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The Role of the ABPS in the Physician Board Certification Process

Physician Board Certification RolePhysician board certification is a way for practitioners, of particular medical specialties, to demonstrate their mastery of the core competencies required to provide patients the highest level of care. The prestige and relevance of board certification is enhanced by the authority of the certifying body responsible for administering the exams and for maintaining shareable records of who has achieved board certification.

The American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) is one of the most respected multi-specialty certifying boards in the United States. Member Boards administer physician board certification exams for 18 distinct specialties. One way, the ABPS maintains its elite position among certifying bodies, is an insistence that all Diplomates strictly adhere to the ABPS Code of Ethics, as outlined in the mission statement.  Member Boards also ensure the accurate measurement of the abilities and experience of candidates by using clinically based written, oral and patient simulation exams developed with the most rigorous standards available. The eligibility requirements of the ABPS differ from specialty to specialty, but all ABPS Member Boards share certain requirements, including:

  • Being in conformity with the Code of Ethics of the ABPS, being known in the community as an ethical member of the profession, and being an active practitioner in the specialty for which you’re seeking certification
  • Having graduated from 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.
  • Holding a valid and unrestricted license(s) to practice medicine in the United States, U.S. territories, or Canada.

The Benefits of Specialty Certification

Board certification is becoming increasingly important as competition grows among medical providers. Certification helps to confirm expertise and positions certified physicians as leaders in their specialties. For employers like hospitals, it’s a trusted indicator of a doctor’s knowledge and skills, which makes them strong candidates for job opportunities. Board certification also:

  • Assures patients that a doctor can provide excellent care.
  • Earns respect from other physicians and medical colleagues
  • Encourages physicians to keep learning and improving
  • Gives physicians opportunities to advocate for better patient care

ABPS Online Board Certification Verification System

In addition to providing a platform for physician board certification, the ABPS provides managed care organizations, hospitals, and other medical employers a detailed, primary-sourced verification of an individual’s current board certification and recertification. A similar, less-detailed service caters to public inquiries from patients who wish to confirm their doctors are board certified in the specialty or specialties claimed.

To access the system, please click here. Under “Public Inquiries,” select the “Look up a Provider” option. Simply enter the physician’s last and first names in the designated fields. If the first name is unavailable or if you are unsure of the exact spelling, entering a partial name will still yield a list of physicians that match your entry. By selecting a physician’s name, you can view their current ABPS board certifications.

Please be aware that this database only includes physicians who hold active and unexpired ABPS board certifications.

Healthcare organization representatives and agency officials needing written verification of a physician’s board certification credentials should register as a new CVO user and log in with the new account to obtain a detailed certification profile for the provider.

Get More Information About the ABPS

Backed by the strongest standards of ethics and integrity in the medical community, the ABPS is dedicated to helping qualified physicians provide the best care possible. To learn more about our role in the physician board certification process, contact the ABPS today.

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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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