Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below are the answers to some questions about the American Board of Pediatrics and our finances that we often receive.

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About the ABP and Pediatrics

What is the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP)?

The ABP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving children by certifying that a pediatrician (a physician who treats children) is knowledgeable and continues to learn over the course of time that they practice. Certified pediatricians are sometimes referred to as diplomates of the ABP.

Who governs the ABP?

The ABP is led by a 15-member Board of Directors, composed of pediatricians from a variety of clinical and educational settings and nonphysicians with a professional interest in the health and welfare of children and adolescents.

In addition, more than 400 board-certified pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists, and a dozen or more nonphysician appointees volunteer countless hours in committees, subboards, and user panels to guide the direction and activities of the ABP. Together, they represent a wide range of practice types, ages, genders, geographies, ethnicities, and experiences.

To support ABP volunteers and implement the direction of the Board of Directors, the ABP employs a staff that is led by a leadership team that consists of five pediatricians and other experts in their respective fields.

Does having a medical degree mean that a pediatrician is board-certified?

No. A medical degree means that they graduated from medical school. Medical schools provide broad knowledge for practicing general medicine. The training usually is the same, regardless of whether the doctor goes on to practice pediatrics or another specialty. After medical school, physicians enter specialty residency training programs to become the type of doctor they want to become such as an internist or pediatrician. At that time, they are required to obtain a license to practice from the state in which they train. A physician is only eligible to apply for certification after successfully completing a specialty residency training program.

Are all pediatricians board-certified?

Board certification is a voluntary process that goes above and beyond state licensing requirements for practicing medicine. It is an ongoing commitment by a physician to continually expand their knowledge in a medical specialty, like pediatrics, or in a subspecialty, such as pediatric hematology/oncology. Once pediatricians are certified, they must continue to demonstrate learning through a formal Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program if they want to remain certified. Therefore, not all pediatricians are board certified.

How does a pediatrician become certified?

After physicians graduate from medical school, they enter a three-year accredited residency training program focused on pediatrics. After residency, some pediatricians also go on to complete further accredited training in pediatric subspecialty fellowship programs, while others enter general pediatric practice. After completion of training, the training program director verifies to the ABP that the candidate is competent in all aspects of the practice of pediatrics (medical knowledge, patient care, communication skills, practice improvement, professionalism, and understanding how the medical system works). Once the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) has received evidence of these competencies, candidates are eligible to take the initial certifying examination of the ABP, the first part of a rigorous ongoing process of assessing the knowledge and skills of pediatricians to determine if they meet the ABP’s standards of excellence. Upon passing this exam, candidates are board-certified.

Why is it important that I choose a board-certified pediatrician or pediatric subspecialist to care for my child?

Pediatricians know about the diseases, symptoms, and developmental standards that are specific to children from birth, through adolescence and into adulthood. Maintaining good health — and addressing the illnesses and conditions that threaten health — is often not the same in children as in adults. Board-certified pediatricians demonstrate their participation in ongoing learning and show how they can apply quality improvement in the care of their patients.

There is value, not only in seeing a physician who understands the medical needs of infants, children, and adolescents, but who also becomes familiar with your child’s growth, development, and health patterns — and with your concerns as a parent. The long-lasting relationship that develops between your child and their pediatrician is an important component of your child’s care and wellness.

How do I know if a pediatrician is certified?

Anyone can find out whether a pediatrician is ABP-certified and participating in activities to maintain certification by using the verify certification feature on our website or by visiting CertificationMatters.org.

Can doctors call themselves pediatricians if they are not certified?

Yes. By definition, a pediatrician is a doctor who treats children. Practicing pediatricians have completed a three-year residency, focusing their training on specific knowledge about treating children, from infants to young adults. However, until they have passed an initial certification exam given by the American Board of Pediatrics, they cannot call themselves a board-certified pediatrician.

Is the ABP the only organization that certifies pediatricians?

The American Osteopathic Board of Pediatricians also certifies pediatricians. Also, a doctor treating children may also be certified in another field, such as Family Medicine. Subspecialists (including allergists and immunologists) may be certified by other boards, too, but most certified physicians treating children are certified by the ABP.

What is required for pediatricians to maintain their certification(s)?

Board-certified pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists maintain their certification by maintaining a current, valid medical license and by participating in lifelong learning, an online assessment or proctored exam, and practice improvement activities every five years.

Note: Physicians certified before 1988 are not required to participate in MOC activities to stay certified, although many choose to document their excellence in this way.

What kind of pediatric subspecialists does the ABP certify?

