Find Your Specialty 813-433-2277

Why Physician Board Certification?

Why Physician Board Certification?Becoming a physician is no easy feat. It’s a lengthy process that demands steadfast discipline and dedication, with years of medical school study followed by rigorous postgraduate training. Then, before doctors can become practicing physicians, they must earn a medical license, which requires candidates to pass a standardized exam. After a state grants a physician a medical license, that physician can practice medicine for one or two years, depending on the state, before needing to update the license.

Whereas licensure is required for medical practice, physician board certification is not. Certification is an extra step that physicians take to demonstrate that they have skills, knowledge, and experience to practice their specialty. To achieve board certification, physicians must do further work. They must complete a thorough application process, in which they must show proof of having extensive experience in their specialty, and, once again, they must pass a tough standardized exam.

How Board Certification Benefits Physicians and Patients

Certification can be a daunting prospect, so why do physicians attempt it? In other words, why has it become such a highly coveted distinction?

At the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS), we say it’s because effective health care matters. We are a nationally recognized multi-specialty certifying body that has been active since 1960, and as the medical marketplace grows more competitive, we have seen board certification gain increasing importance. For physicians, certification serves as a validation of world-class expertise that makes them leaders in their medical fields. For hospitals and other employers, certification helps to verify a physician’s credentials and identify physicians as ideal candidates for new career opportunities. Board certification also:

  • Assures patients that a certified physician has the skills to deliver outstanding medical care
  • Fosters recognition and respect from medical colleagues
  • Promotes ongoing education that helps to advance medical specialties
  • Provides opportunities for physicians to advocate for better patient care

How Is the ABPS Different From Other Certification Boards?

At ABPS, we take pride in being the sole multi-specialty certifying board in the United States to provide certification in emerging specialties such as family medicine obstetrics, disaster medicine, and integrative medicine. Additionally, we offer career emergency medicine physicians a unique pathway to obtain certification in this field. Previously, those specializing in primary care but seeking recognition for their emergency room expertise were ineligible for emergency medicine certification. However, our innovative emergency medicine fellowship program now offers these doctors an ideal track to achieve EM certification. At the ABPS, we are dedicated to advancing medical specialties and providing specialized recognition for exceptional physicians.

Apply for Board Certification With the ABPS

If you are a licensed physician who is seeking board certification, or if you are certified but have missed the application deadline for another organization, consider applying for certification with the ABPS. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor as a choice for physician board certification, we offer qualified allopathic and osteopathic physicians a path toward board certification in a range of specialties.

Eligibility Requirements of the ABPS

The ABPS has maintained that board certification should be reserved for physicians who can demonstrate an exceptional level of expertise in their specialty. That’s why we maintain stringent eligibility requirements. The eligibility requirements of the ABPS differ from specialty to specialty, but all ABPS Member Boards share certain 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.

For information about our mission and our eligibility requirements, contact us today. The ABPS is the official multi-specialty board certification body of the American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc.®

Save the Date
House of Delegates & Annual Scientific Meeting
Innovation & Overcoming Challenges
June 10-15, 2022
Plan Your Visit. Meeting Information
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.

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
Meet Our Staff Read All Reviews
Boards
Careers
Login
Contact