The American Board of Medical Specialties is the umbrella organization for the 24 approved medical specialty boards in the United States. Knowing whether a doctor is board certified in an appropriate specialty is important because it indicates his or her level of expertise in a particular area. This website is the source for that information.
About Medical Specialties
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is a premiere provider of information and tools related to the certification of physician specialists. ABMS board certification data is considered the “gold standard” for its credibility and quality. In their Consumer section, you can find information about the importance of board certification, which specialties are board certified, and search their certification verification database free of charge, though you will first need to register. You can also call 1-866-ASK-ABMS (275-2267) to be provided with certification verification. However, the agents at this number cannot provide you with detailed biographical or residency training information, help you locate a physician or register complaints against a physician. The ABMS offers books, articles and other health-related materials pertaining to specialty medicine and certification. In the Booklets and Brochures section, the ABMS Guide to Physician Specialties can be purchased for $5. A free seven-page preview of the guide’s table of contents is also available here. You will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader software, which you can download free of charge, to view this preview.
Board Certification Look-Up
Certification by an American Board of Medical Specialties Member Board shows that a physician has met certain education and training requirements and has passed a specialty examination. The American Board of Medical Specialties maintains an online database of board-certified specialists and subspecialists, including medical oncologists, radiologists, surgeons, hematologists, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, and others. After registering, which is free and requires only an e-mail address and your first and last names, you can search the Who's Certified database either by doctors' names or by their specialties. The database also lists doctors' educational backgrounds.
