American Board of Physician Specialties

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The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), the official certifying body for the American Association of Physician Specialists (AAPS) is a non-profit umbrella organization for sixteen medical specialty boards that certifies and re-certifies physicians in fourteen medical specialties in the United States and Canada. It is one of three certifying bodies in the United States in addition to the American Board of Medical Specialties, and American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists. The ABPS oversees Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) certification in the United States. The ABPS assists its Member Boards in developing and implementing educational and professional standards to evaluate and certify physician specialists. It is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor [1] as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). [2]

Contents

History

The American Association of Physician Specialists (AAPS) is the smallest of three multi-specialty physician/surgeon certifying entities in the United States, providing board certification to both M.D. and D.O. physicians. The AAPS has grouped its certification activities within a single subdivision called the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS). In August 2005, the ABPS name was registered to AAPS. The ABPS implements certification functions under the direction of AAPS.

AAPS (originally known as the American Association of Osteopathic Physicians) was founded in 1952 by Dr. E.O. Martin. [3] Since 1984, AAPS has provided a headquarters for medical specialty boards of certification.

Recognition by state medical boards

Today in the U.S. and its territories, there are seventy (70) state medical boards—some state medical boards are composed of an M.D. board and a D.O. board while others are combined as one, called a "composite board". Of the 70 state boards, the vast majority do not differentiate between any of the three nationally recognized multi-specialty boards of certification (ABMS, ABPS, AOABOS). In other words, the majority of the state medical boards are silent (or neutral) as to which board a given physician is certified by.

The remaining boards, approximately twenty (20), have established specific rules for physician advertising by which boards have to petition and receive permission for physicians to be able to advertise themselves as "board certified".

Those twenty (20) boards are:

Physicians certified by ABPS and licensed by the Medical Board of California are prohibited from using the term "board certified" unless they are also certified by an American Board of Medical Specialties board.

It also appears that certification by an ABPS member board is not sufficient to allow use of the term "board certified" by physicians licensed in the State of New York. However, interpreting the law in New York is more complex.

Specialties

The ABPS, the official certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists (AAPS), is the United States' third largest recognized physician multi-specialty certifying body, providing physician board certification re-certification for thousands of physicians in following 20 medical specialties: [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine</span>

The American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine (AOBEM) is an organization that provides board certification to qualified Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine who specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of acutely ill patients with advanced cardiac life support, trauma, and the management of other life-threatening medical issues. The AOBEM is one of 18 medical specialty certifying boards of the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology</span>

The American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology (AOBA) is an organization that provides board certification to qualified Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) and non-osteopathic physicians who specialize in the administration of anesthetic agents and perioperative medicine (anesthesiologists). The board is one of 16 medical specialty certifying boards of the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), and was established in 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology</span>

The American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (AOBOG) is an organization that provides board certification to qualified Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) who specialize in the care of the female reproductive tract and children during the course of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period (obstetricians) and to qualified Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the female reproductive tract (gynecologists). The board is one 18 medical specialty certifying boards of the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), and was established in 1942. As of December 2011, 1,082 osteopathic obstetricians and gynecologists held active certification with the AOBOG.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery</span>

The American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery (AOBOS) is an organization that provides board certification to qualified Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) and non-osteopathic physicians who specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The board is one of 16 medical specialty certifying boards of the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), and was originally a subdivision of the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery until it became an independent board in 1978. Additionally, diplomates of the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery are eligible for membership in the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics</span>

The American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics (AOBP) is an organization that provides board certification to qualified Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of medical diseases in infants, children, and adolescents (pediatricians). The board is one 18 medical specialty certifying boards of the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists approved by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), and was established in 1940. Certification in pediatrics has grown to over 1,000 diplomates over the last decade. It was reported in 2011, 477 osteopathic pediatricians held active certification with the AOBP. With single accreditation in place both osteopathic and allopathic residency training candidates are eligible to examine for certification with the American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Board of Pediatrics</span> One of the 24 certifying boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties

The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) was founded in 1933. It is one of the 24 certifying boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). The ABP is an independent and nonprofit organization. The ABP's mission is to advance child health by certifying pediatricians who meet standards of excellence and are committed to continuous learning and improvement.

References

  1. ↑ "Physicians and Surgeons : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics". www.bls.gov. Retrieved 2018-10-04.
  2. ↑ "Federal Register. Vol. 77, No. 215. Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Rules and Regulations. Page 66673" (PDF). 6 November 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  3. ↑ "2012 Awards and Recognition". American Association of Physician Specialists, Inc. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  4. ↑ Medicine, Florida Board of. "Florida Board of Medicine » Advertising Board Certifications- Healthcare Practitioner Licensing and Regulation" . Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  5. ↑ "Meeting of the Board of Regents - May 2010". New York State Board of Regents. 2010-05-31. Retrieved 2019-09-13. The American Board of Physician Specialties is not equivalent to the American Board of Medical Specialties, the organization the Department recognizes as setting the appropriate standards for American board certification.
  6. ↑ "Board Certifications". American Association of Physician Specialists Inc. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
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