ABPS Physician Certification: A ‘Big Tent’ Approach to the Advancement of Patient Care
Physician certification from the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) is based on rigorous scientific standards and innovative examination techniques that prove your professional competency. When you achieve physician certification through the ABPS, you are doing more than merely passing an exam. You are demonstrating to the world that you are among the best and the brightest in your chosen specialty or subspecialty.
Yet, physician certification from the ABPS means so much more than that. ABPS Diplomates are staunch advocates of ensuring that patient care always supersedes the business side of medicine.
ABPS Board Certification Builds Patient Trust
Earning board certification through the ABPS demonstrates more than just clinical expertise—it reflects a physician’s commitment to prioritizing patient care above all else. Each ABPS Member Board shares a core mission: to put patient safety and well-being first. In today’s healthcare environment, where trust is essential, ABPS certification stands as a mark of credibility and integrity.
For patients, seeing that a physician is ABPS-certified signals more than professional achievement. It shows that the physician is not only highly qualified but also dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centered care. This blend of skill and empathy strengthens the patient-provider relationship and helps ensure a higher standard of care, leaving patients with a strong sense of confidence and reassurance.
What’s more, when you earn board certification through the ABPS, you become a member of a distinguished community of like-minded physicians who prioritize the advancement of patient care and safety, rather than things like reimbursement and coding. In order to strengthen that cause, the ABPS community of board certified physicians takes a “big tent” approach to medicine that provides opportunities for all Diplomates to share in the advocacy of improved patient care. Each ABPS member is a valued participant whose voice is heard and respected. Experiences and best practices are shared with the ABPS community at large, enabling members to learn from the successes and setbacks of others.
ABPS Works to Give Diplomates a Strong Voice in the Medical Community
In addition to promoting honest, open internal communication among our members, we believe that it is vital to proactively reach out to healthcare organizations, hospitals, legislators, and the communities where members practice in order to reinforce the importance of placing patients first. In that respect, the ABPS community’s strength and unity enable our Diplomates to make their voices heard in the public arena, thereby helping shape the very future of healthcare.
Key Facts About the ABPS
As you explore your options for physician board certification, keep in mind these important attributes of the ABPS:
- High standards – The ABPS upholds rigorous certification and recertification requirements that align with those of the ABMS and AOA, ensuring only the most qualified physicians earn certification.
- Clinical expertise comes first – ABPS Member Boards emphasize clinical competence and real-world experience, focusing on practical medical knowledge rather than internal politics.
- Flexible recertification options – ABPS is the only multi-specialty certifying body that offers recertification to eligible diplomates of both ABMS and AOA, highlighting its inclusive and excellence-driven approach.
- National recognition – ABPS-certified physicians practice across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Canada, demonstrating the organization’s broad acceptance and growing influence in healthcare.
If you believe physician board certification should be more than a perfunctory requirement for employment, and if you believe it is important for physicians to have a more powerful voice as advocates for the advancement of patient care, contact ABPS to learn more about our certification and recertification process. The ABPS is the certifying body for the American Association of Physician Specialists, providing board certification for 18 medical specialties. We also welcome physicians certified by other bodies who would like to seek dual board certification through one of our Member Boards.