What Does it Mean to Be a Board-Certified Doctor?
Explore what it means to be a board-certified physician, how to tell whether a doctor has been board-certified and how it can be achieved.
Becoming a medical doctor takes passion, hard work, and many years of study and training. You will need to successfully graduate from medical school and then complete additional years of work in residency, focused on your chosen specialty. Many also choose to pursue a post-residency fellowship, and then must sit for licensing exams in order to practice in different jurisdictions.
Additionally, many physicians also choose to become a board-certified doctor in one or more of their chosen specialties. This requires them to successfully complete extensive training and to pass specialty-specific exams.
So what does board-certified mean? And do you need to be a board-certified doctor to practice in your area? In this guide, we’ll provide the answers you’re searching for!
What Does Board-Certified Mean?
Having a board-certified tag attached to your name and title is a form of distinction. It tells the public that you have undergone additional years of specialty training and education in order to practice medicine. However, it is not a mandatory requirement in order to practice medicine and is entirely voluntary. Doctors can choose from many different boards from whom to gain certification.
Becoming board-certified symbolizes that you have achieved the highest level of accreditation within your chosen specialty. The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is a very well-known and recognized organization that commonly sets the standard for physician specialty in the United States. You can choose from 38 specialties and 89 subspecialties to become certified in. These include:
- Anesthesiology
- Emergency Medicine
- Family Medicine
- Neurological Surgery
- Pathology
- Pediatrics
- Plastic Surgery
- Radiology
- Urology
You can become board-certified from the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM), and several other self-appointed medical boards in the U.S. and throughout the world.
How to Become a Board-Certified Doctor
Each board will have its own set of requirements that you will need to meet in order to qualify for its medical board certification. The following outlines the general certification process.
- Complete Medical School and Residency
Physicians must successfully complete medical school, followed by 3 to 7 years of residency (depending upon the specialty chosen) to qualify for potential certification from a medical board. - Meet Your Board’s Specific Requirements
Each medical board has its own set of requirements to qualify for certification. These may include:- Holding a valid state medical license.
- Passing a police background check.
- Providing letters of attestation from previous trainers and colleagues.
- Demonstrating proven experience treating a set number of patients or cases within your specialty.
- Pass Board Certification Exams
After meeting the training and eligibility criteria, you must pass a series of rigorous oral and written board examinations to obtain certification from the respective governing body. - Maintain Certification Through Ongoing Assessment
Many physicians continue to advance and renew their certifications throughout their careers by participating in ongoing assessments and career-long certification programs. This ensures they stay current with the latest developments and best practices in their specialty, maintaining the highest standards of patient care. Boards encourage continuous learning to foster creativity, refresh skills and promote curiosity in a rapidly evolving medical landscape.
Is Board Certification Important?
More than 90% of doctors choose to become board-certified physicians in the U.S., so it is a popular choice – however, it is entirely up to you.
Importantly, aspiring doctors must be aware that many patients may filter their requirements so that they only see board-certified physicians when searching for care providers. This will mean that you might miss out on cases if you are not certified. A board-certified doctor shows the world that they have undergone more years of specialty training, hence holding you up to a higher standard of care, which is attractive for those in need of healthcare services.
You can always check with your medical school supervisor or faculty member for advice regarding board-certification in your specialty. Medical board certification is an additional step that many physicians choose to take, so it is something to keep in mind early on in your career. Many board-certified doctors believe that it is an effective way to quickly gain their patients’ trust in their abilities.
What Is Double Board-Certification?
As the name suggests, double board-certification means that a physician has completed not just one, but two extensive and all-encompassing exams to obtain two certifications. You can become certified through as many boards as you like, but bear in mind the additional costs and years of training required each time. Less than 20% of doctors choose to undertake more than one board certification in their lifetime, so one medical board certification is usually enough to support your career goals.
How to Check if a Doctor Is Board-Certified
Some patients may ask you to provide proof of your board certification and qualifications. Many doctors display their certificates, degrees and accomplishments in their offices where they practice, for all patients to see.
There are also a number of board association websites that you can use to check someone’s certification; for example, the ABMS Certification Matters website. Patients will be able to search for their doctor’s name, specialty and the state they practice in to check if they are listed and see which board has certified them. There are also many rating websites that list a doctor’s qualifications, how many years of experience they possess, and reviews or ratings that previous patients have provided for them in terms of quality of care, follow-ups, and what special conditions they have treated.
Usually, you can also enter a doctor’s name into a search engine like Google to see what comes up. You will see the qualifications and board certifications associated with their name and where they practice.
The Difference between Licensed and Board-Certified
It’s important to understand the difference between board-certified vs licensed practitioners. To practice in any state within the U.S., you will need to be licensed to practice in that state. This is a mandatory requirement, unlike getting board-certified. Medical licenses are issued by a state medical board, whereas a board certification is granted by a private organization like the ones mentioned above.
A board certification indicates that the doctor has undergone extra training in a particular specialty, while a medical license does not reflect additional specialty training. Doctors who are board-certified are also licensed. However, doctors who have a license are not necessarily board-certified.
Start Your Journey toward Becoming a Board-Certified Doctor
Wanting to become board-certified is a noble and ambitious goal, but it first starts with finishing medical school. Medical school provides the foundational knowledge and skills that aspiring physicians need to develop successful careers, and puts future practitioners on the path to choosing a specialty in which they may eventually become board-certified.
At Medical University of the Americas, our 10-semester Doctor of Medicine (MD) program delivers the dedicated instruction, individualized support and early hands-on training that leads to academic and long-term success. It features two years of classroom and lab-based learning on our Nevis campus, followed by two years of clinical rotations at affiliated teaching hospitals, clinics and medical centers in the U.S., and select elective rotation sites in Canada.
To learn more about the learning environment and student experience, watch this graduate testimonial video:
Then contact us to learn more or start your journey to board certification by applying for med school.
FAQs About Board Certification
Becoming board-certified typically requires completing medical school, followed by 3 to 7 years of accredited residency. After residency and potentially fellowship training, physicians must pass rigorous board examinations. The overall process usually takes between 7 and 14 years after starting medical school.
A doctor can hold multiple board certifications if they complete the necessary training, examinations and other requirements for each specialty or subspecialty. Some physicians choose to become certified in more than one area to broaden their expertise.
Board-certified doctors often have higher earning potential than their non-certified counterparts. Certification can enhance a physician’s reputation, patient trust, and eligibility for higher-paying positions or academic roles.
Board certification is not legally required to practice medicine, but it is strongly encouraged and often preferred by employers, hospitals and patients as a mark of validated expertise and quality care. Some specialties or regions may have specific requirements.