American Board of Plastic Surgery - Board-eligibility and what it means

What does "board-eligible" mean? 

The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) does not recognize the term "board-eligible". Doctors can use this term for years without making any attempt toward receiving certification. The requirements for board certification (no matter whether it's the ABPS or any other board) change from time to time, thus making the term "board-eligible" equally susceptible to changes.  It is highly recommended that you write to the ABPS to find out exactly where the surgeon is in the certification process, as they will not disclose this information over the telephone. 

Effective July 1, 2000, a candidate in the examination process may not advertise as "Board Admissible", "Board Eligible", or "Board Qualified", etc. A candidate will be deferred from the examination process for at least one year if the Board receives written documentation of such advertising. <excerpt from the ABPS. Click here for details.>

To find out if a doctor is in the process of certification, you will need to write a letter to the ABPS.  They will respond, usually within a 2 week period, and let you know whether or not your doctor is in the process of taking written or oral exams, which are the two exams required for certification.  They will not give this information out over the phone.  Send inquiries to:

American Board of Plastic Surgery
1635 Market Street
Suite 400
Philadelphia, PA  19103

 

AMBS statement on "Board-eligibility"

Because of continuing confusion about the term "board eligible", the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) wishes to reiterate its position about that term. The specific term "board eligible" has been given such diverse meanings by different agencies that it has lost its usefulness as an indicator of a physician's progress toward certification by a specialty board. Furthermore, because some candidates have used the term year after year while making no perceptible progress toward certification, it has sometimes been accepted improperly as a permanent alternative to certification. The requirements for admission to the certification process change from time to time, making the term "board eligible" equally susceptible to changes in meaning. For these reasons, the ABMS recommends to its Member Boards that the use of the term "board eligible" be disavowed. Instead, the Boards are urged to respond to inquiries by stating an individual's precise position in the certifying process.

For all except those recently certified as specialists by an ABMS Member Board and except for a very small number of specialists who do not wish to be listed, the fact of certification may be determined from one of the ABMS Directories of Certified Specialists [The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists].

Information about the certification status of any individual may be sought from the respective specialty board. Since most specialty boards now require written authorization for release of information, inclusion of a signed authorization should expedite the response. In most cases, the board will respond by indicating a physician's position in the process toward certification, if known.

Information about whether a physician has satisfactorily completed a residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) should be sought from the program director of the residency program presumed to have been completed.

Inquiries regarding the general process of certification of specialists may be addressed to the ABMS. Questions concerning the status of individuals or requirements of an individual specialty board should be addressed to that board.

<Statement courtesy of the AMBS. To view the statement on the ABMS site, click here.>

 

 

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