Committed to a Higher Professional Standard to Deliver Better Patient Care

The Most Trusted Medical Specialty Certification Organization

Since 1933, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has earned the public’s trust by setting a higher standard of professionalism and care for physicians and specialists.

We represent 24 certifying boards and nearly one million active board certified physicians who are aiming higher to better serve their patients, families, and communities.

Board certification helps:

  • Physicians and specialists demonstrate their competence and professionalism throughout their careers
  • Health care organizations in selecting staff to help achieve their quality and safety goals
  • The public feel assured they are being cared for by someone committed to their health and well-being

Learn about ABMS board certification and how ABMS serves the public and the profession.

For Patient Link
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For Patients

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For Patients

Find out if your doctor is ABMS board certified and why it is important to your care

Certification Matters
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For Patients

Find out if your doctor is ABMS board certified and why it is important to your care

Certification Matters
For Credentialers Link
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For Credentialers

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For Credentialers

Make your physician certification verification process easy and efficient with a suite of options from ABMS Solutions

ABMS Solutions
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For Credentialers

Make your physician certification verification process easy and efficient with a suite of options from ABMS Solutions

ABMS Solutions
For Physicians Link
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For Physicians & Specialists

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For Physicians & Specialists

Learn more about board certification, why it’s important to your practice, and how it supports your professional development

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For Physicians & Specialists

Learn more about board certification, why it’s important to your practice, and how it supports your professional development

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For Healthcare Link
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For Health Care Organizations

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For Health Care Organizations

Get to know ABMS and how we can be an important resource to your organization and members

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For Health Care Organizations

Get to know ABMS and how we can be an important resource to your organization and members

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ABMS Portfolio Program

As an ABMS Portfolio Program Sponsor, you can help your physicians, medical specialists, and PAs earn continuing certification credit toward their QIPS requirements.

BECOME A SPONSOR

ABMS Visiting Scholars Program

An opportunity for early-career physicians and researchers to develop your leadership skills and research while contributing to the advancement of specialty certification.

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Assessment Development & Delivery

ABMS AssessLink provides expert services to develop and deliver assessment programs for certification, learning, and professional development.

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ABMS Insights Spring 2025 Edition Now Available

ABMS Portfolio Program Featured in ABMS Insights

Learn how health care organizations are utilizing the ABMS Portfolio Program™ to embed continuing certification credit into their physicians’ quality improvement work, encourage cross-departmental collaboration in QI projects, and engage in national collaboratives to improve patient care on a national level.

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headshots of 2024 2025 ABMS Visiting Scholars

ABMS Visiting Scholars Program Applications Due June 23, 2025

The ABMS Visiting Scholars Program™ positions early-career physicians and research professionals as active contributors and future leaders in health care. Grants of up to $15,000 are awarded to support research and travel expenses related to program participation and research deliverables.

How to apply

ABMS publishes review of board certification data

Research Supports the Value of Certification

Substantial evidence demonstrates the positive association between ABMS Member Board certification and patient safety, health care costs, disciplinary actions, and clinical outcomes. Recent examples include A Narrative Review of the Development and Outcomes of ABMS Member Board Continuing Certification Programs.

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National Defense Authorization Act Recognizes ABMS Member Boards in New Legislation Defining Physician Certification Organizations

Act Establishes Standards for Recognition of Physician Certifying Bodies

ABMS Member Boards designated by the Defense Health Agency as physician certifying organizations, naming the 24 ABMS Member Boards as organizations that meet the newly approved criteria.

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ABMS News

More News

AI’s Potential to Transform Assessments

December 19, 2024

Opening plenary speakers for ABMS Conference 2024 touted the potentially transformative nature of artificial intelligence (AI) and explored the myriad...