American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)

Established in 1933, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), a not-for-profit organization comprising 24 medical specialty Member Boards, is the pre-eminent entity overseeing the certification of physician specialists in the United States. The primary function of ABMS is to assist its Member Boards in developing and implementing educational and professional standards to evaluate and certify physician specialists. By participating in these initiatives, ABMS also serves as a unique and highly influential voice in the healthcare industry, bringing focus and rigor to issues involving specialization and certification in medicine. ABMS is a designated primary equivalent source of credential information.