The ABP awards certificates in general pediatrics and in the following pediatric subspecialty areas:

  • Adolescent Medicine
  • Cardiology
  • Child Abuse Pediatrics
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Developmental-Behavioral
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Hematology-Oncology
  • Hospital Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
  • Nephrology
  • Pulmonology
  • Rheumatology

Certificates are awarded in conjunction with other specialty boards in the areas of: Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Medical Toxicology, Pediatric Transplant Hepatology, Sleep Medicine, and Sports Medicine.

In the past, certificates were awarded for Neurodevelopmental Disabilities.

Some pediatricians have the letters FAAP after their names. Does that mean they are board-certified?

FAAP stands for “Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics” and is awarded by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP does not certify pediatricians, but board certification is required to become an AAP fellow (FAAP).

What is the difference between the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)?

The ABP and the AAP are separate organizations with different purposes.

The AAP is a membership organization that provides professional resources for its members and advocates for children and pediatricians in the United States. The AAP conducts, facilitates, and publishes peer-reviewed research. It also publishes information for parents and the public on its website and in print. The AAP is the largest provider of educational material for pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists in the world; however, the AAP does not certify pediatricians. Although initial board certification is required to become an AAP fellow (FAAP), there are other categories of AAP memberships that do not require certification.

The ABP’s primary way of serving children and advancing child health is by assessing and certifying that a pediatrician (a physician who treats children) is knowledgeable and continues to learn over the course of time that they practice. Certified pediatricians are sometimes referred to as diplomates of the ABP.

I want to file a complaint against a pediatrician. Whom do I contact?

Please reach out to the medical licensing board of the state in which the physician practices.

Is my ABP identification number the same as my AAP identification number?

No. The ABP and the AAP are separate organizations and do not share identification numbers or databases.

About ABP Finances

Who and what drives the financial decisions of the ABP?

All financial decisions are made by the ABP Board of Directors, guided by the ABP Finance Committee. This includes determining initial certification and Maintenance of Certification (MOC) fees. The Board is committed to controlling certification costs while maintaining the quality of its certification process. We recognize the financial burden of certification on physicians. Therefore, we work hard to be good stewards of pediatrician fees while fulfilling our fundamental purpose of ensuring a high level of physician competence to produce the best possible health care outcomes for all children.

Where does the ABP’s revenue come from?

The ABP’s revenue comes solely from certification examination fees and enrollment fees paid by physicians applying for certification or maintaining their certification. The fees support the ABP’s activities of credentialing, examinations, and continuing certification activities. In addition, the ABP neither accepts nor receives donations or contributions of any kind.

What is the cost to take the General Pediatrics Certifying Examination and pediatric subspecialty certification exams?

Fees for the General Pediatrics Certifying Examination and pediatric subspecialty certification examinations are posted on our website. The General Pediatrics Certifying Examination fee covers the first five years of Maintenance of Certification (MOC).

What is the cost of Maintenance of Certification (MOC)?

Fees for MOC are posted on our website. Pediatricians may pay their five-year enrollment fee at the beginning of each MOC cycle or choose the annual payment option. You choose which certification areas you wish to maintain and pay only for those areas. The fees compare favorably with the cost of most specialty society dues.

What do examination fees cover?

The fees cover the costs of developing, administering, evaluating, and reporting the results of the examinations, as well as credentialing, trainee tracking and evaluation, and other functions essential to certification.

What do Maintenance of Certification (MOC) fees cover?

Your MOC enrollment fee includes access to ABP-developed activities to help you fulfill your MOC requirements. In addition to MOC points, most ABP-developed activities also award CME credit for no additional charge.

MOC fees also provide access to MOCA-Peds, our web-based assessment program to fulfill your Part 3 requirement that allows you to test as you go, on the go. If you prefer to not participate in MOCA-Peds, you have the option to take the proctored examination at a secure testing center for an additional fee that covers the costs charged by the testing center and associated expenses.

How do ABP fees compare to those of other certifying boards?

ABP fees for the General Pediatrics certifying exam compare very favorably to those of other certifying boards because they include the first five years of MOC. The ABP now has the lowest fee for the initial certification exam plus the first five years of MOC.

ABP subspecialty fees are higher than those of some other boards because, like the ABIM, the ABP must offer a vast array of subspecialty exams. Different from the ABIM, however, fewer pediatric subspecialists take our subspecialty exams. Fixed development costs are independent of the number of test takers and increase the per-person cost of administering the exam.

Is detailed financial information about the ABP available to the public?

Yes. We file IRS tax form 990 and post it, along with other organizational details, on GuideStar/Candid. This nonprofit organization collects, organizes, and presents information about nonprofits and their work. The ABP has earned GuideStar/Candid's platinum seal of transparency — its highest level — for publishing our financial and organizational details.

If you don't see a question that you think is important, please submit an FAQ to the ABP Communications team.

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