Ivy Family Health Updates

 
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In this segment Dr. Edward Martin discusses medical board certification with his siblings, Drs. Kathryn and John Martin.

To practice medicine, all physicians must have a license which is issued by the state where they are working. It is not specialty specific, but a general medical license.

The American Board of Medical Specialties oversees the boards responsible for awarding board certification to physicians. There are 24 boards within this, such as Internal Medicine, and Dermatology. To become board certified in a specific specialty, the physician needs to do a residency in their field, and provide documentation of the training. They also must pass examinations in their field, written, oral or both. Upon completion of their specialty training, and successful results on their exams, they will be awarded board certification in their specialty.

In the past the certification was for life. Physicians who have completed their training after 1995 now must take a recertification exam every 8-10 years to maintain their board certification.

Although there are many good physicians who may not be board certified, the certification is important to demonstrate a certain level of competence. For physicians who have completed a residency, they have multiple chances to pass their examinations.