ABMS Board Certification Data
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) collects data related to physicians and medical specialists (diplomates) who are currently certified by an ABMS Member Board. As a service to researchers and others with an interest in board certification, ABMS makes aggregated data available with filtered views in the ABMS Data Viewer and summarizes it annually in the ABMS Board Certification Report.
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How to Use the ABMS Data Viewer | Board Certification Report | Highlights from the Board Certification Report
ABMS Data Viewer
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How to Use the ABMS Data Viewer
Research Grant Opportunities
Learn about grant opportunities supported by ABMS, and how the Visiting Scholars Program supports early-career physicians and researchers.
ABMS Board Certification Report
The ABMS Board Certification Report[PDF] is the only publication dedicated to information about ABMS Member Board certified physicians and medical specialists (known as diplomates). It includes the official list of the specialty and subspecialty certificates approved by ABMS, the number of new specialty and subspecialty certificates issued in the last 10 years, and the distribution of board certified diplomates by ABMS Member Board, specialty, and state.
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Highlights from the Board Certification Report
The 2023-2024 ABMS Board Certification Report[PDF] reflects a growing population of board certified physicians and medical specialists (also known as diplomates) who use board certification to demonstrate their specialty expertise and continued commitment to provide safe, high-quality, and effective care.
The report shows that as of June 30, 2024, there were 997,864 diplomates with an active certification from an ABMS Member Board. Tables 1A and 1B in the report list the specialty and subspecialty certificates approved by ABMS.
Certifications Awarded
ABMS Member Boards awarded 34,461 new specialty certificates and 14,871 new subspecialty certificates (see Table 2A and Table 2B in the report) to physicians and medical specialists during 2023. In looking at the number of active certifications held, many ABMS Member Board diplomates choose to maintain more than one certification to further demonstrate additional specialized medical expertise.
Continuing Certification
The ABMS Board Certification Database shows that as of June 30, 2024, there were 728,181 diplomates participating in continuing certification. Continuing certification is the ongoing process of board certification that simultaneously supports diplomates in keeping their knowledge and skills current while validating their increasing expertise in a specialty.
The process has developed during the last 20 years. Initial certification is the entry point for diplomates to participate in continuing professional development through focused, relevant, and accessible activities and assessments. Board certified diplomates are required to participate in ongoing activities to maintain certification. Some do not, however, because the requirement was not in place when they were first certified. The ABMS Member Boards strongly encourage these individuals to participate voluntarily. The figure below shows the increase of the number of ABMS Member Board diplomates participating in continuing certification.
ABMS Guide to Medical Specialties
A companion publication, the ABMS Guide to Medical Specialties contains a list of the areas where physicians and medical specialists can be certified by an ABMS Member Board, and descriptions of each specialty and subspecialty area, including the types of conditions commonly treated.
