The American Board of Medical Specialties Response to National Board of Physicians and Surgeons' Assertion Of Certifying Body Equivalency

CHICAGO, July 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) strongly disagrees with the persistent and misleading assertions that the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS) recertification process provides a means of continuing ABMS board certification or is equivalent to ABMS board certification. Claims of equivalence to ABMS certification or that NBPAS is a means to maintain ABMS Member Board certification are misleading to the profession, and most importantly, to the public who depend upon the strength of ABMS board certification.

Unlike the ABMS Member Boards, NBPAS does not have a process for defining specialty specific standards for knowledge. It does not offer an external assessment of knowledge and skills, which the Institute for Credentialing Excellence defines as the essence of a certification program's ability to validate competence, nor is the NBPAS certificate consistent with established American Medical Association policy on certification.

NBPAS does not have a requirement for improving medical practice, nor does it appear to have a means to address unprofessional conduct by its members. Lastly, it does not engage in research to provide the evidence base supporting the value of its program and informing its continued quality improvement.

ABMS and its Member Boards recently completed a comprehensive, transparent and collaborative process to review and enhance the Member Boards' continuing certification programs, ensuring they are both relevant and supportive of diplomates' learning and improvement needs while providing the public with a reliable and dependable credential. These program revisions address concerns that had been expressed by diplomates about continuing certification: they offer an alternative to the high-stakes exams, provide feedback to support learning, and include processes to allow diplomates to meet requirements prior to certificate loss.

All of these changes serve to reduce diplomate costs, and diplomates like them: Ninety-eight percent of surveyed diplomates prefer longitudinal assessment models over the previous high-stakes exam. At the same time, ABMS continuing certification continues to honor its obligation to the public to verify that ABMS Board Certified physicians have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and professionalism to provide high quality specialty care.

The value of board certification should not be understated. Patients deserve access to highly skilled specialty care. They expect their physicians to be up to date with the most recent medical advances in their specialties and to demonstrate their proficiency through a rigorous Board certification process. Recognizing NBPAS as a certifying body equivalent to ABMS Member Boards will confuse the public and the profession regarding the meaning and purpose of board certification and may undermine the public trust in board certification and professional self-regulation.

SOURCE American Board of Medical Specialties