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Physicians Have a Choice for Board Certification

Physicians Have a Choice for Board CertificationBefore the 1952 founding of the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS), many qualified physicians who applied for board certification were turned away if they lacked residency training in their chosen specialty. Created to provide certification options, the ABPS certified its first physician in 1960, and since then has become one of the three nationally recognized multispecialty certifying organizations in the country.

We offer both allopathic and osteopathic physicians board certification in 18 different specialties, and we have certified numerous professionals in traditional medical fields such as family medicine, dermatology, and internal medicine, as well as in emerging specialties such as disaster medicine and integrative medicine. In fact, we are the only multispecialty board that offers certification in urgent care medicine.

ABPS Offers Nationally Recognized Physician Board Certification

Our Diplomates can be found across all 50 states, as well as Canada and Puerto Rico, and many have become leaders at renowned institutions. It’s not hard to understand why. Board certification is one of the industry’s most coveted honors, and certification with the ABPS, in particular, is a rigorous process that ensures only the most talented physicians achieve the distinction. That’s why the U.S. Department of Labor has recognized the ABPS as a premier choice for board certification. Furthermore, hospitals and other employers – who are increasingly prioritizing hiring certified practitioners – are well aware of our sterling reputation, and we also have a strong record of work with credentialing authorities, hospital leaders, and legislators.

To become certified with one of our Member Boards, physicians must meet our strict eligibility requirements and pass psychometrically validated exams developed under the most rigorous industry standards. The eligibility requirements of the ABPS differ from specialty to specialty, but all ABPS Member Boards share certain general eligibility 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.

Once certified, physicians become part of a respected organization dedicated to patient care above all else. Our Diplomates:

  • Instill patients with confidence that they will receive the best medical care available
  • Exchange information about clinical experiences in order to advance their specialties and patient care as a whole
  • Enjoy more career opportunities, which can lead to higher earnings
  • Have a voice as a valued member of the healthcare community
  • Receive ongoing education to stay updated on advancements in their specialty

What Sets the ABPS Apart From Other Certification Boards

The ABPS distinguishes itself as the only national multi-specialty certification body offering board certification in emerging areas such as family medicine obstetrics, disaster medicine, and integrative medicine. This forward-thinking approach reflects ABPS’s commitment to supporting the evolution of medical specialties and recognizing the needs of a changing healthcare landscape.

What further sets ABPS apart is its inclusive certification pathway for career emergency medicine physicians. Through an innovative fellowship model, the ABPS provides experienced primary care physicians with a route to emergency medicine certification—filling a critical gap left by traditional certification pathways.

This focus on flexibility, inclusion, and specialty advancement makes the ABPS a standout organization, dedicated to honoring the achievements of exceptional physicians across a broad spectrum of disciplines.

Of course, it’s important that the certification board you choose aligns with your core values, so we would be happy to provide you with all the information you need to make a confident decision, including details about our mission and eligibility requirements. Contact the ABPS today. The ABPS is the official board certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc.®

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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.

With declining access for maternity care amid rising maternal mortality, ABPS and their Board Certification in Family Medicine Obstetrics has been essential for me and many of my colleagues in getting privileges and thereby creating local access for mothers and their children.

Ashish Anand, MD, FAASOS
John B. Waits, MD
Family Medicine Obstetrics
Board certification through the American Board of Physician Specialties has served to substantiate my interest and additional training in several fields of medicine including Internal Medicine, Disaster Medicine, and Administrative Medicine. As a result, I have been able to serve my community in clinical, disaster response, and administrative medicine roles. Through the ABPS, I have become recognized as a leader in my various fields of interest.

Spencer Price MD, MPH, MBA
Administrative Medicine
In this era, when continuous updated medical knowledge means so much to you, when quality of emergency care matters most to you ,when you need to excel in your medical career to continue providing exceptional service to your critically ill patients, please consider board certification with the Boad of Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM). Where your knowledge & expertise translates to credentialing & certification with wider approval & recognition every day at many fronts. We Welcome you to join our team for a brighter future of our emergency healthcare where dedication to profession relies not solely on clinical practice but also on sound academic certification.

Ashish Anand, MD, FAASOS
Ashraf A. Gerges, MD, FAAEP
Emergency Medicine
Board certification in Orthopedic Surgery through the American Board of Physician Specialties validated my training and surgical experience through a process that was both rigorous and respectful of real-world practice. ABPS recognizes clinical competence, not just credentials, and that sets it apart.

Ashish Anand, MD, FAASOS
Ashish Anand, MD, FAASOS
Orthopedic Surgery
The American Board of Physician Specialties is a forward- thinking organization that focuses on where Medicine is going, not just where it has been. Traditional Certification Boards like Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Dermatology are represented as are Integrative Medicine, Disaster Medicine, and Family Medicine-Obstetrics. Physicians appreciate the ability to showcase their skills and knowledge through Board Certification, and this organization allows excellent physicians the ability to bring their skills to patients. The dedication and commitment of this organization and its volunteers will ensure ongoing distinction and commitment for decades to come.

Jeffrey B. Stricker, DO, MBA, FAASD
Jeffrey B. Stricker, DO, MBA, FAASD
Dermatology
Serving as a member on the American board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM) for many years and now serving as a Member at Large of the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) has been an enriching and rewarding experience. The board’s commitment to excellence, integrity, and positive impact is truly inspiring. I am grateful to collaborate with such a dedicated and visionary group, and I am proud of the meaningful progress we continue to achieve together.

Arti Prasad, MD, FACP
Arti Prasad, MD, FACP
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 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
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
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
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