Do all physicians need to be certified by a board?

According to the American Board of Medical Specialties, physicians are not required to be certified by a board, but they do need a license to practice medicine from the state where they are working. Board certification indicates that a doctor has expertise in a certain field of medicine, such as sports medicine or pediatrics. The process of getting certified consists of rigorous testing by a panel of experts within the field, and it is constantly monitored and updated in accordance with the standards set by the board's governing body.

The advantages of finding a board-certified physician that has gone through the process are that the doctor actively keeps up with the latest advancements in the specialty and has met a standard of excellence that proves the ability to effectively treat patients.