What is the American Board of Podiatric Medicine?

The American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM) is an organization offering a comprehensive board certification process in podiatric medicine and orthopedics. Increasingly hospitals, surgical centers, managed care organizations and insurance carriers require board certification. ABPM is the only board recognized by the Specialty Board Recognition Committee (SBRC), under the authority of the American Podiatric Medical Association to certify in podiatric orthopedics and primary podiatric medicine.

Board certification provides the assurance to both the public and health professionals that the highest level of achievement has been attained in the specialty area.

While certification by the Board does not guarantee competence in practice, it does indicate that the podiatric physician has been judged by their peers to have demonstrated, via a rigorous examination process, a fund of knowledge and competence in the areas being tested.

The Certificate of the American Board of Podiatric Medicine is a unique achievement, a step well beyond the mandatory education of the podiatrist or state requirements for licensure.

The American Board of Podiatric Medicine is recognized by the Specialty Board Recognition Committee (SBRC) of the Council on Podiatric Medical Education under the authority of the American Podiatric Medical Association as the specialty board to conduct a certification process in Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine. Recognition is an indication of satisfactory compliance with the recognition criteria as well as public approbation, attesting to the competency and proficiency of the specialty board to assure that only qualified podiatrists have obtained certified status.

What does the ABPM do?

The Board arranges and conducts a comprehensive examination process heading to Board Certification and issues Diplomate certificates to successful candidates duly licensed to practice podiatric medicine. The Board holds the power to revoke such certificates. The Board endeavors to serve hospitals and the health care industry in general by preparing documentation of podiatric physicians who it has qualified or certified and provides primary source verification of their status in the accreditation process. Inquiries regarding a member’s status must be expressed in writing to Board Headquarters to be considered official.

The Board makes no attempt to control the practice of its members by license or legal regulation, and does not interfere with or limit the professional activities of any duly licensed podiatric physician. The Board does, however, issue advertising and ethics guidelines with respect to appropriate use of Diplomate status, and reserves the right to withdraw such status if guidelines are not properly adhered to.

What are the ABPM's Goals and Objectives?

Our Goal

To protect the health and welfare of the public through an ongoing process of evaluation and certification of the competence of podiatrists in the specialty of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine.

Objectives

To create evaluations that are free of bias, are valid and reliable, and in accord with accepted psychometric principles and practices; that are created and tested by Diplomates who are geographically well represented and reflect a variety of practice settings within the specialty of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine.
To establish and enforce standards relating to the advertisement of board certification and qualification status by members.
To provide information regarding criteria for board certification to hospitals, health care organizations and other individuals and groups deemed appropriate by the Board, in addition to identifying board certified practitioners.
To provide information to the podiatric medical community and community-at-large regarding the ABPM and the specialty of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine.
To support the educational endeavors of the American College of Podiatric Medicine (ACPM).
To collaborate with the CPME in the development of standards and requirements for the evaluation and enhancement of postgraduate education programs.
To provide representation to the relevant committees of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) and other organizations as deemed appropriate by the Board.
To ensure that its activities are conducted in accord with its policy of non-discrimination.