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The Path to Board Certification Through The American Board of Physician Specialties

Medical Board Certification RequirementsAt the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), we are proud to serve as one of the leading certifying bodies in the United States. ABPS Diplomates practice in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. And one of the defining elements of our organization is a commitment to helping physicians deliver the best possible care to their patients. This starts with our stringent board certification process, which ensures that each physician has a base of knowledge, professional skill, and commitment to getting better at their craft. What ABPS does not do is establish arbitrary time constraints for certification.

America, like the rest of the world, has a clear shortage of health care professionals, including board certified physicians. And as the global population continues to grow, and the American healthcare system is further extended by the aging population, the need for qualified, experienced physicians becomes even more essential. At ABPS, we know how important it is for board eligible physicians to have a clear path toward certification or recertification, and we want to help qualified professionals receive the accreditation they’ve earned.

Eligibility Requirements for ABPS Physician Board Certification

While eligibility requirements for board certification vary depending on your specialty, our physicians must at minimum:

  • Be in conformity with the Code of Ethics of the ABPS, be known in the community as an ethical member of the profession, and be an active practitioner in the specialty for which you’re seeking certification
  • Have 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.
  • Hold a valid and unrestricted license(s) to practice medicine in the United States, U.S. territories, or Canada.

ABPS Certifies Physicians in a Diverse Range of Specialties

The ABPS is a nationally recognized option for physician board certification, dedicated to promoting exceptional healthcare. We champion the philosophy that physicians should prioritize patient care above all. Accordingly, we provide board certification across a broad range of specialties, from essential primary care areas like family medicine and internal medicine to innovative fields such as interventional pain management and family medicine obstetrics.

National Distinction Through Rigorous Certification

Our certification process is rigorous. Candidates must meet specific eligibility criteria, undergo a comprehensive application process, and pass demanding standardized exams. It explains why board certification signifies that a physician is a cut above the rest. Hospitals and credentialing bodies recognize ABPS-certified physicians—motivated and dedicated enough to pursue this additional qualification—as highly desirable and supremely competent. It’s little wonder that ABPS physicians are standout candidates in the healthcare job market.

Get More Information About the ABPS

We don’t believe in creating needless barriers toward certification and we want to provide options to board-eligible physicians who are looking to become board certified. If you have extensive experience in your field but are not board certified, make the investment in yourself to receive this vital designation. To learn more about the specific eligibility requirements for your specialty or subspecialty, contact the ABPS today— even if you’re more than a few years removed from your residency.

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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.

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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