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Physician Groups Are Encouraged to Require Board Certification in Emergency Medicine for All ER Physicians

Emergency MedicineAt the American Board of Physician Specialties® we encourage physician groups to require board certification in emergency medicine for all ER physicians. However, we are also mindful that many of the emergency departments in North American hospitals are staffed by physicians who completed their ACGME or AOA residencies in a primary care discipline other than emergency medicine. To accommodate these highly trained and experienced professionals, we offer a choice in board certification through our own Board of Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM).

The BCEM Offers Career ER Doctors a Certification Pathway

Increasingly, healthcare providers are prioritizing hiring and advancing physicians who have earned board certification in their specialty. This stands to reason because as physicians have continued to narrow the focus of their expertise, board certification has been used as a reliable barometer for identifying the cream of the crop – the physicians who have made the commitment to mastering their craft. The problem that some hospitals have is that they remain woefully under-staffed in terms of EM-trained physicians and instead rely on physicians who completed their residencies in other primary care specialties to fill the gap. This has led to a situation where many men and women have made their careers in the emergency room, but have not previously been eligible for board certification in their specialty because they never completed an EM residency.

Eligibility Requirements of the BCEM

At the ABPS, we want to work with this group of physicians and help them receive the accreditation that they deserve. In order to be eligible to pursue board certification through the BCEM, candidates must:

  • Have successfully completed an accredited residency in a primary care specialty
  • Have accumulated at least 7,000 hours of work in an emergency department in a five year period
  • Meet all of the other eligibility requirements outlined here

To earn BCEM certification, candidates in all three pathways must pass both a written and oral examination. The computer-based written exam consists of 325 multiple-choice questions. Candidates must pass the written exam to take the oral component.

You can find information about dates and fees for the application and the written exam here.

Once granted, all ABPS certificates are good for eight years, expiring on December 31st of the eighth year.

Benefits of BCEM Certification

Certifying with the BCEM is a rigorous process that requires hours of dedicated study, but when you earn board certification through the BCEM:

  • You will be part of an expansive network of emergency medicine professionals who practice in all 50 states, as well as Canada and Puerto Rico.
  • You will have the opportunity to pursue leadership positions in emergency medicine and participate in Member Board governance.
  • You will have access to a career portal that advertises a variety of job openings throughout the country.
  • You will be part of a community of fellow Diplomates who represent some of the best and brightest in the industry, allowing you to share best practices, review new research, and develop strong networking contacts.

Board Certification From a Nationally Recognized Certifying Body

The American Board of Physician Specialties is the third largest nationally recognized physician multi-specialty certifying body, and we are motivated to help increase the number of EM board certified physicians across North America. This will improve our healthcare sector, make it easier for physician groups to identify and hire the right candidates, and will – above all else – benefit patients.

To learn more, contact us 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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