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Why Certify?

Why CertifyOver the years board certification has grown in importance for the purpose of gaining employment and privileging with hospitals and other health care organizations. In the United States, board certification in a medical specialty is not required in order to practice medicine. In fact, there are thousands of current practitioners who are not certified. But, make no mistake, doctors who are board certified stand out from the pack for good reason.

Board Certification Yields Significant Advantages for Physician Specialists

First, board certification is a mark of distinction that testifies to a physician’s knowledge and expertise. In order to earn board certification, doctors must complete a thorough application process and pass rigorous exams. Validation by a certifying board assures patients that a certified physician is a leader in his or her specialty. Thus, in the competitive medical marketplace where patients often choose physicians based on their credentials, certification offers doctors a competitive advantage.

As more healthcare organizations look to hire board certified physicians, the benefits of certification come into sharper focus. Certification serves as way for current and potential employers to verify a physician’s credentials and identify that doctor as a qualified candidate for new career opportunities. In addition to boosting a physician’s career earning potential, board certification also:

  • Enhances a physician’s confidence in the knowledge and skills of his or her specialty
  • Promotes ongoing education that helps physicians stay updated on advancements within their specialty
  • Fosters recognition and respect from colleagues
  • Demonstrates a physician’s commitment to delivering exceptional patient care

The ABPS Is a Nationally Recognized Certification Board

If you are a physician and are thinking about pursuing board certification, you may be eligible for certification through one of the Member Boards of the American Board of Physician Specialties® (ABPS). As a nationally recognized board certifying body, we serve the healthcare community by giving qualified allopathic and osteopathic physicians a path toward board certification in myriad specialties, including family medicine, internal medicine, integrative medicine, and disaster medicine, just to name a few.

ABPS Takes a Pragmatic Approach to Board Certification

The ABPS adopts a pragmatic approach to certification, empowering physicians to achieve personal and professional growth while addressing the ever-increasing demands of patient care in today’s medical landscape. For instance, physicians with substantial experience in emergency departments, even if they completed their residencies in primary care, can attain board certification in emergency medicine through the ABPS, obviating the need for additional residency training.

Furthermore, we remain well-versed in emerging public health concerns, which is why we have pioneered innovative boards in areas like disaster medicine, integrative medicine, and family medicine obstetrics, among others. These advancements reflect our commitment to providing physicians with relevant and diverse opportunities for professional development.

Eligibility Requirements of the ABPS

The eligibility requirements for certification with ABPS differ from specialty to specialty, but all ABPS Member Boards share certain general eligibility requirements such as having completed an accredited residency and having an unrestricted medical license.

To learn about the eligibility requirements for board certification with an ABPS Member Board, or for more information about the benefits of certification with the ABPS, 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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