BOARD CERTIFICATION
When it comes to board certification, many consumers are completely perplexed. They get it mixed up with state licensing. Others believe that plastic surgeons are certified by the American Medical Association.
Some consumers have a hazy understanding that surgeons specialize after earning their medical degrees, but they have no notion how this training varies from that of cosmetic surgeons.
At the conclusion of an authorized medical school, a doctor of medicine, or M.D., degree is awarded. After earning an M.D., a physician must get a license from the state in which he or she wishes to practice.
This state license allows an M.D. to practice in any specialty he or she chooses, regardless of additional training. Most physicians complete a residency program after getting their medical degree, which allows them to gain experience in a specific field. After completing this training, individuals can sit for another exam administered by a medical specialty board (known as “boards”) to become certified in that speciality.
A medical degree, a state license, and board certification are all distinct credentials.
Plastic surgeons are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), which can be found at www.abplsurg.org. The American Board of Medical Specialties has approved the ABPS.
The major goal of the ABPS is to assess and provide judgment on the training and knowledge of general plastic surgeons. Find out more about The Rhinoplasty Society and the top rated rhinoplasty surgeons in your area.
Surgeons that specialize in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery are certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. It defines qualifications for doctors pursuing training in facial plastic surgery, as well as standards for graduate study in the field. It administers certification qualifying written and oral tests.
The American Board of Otolaryngology (www.aboto.org) is an organization that certifies surgeons in the field of otolaryngology/head and neck surgery. Facial plastic and reconstructive surgery are included in its certification.
Nasal surgery is a big part of their education. The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS – www.abms.org), which oversees 24 accredited medical specialty boards in creating standards and enhancing healthcare quality through board certification, includes the boards of otolaryngology and plastic surgery. The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is a separate board that trains people who want to do cosmetic facial surgery but haven’t completed their otolaryngology or plastic surgery training.
To contact a rhinoplasty surgeon in your area visit The Rhinoplasty Society.