The ABP certificate in General Pediatrics is awarded after all the following requirements have been met:
- Graduation from an accredited medical school in the United States or Canada or from a foreign medical school recognized by the World Health Organization.
- Completion of three years of training in pediatrics in an accredited residency program. This training involves the care of children and adolescents in hospital and outpatient settings and is supervised by highly trained medical specialists.
- Verification of satisfactory completion of residency training and acceptability as a practitioner of pediatrics, including the achievement of clinical competence and the demonstration of professional and ethical behavior.
- Possession of a valid, unrestricted state license to practice medicine.
- Successful completion of a comprehensive one-day examination covering all aspects of health care for infants, children, and adolescents.
Subspecialists may earn certification in their field after three additional years of training in a focused area (e.g., pediatric infectious diseases). They must be evaluated and recommended by someone qualified to judge their work, and they must pass a demanding examination in their subspecialty.
As of 1988, certificates issued by the ABP are time-limited. To remain board-certified, pediatricians with time-limited certificates must complete Maintenance of Certification (MOC). The MOC process recognizes the pediatrician's commitment to professionalism, lifelong learning and self-assessment, and the periodic evaluation of other competencies deemed necessary by the ABP for the continued provision of high-quality medical care.
A board-certified pediatrician possesses a certificate from the ABP and is sometimes referred to as a "diplomate" of the ABP. More detailed information on initial certification is available under Become Certified.
The certification status of individuals certified by the ABP is available at our Verify Certification page.
Information about certification status can also be obtained by calling the ABP at 919-929-0461 or the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) at 1-866-ASK-ABMS (275-2267). Certified specialists are also listed on the Certification Matters website, published by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).
