Purpose of Certification
The ABPS affiliated Boards of Certification (BOC) are committed to the
certification of qualified physicians. Certification is based on education,
practice, and experience-based requirements, against which a physician can be
assessed, that suggest suitability for specialty certification. The purposes of
these boards of certification are as follows:
- To define the domain of knowledge and clinical skills expected of a
physician;
- To provide a valid assessment of the knowledge level demonstrated by a
physician;
- To encourage continued professional development in a specialty field;
- To formally recognize physicians who meet the high standards set by the
boards of certification; and
- To serve the public by encouraging quality patient care in the practice
of a specialty.
Scope of Certification
Eligibility requirements and examinations of the boards of certification have
been developed based on a substantial review and analysis of the current state
of clinical knowledge in the field of a particular specialty, as reflected in
medical literature and the patient-care setting. Members of the boards of
certification have developed a certification process that assesses, meets,
and/or exceeds accepted levels of knowledge and expertise in the specialty, with
the goal of improving patient care. The boards of certification constantly
monitor advancements in the field of the particular specialty and make revisions
in their certification examinations.
Examination Development and Administration
Each BOC utilizes the services of ABPS to assist in the planning,
development, and administration of certification and recertification
examinations as required by the ABPS affiliation requirements. ABPS assists the
certifying bodies by guiding the planning, development, and psychometric
evaluation of assessment procedures designed to measure professional competency.
Applications for Certification and Recertification
All applications are available through the individual "Boards of
Certification" areas located in the left hand naviagation links. All
applications are in PDF format and require
Adobe Acrobat Reader to be viewed and printed.
Applicants must complete the application process by December 1 for the
March/April/May examination cycle and by May 1 for the
September/October/November examination cycle.
Information submitted by the applicant is subject to verification. Submission
of false or misleading information constitutes grounds for exclusion from the
certification process. By signing and having the application notarized, the
applicant agrees to hold harmless the ABPS-affiliated boards of certification
and all parties responding in good faith during such verification and for
actions taken by the boards of certification during a thorough review of the
information contained in the application.
If a physician has been accepted as a candidate, but cannot take the
examination, he/she may request a deferment. Requests for deferment must be
submitted in writing to the ABPS Certification Department. Three
deferments are allowed. However, a candidate must take the examination by the
next time it is offered, otherwise, the application will become INVALID.
The physician may reapply, but must meet the current eligibility requirements,
in effect at the time of the new application, to be considered for an
examination.
- Deferment notification received prior to the examination response
deadline will incur a fee of $200.00.
- Deferment notification received after the examination response
deadline but before the examination date will incur a fee of $400.00.
- If the ABPS Certification Department receives no notification of
deferment and the candidate does not show up for examination, there will be
no refund, no exception.
Examination Timelines
Specialties with a Three-level (written/computer-based, oral, and
clinical) Exam Process
The candidate is allowed a maximum of six (6) consecutive years to complete
the entire exam process. The time limit commences on the first available
examination date after the application is accepted or officially approved by the
Board of Certification in the appropriate specialty.
The candidate is allowed:
- a maximum of three attempts to pass the written/computer based exam
- a maximum of three attempts to pass the oral/simulation exam
- a maximum of three attempts to pass the clinical exam
If a candidate fails to pass any or either of the steps after three attempts,
the application timeline is considered ended and the candidate must submit a new
application and restart the examination process as before with the same
procedures and restrictions.
The specialties which require a three-level (written/computer-based,
oral, and clinical) exam process include:
Specialties with a Two-Level (written/computer-based and an
oral/simulation) Exam Process
The candidate is allowed a maximum of six (6) consecutive years to complete
the exam process. The time limit commences on the first available examination
date after the application is accepted or officially approved by the Board of
Certification in the appropriate specialty.
The candidate is allowed:
- a maximum of three attempts to pass the written/computer based exam
- a maximum of three attempts to pass the oral/simulation exam
If a candidate fails to pass any of the steps after three attempts, the
application timeline is considered ended and the candidate must submit a new
application and restart the examination process as before with the same
procedures and restrictions.
The specialties which require a two-step (written/computer-based and
an oral/simulation) exam process include:
- Anesthesiology
- Diagnostic Radiology
- Disaster Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
- Family Practice - Obstetrics
- Psychiatry
- Radiation Oncology
Specialties with a Single-Level (written/computer-based) Exam Process
The candidate is allowed a maximum of three (3) consecutive years to complete
the exam process. The time limit commences on the first available examination
date after the application is received. The candidate shall be allowed a maximum
of three attempts to pass the written/computer based exam. If a candidate fails
to pass after three attempts, the application timeline is considered ended and
the candidate must submit a new application and restart the examination process
as before with the same procedures and restrictions.
These specialties include:
- Dermatology
- Family Practice
- Geriatric Medicine
- Internal Medicine
Extending the Exam Process
Candidates who cannot complete the process in a timely manner due to one of
the following reasons may appeal to the ABPS Board for an extension of the
exam-cycle process.
- Serious illness of the candidate
- Serious illness/death of a defined first degree relative
- Travel conditions that significantly delay travel to the exam site, such
as severe weather conditions, highway or airport closures.
Candidate must provide documentation of the above-mentioned circumstances,
such as medical reports, airline cancellation or delay notices, etc. This
information should be sent to the Manager of Certification who will forward this
appeal to the ABPS Board. The Board may request additional documentation. The
documentation must be received by the Manager or Certification within ten (10)
business days of the exam date. The documentation must be sent by traceable
mail/courier.
An exam-cycle extension fee may be levied at the discretion of the
appropriate Board of Certification. An exam candidate is allowed only one
extension per exam-cycle.
Click here to download a sample examination timeline (PDF 17KB)
Application Fees*
A non‑refundable application processing fee for both certification and
recertification applicants, must be submitted with the specialty application and
supporting documents. NOTE: Only the application processing fee for
certification is to be paid at this time. Failure to submit this fee with
the application will result in the rejection of an application. Please refer to
the enclosed fee schedule for application fees. Payment must be in the form of
money order, personal or certified check.
A credentialing fee of $95.00 will be charged to any recertification
candidate who withdraws their recertification application once it's been
processed and approved to sit for the examination.
Examination Fees*
Upon approval to sit for the examination, invoices for the Written and/or
Oral examinations, will be mailed. Each approved candidate for
certification will receive an examination invoice, which must be paid
before the candidate receives confirmation to sit for examination.
Please refer to the fee schedule for examination fees. Payment must be in the
form of money order, personal or certified check. NOTE: Do not submit the
examination fee until you receive the above invoice, as it will be declined and
returned to you.
*There will be a $35.00 charge for any insufficient funds processing,
which will also delay the processing of your application.
Annual Maintenance Certification Fee (AMCF)
The AMCF is due and payable on the first day of every new year. The AMCF is
required to maintain your certification. This fee is used to cover, in part, all
expenses for sustaining certification and recertification. This fee is prorated
for first year Diplomates.
Refund Policy
The application processing fee will be retained by ABPS. No other exceptions
or refunds will be made unless approved by the specialty boards of
certification.
