The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) has opened a 60-day Draft Revised Standards for Initial Certification – Call for Comments to obtain input and feedback from those who possess, use, or rely on the board certification credential. The Call for Comments will be open from Thursday, February 26, 2026 through 11:59 pm (CST) on Monday, April 27, 2026.
The comments will guide and inform the revisions to the Draft Revised Standards for Initial Certification[PDF] (Draft Revised Standards), which will be considered by the ABMS Board of Directors in October 2026.
About the Standards Review Process
ABMS establishes the Standards that its 24 Member Boards use as the foundation for developing educational, training, and assessment requirements for candidates seeking initial certification. The Standards provide a common framework to support the design of rigorous, fair, and transparent initial certification programs while allowing for appropriate specialty-specific assessments.
The Call for Comments process is part of ABMS’ ongoing commitment to transparency, engagement, and collaboration. All comments will be reviewed and considered to ensure the Draft Revised Standards present a balanced and understandable set of expectations that reflect the purpose of initial certification and the needs of the public and the profession.
Please review the Draft Revised Standards and submit your comments by 11:59 pm (CST) on Monday, April 27, 2026.
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