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Why Physician Board Certification?

Whether you’re a new medical student or a practicing physician, at some point in your career, you will likely consider becoming board certified in your area of expertise. It’s a smart decision. Increasingly, hospitals and other health care organizations are placing a priority on hiring or granting privileges to board-certified physicians. On that basis alone, one can understand the growing prominence of certification in the medical industry.

But at the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS), we believe that board certification offers physicians benefits that are less obvious than career advancement but no less important, including:

  • The respect of their peers and the fellowship of practitioners who share best practices
  • Extra incentive to remain as updated as possible about new techniques and treatment methods in their chosen specialty so as to achieve recertification
  • An opportunity to be viewed as leaders in their chosen specialty, and to shape the course of the medical profession for years to come

ABPS Certification Rewards Talent & Dedication

Earning certification is no easy process, of course. It’s long, arduous, and requires countless hours of study. The ABPS believes that in order to accurately measure a physician’s mastery and knowledge, the exam should be as rigorous as possible. To that end, the ABPS emphasizes psychometrically evaluated testing, in addition to advanced training, experience, and moral character. That’s why only the brightest and most dedicated talents go on to become certified by the ABPS.

The ABPS Is a Nationally Recognized Board Certification Body

Recognized in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Handbook, the ABPS has also earned recognition from other federal organizations, including the Veterans’ Health Administration and the United States Armed Forces under the GI Bill. Our goal is to provide practicing physicians with an opportunity to thoroughly demonstrate their base of knowledge, professional skill, and commitment to ongoing education and training through world-class certification and recertification for a wide variety of medical specialties.

Since certifying our first physician in 1960, we have certified numerous exceptionally qualified physicians in traditional medical specialties such as internal medicine, dermatology, and family medicine. We are also the only multi-specialty board that offers certification in family medicine obstetrics, as well as in emerging specialties such as disaster medicine and integrative medicine. Altogether, the ABPS has 12 Member Boards and Diplomates in 20 specialties. ABPS Diplomates practice their specialties at some of the nation’s most renowned medical institutions.

Benefits of Board Certification With the ABPS

Once certified by the ABPS, however, a physician becomes a member of a community of like-minded professionals who are nationally recognized for their achievements. Perhaps, most importantly, ABPS certification sends the right message to patients, whose decisions about where to go for medical treatment often depend on a physician’s credentials, whether at a hospital, clinic, or private practice. In many cases, there are several specialists in a community to choose from, and while certification should not be the only factor when choosing a physician specialist, it is a clear indicator of the physician’s experience and expertise.

For more reasons why physician board certification benefits physicians, patients, and the medical community as a whole, contact the ABPS today. We offer board certification and re-certification in various specialties, and Diplomates of ABMS or AOABOS Member Boards are eligible to recertify with the ABPS.

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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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