ABPS warns Florida board move could weaken certification standards

The American Board of Physician Specialties says Florida’s decision to recognize the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons should not come at the expense of independent testing standards. The group argues that physician board certification must still include a meaningful assessment of current specialty knowledge to protect patients and preserve trust.

Why it matters: - Physician board certification is a signal patients, hospitals, and credentialing groups use to judge specialty knowledge. - ABPS says preserving independent assessment matters as Florida expands recognition and choice in physician certification. - The group argues that any certification without current knowledge testing risks weakening the meaning and value of board certification.

What happened: - The American Board of Physician Specialties® said it supports the Florida Board of Medicine’s decision to expand recognition and choice in physician board certification. - ABPS also said it is concerned about Florida’s decision to waive a medical standard and major requirement in recognizing the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS). - The statement was issued Aug. 20, 2026, from Tampa, Florida.

The details: - ABPS says it has been recognized by the State of Florida as a valid choice in physician board certification and recertification for more than 20 years. - ABPS says other recognized physician certifying bodies use demanding eligibility and assessment requirements designed to measure specialty knowledge. - Florida’s rules would not apply that same requirement to NBPAS, ABPS said. - NBPAS relies on physicians having previously earned certification through an ABMS or AOA member board. - ABPS says that prior certification shows a physician was assessed earlier in a career, but does not answer what independent assessment NBPAS uses today to confirm continued knowledge. - Jeff Morris, JD, CEO of ABPS, said NBPAS has played a role in challenging ABMS, but advocacy is not the same as independently assessing a physician’s continued specialty knowledge. - Morris also said choice matters, but so do consistent standards.

Between the lines: - The dispute is less about whether physicians should have more certification options and more about what counts as a credible certification. - ABPS is drawing a line between policy-driven recognition and proof of ongoing competence. - The argument reflects a broader tension in medical credentialing: more flexibility for physicians versus uniform standards for patients and employers.

What's next: - ABPS is urging policymakers and credentialing organizations to support physician choice while keeping transparent standards in place. - The group says continued knowledge should be measured through an examination, longitudinal assessment, or another meaningful method. - ABPS says an independent assessment should remain behind any certification.

The bottom line: - ABPS wants Florida and other credentialing bodies to broaden access without lowering the bar for physician board certification.