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Why Recertify?

Why Recertify?The American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS) requires its Diplomates to recertify in their chosen specialties every eight years. The fact that physician board recertification standards are as stringent as certification eligibility requirements should not dissuade physicians from applying as the importance of recertification is undeniable.

Already, physicians who are certified distinguish themselves from other noncertified professionals in their field. Through rigorous testing, they have demonstrated mastery of their specialties, that they have the knowledge and expertise to provide the best medical care possible, and that they are qualified leaders in their specialties. Recertification, then, not only maintains these distinctions, but builds on the physician’s skills through continuing medical education (CME), work experience, and testing.

Recertification also further enhances a doctor’s professional standing and credentials. Physicians who have expanded their base of skills and knowledge through the recertification process convey to organizations that they remain wholly committed to their career development as well as the advancement of the medical profession. Recertification also benefits medical organizations by serving as a positive indicator of qualifications to patients, whose decisions about which medical facility to go to often depend on the credentials of the facility’s doctors.

Benefits of ABPS Recertification

In brief, board recertification serves two main purposes:

  • To help physicians enhance their skills and stay updated on the latest research and techniques.
  • To serve as proof of a physician’s expertise to medical groups, hospitals, managed care companies, and patients.

When you become recertified in a medical specialty with the ABPS, you gain:

  • Easy and unlimited verification of your board certification
  • More opportunities for higher-paying and higher-responsibility positions
  • A chance to be part of the development and governance of Member Boards
  • Plenty of opportunities to network and advance your career.

Requirements for Recertification With the ABPS

To become recertified through the ABPS, board certified physicians must participate in a regular schedule of maintenance and enhancement of competency in their specialty. They must also:

  • Complete a non-remedial medical ethics course
  • Complete at least 16 CME hours during the preceding eight years through programs sponsored by the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc.®
  • Must certify annually that their medical licenses are full and unrestricted in every state in which they practice
  • Pass a 100-question, securely administered written exam in the final year of the eight-year certification cycle

Diplomates of the ABMS & AOA Can Recertify With the ABPS

Current Diplomates of ABMS and AOA member boards are also eligible to recertify with ABPS, and we encourage them to consider the ABPS as an option. As a nationally recognized multi-specialty certifying body that has been granting certifications since 1960, the ABPS has Diplomates in all 50 states, as well as in Canada and Puerto Rico. Being recertified with our organization means you will be part of a national network of talented and dedicated physicians who share best practices, advocate for their specialties, and emphasize patient care over the business and politics of medicine.

Find Out More About Recertification Through the ABPS

To learn more about the importance of recertifying, or for more information about recertification with the ABPS, contact us today. We will gladly provide you with complete details about our application process and eligibility requirements.

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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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