Board Certification

Board certification is a voluntary process by which physicians are acknowledged to have demonstrated exceptional commitment to and expertise in a particular specialty and/or subspecialty of medical practice, above and beyond the minimum competency requirements of medical licensure.

Member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) certify physicians by means of a rigorous process of testing and peer evaluation.  In addition, periodic recertification every six to ten years ensures that board-certified physicians keep current in their specialty.

ABMS certification has long been considered the "gold standard" in physician credentialing.  It has prompted the medical community and patients alike to inquire with greater frequency as to whether or not a physician is board certified.  Taking board certification into account has become an important part of considering a physician's credentials.