Introducing ABPS at Your Hospital


Successfully introducing ABPS certification at your hospital often begins by understanding your institution’s specific policies, concerns, and perspectives.


Start the Conversation:

  • Reach out to your hospital’s Medical Staff Office to ask whether they are familiar with the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) or if its recognition has been considered previously.
  • Consider having an informal conversation with a physician on your Medical Executive Committee (MEC) to explore their views on recognizing ABPS. Sharing up-to-date ABPS materials and a brief overview of our board's nationally recognized certification standards can be helpful

Build Physician Support:

  • Physicians who have successfully advocated for ABPS recognition often found strength in numbers. Coordinate with colleagues who also support the option for choices in board certification. 
  • Emphasize that ABPS certification is an additional choice, it does not replace other options like ABMS or AOA but provides flexibility and autonomy for physicians seeking board certification that reflects their training and expertise.

Demonstrate that Definition of Physician Board Certification Has Evolved to Include ABPS:

Over the past decade, the definition of physician board certification has evolved in response to changes in the healthcare landscape and the need for options in physician board certification. The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) has increasingly been recognized as a legitimate and credible certifying authority. This shift is reflected in updated standards, policies, and legal definitions across a wide range of organizations. These developments highlight the growing acknowledgment of ABPS certification as equivalent to other national certifying boards.

Key indicators of this expanded recognition include: ·

  • National and state policy updates: Leading medical entities, stakeholders, and professional organizations have updated their bylaws, policies, and standards to include ABPS.
  • Governmental recognition: Federal and state agencies that formally recognize ABPS certifications include:
    • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
    • Veterans Health Administration
    • U.S. Armed Forces under the GI Bill
    • Various state medical boards with specific advertising regulations
  • Department of Labor recognition: The U.S. Department of Labor has updated the Occupational Outlook Handbook to include ABPS as one of the three nationally recognized certifying bodies, alongside the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
  • Healthcare and credentialing industry support: Prominent organizations in medical staff services and credentialing (including those listed below) have acknowledged ABPS in their guidelines:
    • The Greeley Company
    • HCPro
    • The National Association of Medical Staff Services (NAMSS)
  • Revised industry documents: HCPro’s Medical Staff Governing Documents – Bylaws, Policies, and Procedures and NAMSS’s Ideal Credentialing Standards Whitepaper and Managed Care Resource Toolkit now reflect ABPS as a recognized certification option.

These developments confirm that ABPS is now firmly established within the definition of physician board certification. Hospitals and healthcare institutions should align their bylaws and credentialing policies with current standards set by leading national organizations.


Suggested Bylaw Language:

If your conversations with hospital leadership progress, you may want to suggest updated medical staff bylaw language. The following sample has been used by many hospitals and systems that accept ABPS:

“A physician applicant, MD or DO, must have successfully completed an allopathic or osteopathic residency program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Certification may be through the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), or the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS).”

OR

“A physician applicant, MD or DO, must have successfully completed an allopathic or osteopathic residency program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and hold a national recognized board certification.”


Offering a Presentation:

If your MEC would prefer a formal introduction, our ABPS team is available to speak directly with hospital leadership and answer questions. Additionally, physicians may use our downloadable presentation materials to lead the conversation themselves.

Click here for more information and a sample letter.