About ABMS

The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), a nationally recognized not-for-profit organization, serves the public and the medical profession by improving the quality of health care through setting professional standards for medical specialty practice and certification in partnership with its 24 certifying Member Boards.

Since its founding in 1933, ABMS has evolved these standards for board certification to support advancements in medicine, science, and technology, and changes in health care delivery processes. The standards and program guidelines set system-wide expectations and create consistency across the Member Boards. Working with other professional organizations and agencies, the Member Boards elevate the standards for patient care and care improvements across specialties. The focus on continuous professional development and participation in national initiatives translates into innovations in health care that improve the health of communities across the nation, and enhancements of the quality of care each patient receives.

Additionally, ABMS maintains a repository of certification information used by the public, health care organizations, educators, and researchers to verify a physician’s board certification status.

ABMS, in partnership with its Member Boards, advances quality care through a variety of programs and services. We are always evolving and advancing the board certification program to keep physicians and medical specialists (also known as diplomates) practicing at the forefront of medicine. We invite others to work with us in connecting diplomates with discipline-specific learning modules, patient safety programs, quality improvement activities, and other educational and practice-based initiatives to support their professional development.

The programs include:

• ABMS^® AssessLink™:  end-to-end test development services, including longitudinal assessment powered by CertLink®, helps organizations develop, deliver, and maintain assessments for certification, learning, and professional development.
• ABMS Continuing Certification Directory™: connects board certified physicians and medical specialists to practice-relevant, accredited continuing medical certification activities for continuing certification.
• ABMS Continuing Certification Reference Center: an online, searchable resource that highlights literature relevant to ABMS Member Board certification and continuous certification.
• ABMS Portfolio Program™: recognizes board certified physicians’, medical specialists’, and physician assistants’ quality and safety improvement work for continuing certification.
• ABMS Research and Education Foundation (REF): a not-for-profit organization that supports the ABMS mission of improving health care quality and the continuous professional development of board certified diplomates through a variety of research and education initiatives.
• ABMS Visiting Scholars Program™: a one-year, part-time program that positions early-career physicians, and others with relevant advanced degrees, as future health leaders.