Patients Can Confirm Certification of a Doctor With the American Board of Physician Specialties®
If you need to verify that a physician is board certified in a medical specialty, you can do so through the online verification system here at the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS). As a prominent, nationally recognized multispecialty certification body, we have partnered with Aperture, one of the nation’s largest credentials verification companies.
Our verification system, which is administered by Aperture, allows patients to obtain confirmation of ABPS board certification in a matter of minutes, free of charge. To use the system, click here. Under Public Inquiries, click the “Look up a Provider” link. Enter the physician’s last and first names into the appropriate fields. If the first name is not available, or if you’re unsure of the spelling, typing in a partial name will give you a list of matching physicians. Clicking on a physician’s name will reveal that physician’s current ABPS board certifications.
Patients should note that our certification boards share stringent eligibility requirements and have requirements specific to each board. Once deemed eligible, a physician must pass a comprehensive written examination and, for some specialties, an oral exam as well. Only then can a physician achieve ABPS certification. Every ABPS-certified physician has:
- Completed an accredited residency
- Earned a medical license for any state in which they practice
- Taken the minimum required continuing medical education hours each year
- Completed medical ethics training
In fact, the ABPS is the only physician certification body that requires ethics training for certification.
For Hospitals & Managed Care Organizations, Too
Our online system also provides verification of board certification to medical staff professionals. Medical boards across the country have recognized the ABPS as a certifying board that meets the higher standards of certification they require. Additionally, federal and state organizations, such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Veterans’ Health Administration, and the United States Armed Forces under the GI Bill, recognize ABPS physicians as qualified medical specialists.
For more information about our online verification database, including help with using it, contact the ABPS. Our goal is to ensure higher certification standards for better patient care.