Beware of Board Certification Schemes
[Posted 02/04/08]

Many physicians may remember the days before California law prohibited physicians from advertising of “board certification” from unrecognized medical specialties. In 1993, a state law took effect that allowed physicians to advertise board certification only if the certifying board or association is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or deemed to be equivalent by the Medical Board of California (MBC). Before that law took effect, physicians were bombarded regularly with advertisements for quick and easy “board certification” programs. Occasionally such advertisements still show up on the Internet or in physician mailboxes, tempting the unwary.

CMA recently became aware of a certification program offered by the American Board of Diabetes, an organization that is not recognized by ABMS or deemed equivalent by MBC. According to advertising materials, physicians can become “board certified” by paying $300, filling out a two-page application, and paying annual dues of $25.

While physicians are certainly free to pay $300 for a certificate, state law prohibits advertising that certification unless the certifying organization is recognized by ABMS or deemed equivalent by MBC. (The only non-ABMS boards currently deemed equivalent by MBC are the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Board of Pain Medicine, the American Board of Sleep Medicine, and the American Board of Spine Surgery.)

Physicians are also encouraged to research any such organization before handing over their cash. The American Board of Diabetes’ website, for example, indicates that its “evangelical mission” is “the humanitarian crusade of the congregation of religious medical ministries and the humanitarian crusade against the ongoing murders of poor street children in Latin America.”

More details are available in CMA ON-CALL document #0205, “Advertising by Physicians.” ON-CALL documents are free to members. Nonmembers can purchase ON-CALL documents for $2 per page in the CMA bookstore.

Contact: Samantha Pellon, 916/551-2872 or spellon@cmanet.org.