A physician who has completed written and oral examinations in a particular medical specialty: Board Eligible.
Describes a physician or other health professional who has passed an examination given by a medical specialty board and been certified by that board as a specialist in the subject in question. The examination cannot be taken until the professional meets requirements set by the specialty board for board eligibility. In 1972 there were 131,482 physicians who were board certified in at least one of 22 specialty areas.
The term applied to a physician (or other health professional) who has passed an examination by a specialty board and has been certified by that board as a specialist in the subject of expertise of the board.
A designation given after a physician passes a difficult examination and receives certification by an official medical specialty board. The American Board of Medical Specialties recognizes twenty-four specialty boards and also some subspecialties. Board certification does not guarantee outstanding care, but it does verify that a physician who claims to be a surgeon, for example, is really a surgeon.