What does a doctor’s certification status mean?
A doctor’s “status” shows if their board certification is valid (“certified”) in an area of specialty medicine.
What does it mean if my doctor’s status is “certified” and they are listed as “actively maintaining certification”?
A doctor is actively maintaining certification when they keep up on requirements including education, training, and passing an exam, for certification in their area of medical expertise throughout their careers. By maintaining their certification, doctors show their commitment to lifelong learning.
What does it mean if my doctor’s status is “certified” and they are listed as “not actively maintaining certification”?
While most doctors who are board certified are required to participate in ongoing activities to maintain certification, some are not required to do so because this requirement was not in place when they were first certified.
Also, certifying boards (ABMS Member Boards) may offer doctors a grace period to complete the requirements for maintaining certification. Sometimes there is a delay when the certifying board (ABMS Member Board) reports if a doctor is actively maintaining their certification. Usually, this is a temporary situation.
What does it mean if my doctor’s status is “no longer certified”?
Doctors listed as “no longer certified” are not keeping up on requirements including education, training, and passing an exam, for certification in their area of medical expertise throughout their careers. Those requirements are set by the certifying board (ABMS Member Board) that oversees that area of expertise, and that board makes the decision about changing a doctor’s certification status.
For many reasons, a doctor might choose not to continue keeping up with those requirements. For example, they may be focusing on a different area of medicine.
What does it mean if my doctor’s status for “actively maintaining certification” is “not reported”?
Sometimes there is a delay when the certifying board (ABMS Member Board) reports if a doctor is actively maintaining their certification. Usually, this is a temporary situation.
What does it mean if my doctor is listed as “certified upon retirement”?
Doctors are shown as “certified upon retirement” when they notify their certifying board (ABMS Member Board) that they are no longer providing patient care.
See What does “actively maintaining certification” mean for doctors?
