What Are the American Board Specialties?
If you are looking to learn what the American Board is and what specialties it covers, you are in the right place. The American Board is an internationally accredited exam that assesses the knowledge, skill and professional competence of physicians and healthcare practitioners across various healthcare specialties. American Board certifications are awarded by a number of professional organizations, including the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), the American Board of Psychiatry (ABP) and the American board for practicing pharmacy.
American Board certification is important for physicians and healthcare practitioners who want to practice in the United States or in other countries that require accredited certification. It can also help boost job opportunities and career advancement.
The American Board exam’s requirements vary by specialty. In general, however, the exam requires completing a qualifying period of clinical training, submitting previous exam results and paying the fees.

What are the American Board specialties?
- Medicine: Medical board specialties include general medicine and advanced specialties such as pediatrics, family medicine, internal medicine, orthopedic surgery, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology (ENT), plastic surgery, general surgery and others.
- Dentistry: Board specialties in dentistry include general dentistry, orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and pediatric and preventive dentistry.
- Pharmacy: Pharmacy specialties include general pharmacy, ambulatory care pharmacy, critical care pharmacy, oncology pharmacy, pediatric pharmacy and public health pharmacy.
- Nursing: Board specialties in nursing include general nursing, psychiatric nursing, family nursing, critical care nursing, pediatric nursing and women’s health nursing.
- Physical therapy: Board specialties in physical therapy include general physical therapy, sports physical therapy, pediatric physical therapy, respiratory physical therapy and neurological physical therapy.
You may also like: The American Board of Nursing
Requirements for American Board certification:
- Medical education and training: You must hold a recognized medical degree from an accredited university or medical school in the United States. Some specialties may require a specific specialization.
- Residency and licensure: You must hold a license to practice medicine in a particular U.S. state. Licensing requirements may vary from state to state.
- Completing a training program: You usually must have completed an accredited residency program in the medical specialty in which you seek board certification. This requires years of clinical and theoretical training in that specialty.
- Passing the exams: You must pass a series of written and practical exams that assess your knowledge and skills in the medical specialty in which you seek board certification. These exams vary by specialty and by certifying body.
- Submitting documents: You must submit the required documents to the certifying body, which may include a CV, letters of recommendation, experience certificates, previous exam results and other required documents.
Why is the American Board among the best accreditation certifications in the world?
- Strict standards: Obtaining the American Board requires passing difficult exams and meeting strict standards that assess physicians’ knowledge and skills. These exams are carefully designed to ensure board-certified physicians have the knowledge and competence their specialty requires.
- Global recognition: The American Board is widely recognized in countries around the world and by healthcare organizations and medical institutions. Holding the American Board is a sign of a physician’s competence and professionalism in their specialty.
- Updating and innovation: Physicians seeking the American Board are required to stay continuously informed of medical developments and innovations in their specialty. Accordingly, American Board exams are updated periodically to keep pace with the latest scientific and clinical developments.
- Career opportunities: Earning the American Board opens many career opportunities for physicians. It may be a necessary requirement for many medical jobs and opportunities in the United States and many other countries.



No comment