Board Certification

Board Certification is the process in which a doctor proves they have the basic knowledge and skills required for their specialty/sub-specialty through written, practical or simulator-based training. The process is optional but hospitals would prefer to employ a doctor who is board certified.

The process is taken at the completion of a residency or fellowship. The certifying agency is the American Board of Medical Specialties and their member boards. It is possible for doctors to be double-board certified for specialties.

Member Boards
Member Boards refers to the independent non profit organisations that are part of the American Board of Medical Specialties, who certify doctors for their respective specialty/sub specialty.
 * American Board of Dermatology - doctor needs to be in completion of dermatology residency
 * American Board of Neurological Surgery - doctor needs to be in completion of neurosurgery residency
 * American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology - doctor needs to be in completion of OB/GYN residency, then train in optional sub-specialties, the Maternal-Fetal Medicine or Reproductive Endocrinology fellowship to be board certified in that sub-specialty
 * American Board of Orthopedic Surgery - doctor needs to be in completion of orthopedic surgery residency, then train in optional sub-specialty, the orthopedic sports medicine fellowship to be board certified in that sub-specialty
 * American Board of Otolaryngology - doctor needs to be in completion of ENT residency
 * American Board of Pathology - doctor needs to be in completion of pathology residency
 * American Board of Pediatrics - doctor needs to be in completion of pediatric residency, then train in optional sub-specialty, neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship to be board certified in that sub-specialty
 * American Board of Plastic Surgery - doctor needs to be in completion of a plastic surgery fellowship
 * American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology - doctor needs to be in completion of psychiatry or neurology residency
 * American Board of Surgery - doctor needs to be in completion of a surgical residency, then for their sub-specialty fellowship in either pediatric surgery, surgical critical care surgery or surgical oncology
 * American Board of Thoracic Surgery - doctor needs to be in completion of a surgical residency, then complete cardiothoracic surgery residency or fellowship
 * American Board of Urology - doctor needs to be in completion of a urology residency, then complete urology surgery residency or fellowship

Mistakes

 * Grey's Anatomy has stated that Addison Forbes Montgomery is board certified in Neonatal Surgery. In reality, the sub-specialty is not a subject that can be board-certified.