency in this demanding specialty. BCEM certification also shows current and prospective employers that non-EM-certified doctors possess skills that are on par with residency-trained ER specialists. BCEM certification can also lead to opportunities for advancement in the medical field given that board certification is considered a significant professional achievement.
Furthermore, BCEM certification helps boosts the reputations and authority of emergency rooms because BCEM Diplomates are formally recognized as physicians who have shown themselves masterful at delivering the highest level of emergency care.
Before applying for BCEM certification, candidates are required to fulfill the general prerequisites set by the ABPS, which includes:
- Graduation from a recognized U.S. or Canadian allopathic or osteopathic college of medicine.
- Holding a valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States, its territories, or Canada.
You can find more information about the eligibility requirements for BCEM certification here.
Once candidates are deemed eligible, they must pass both a written and oral exam to attain BCEM certification. The written exam consists of 325 multiple-choice questions and is computer-based. Candidates must pass the written exam to be eligible for the oral exam. Once granted, BCEM certification is good for eight years, expiring on December 31 of the eighth year.
You can find information about dates and fees for the application and the written exam here.
Candidates for BCEM certification must submit documentation attesting to their case experience and conforming to the ABPS code of ethics. Additionally, the BCEM requires that non-EM-certified physicians complete an accredited and approved primary care residency and at least five years and 7,000 hours of full-time practice in an emergency room.
Need more information about the BCEM’s eligibility requirements? Contact the ABPS today. The ABPS is the official certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc.®