Home AOA Specialty Board Certification
Article Open Access

AOA Specialty Board Certification

  • Cheryl Gross and Elaine C. Bell
Published/Copyright: April 1, 2013
Download Article (PDF)
Journal of Osteopathic Medicine
From the journal Journal of Osteopathic Medicine Volume 113 Issue 4

Abstract

The authors details information related to the 2012 certification processing activity of the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists, which oversees the work of the 18 specialty certifying boards of the American Osteopathic Association.

The Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists (BOS) (known as the Advisory Board of Osteopathic Specialists until 1993) was established in 1939 by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Board of Trustees to assess the skills of osteopathic physician specialists in response to the growth of specialization in the osteopathic medical profession.1 The BOS views the certification process both as an assessment tool to enhance the quality of health care and also as a means to protect the public. Currently, there are 18 specialty certifying boards of the AOA.

AOA Certification Statistics

Since 1939, the BOS has issued 37,694 certifications, including primary specialties, subspecialties, and added qualifications. As of December 31, 2012, a total of 25,068 osteopathic physicians were currently certified by the AOA and held a combined total of 28,961 active certificates. In 2012, 1604 new certificates were awarded; 140 of these were certificates of added qualifications, and 38 were certificates of special qualifications. In addition, 936 recertifications were issued. A listing of the number of certifications and recertifications processed in 2012 and the total number of active certifications by specialty is found in the Table.

Table.

Certification Statistics, 2012a

American Osteopathic Association Board of… Certification Type Description New Certification Recertification Total
Anesthesiology Primary Anesthesiology 27 (2) 14 (2) 616 (2)
CAQ Pain management 0 2 (<1) 68 (<1)
CAQ Critical care 0 0 5 (<1)
Dermatology Primary Dermatology 67 (4) 0 464 (2)
CAQ Dermatopathology 2 (<1) 0 8 (<1)
CAQ MOHS micrographic surgery 5 (<1) 2 (<1) 24 (<1)
Emergency Medicine CAQ Emergency medical services 0 0 9 (<1)
Primary Emergency medicine 145 (9) 279 (30) 2331 (8)
CAQ Hospice and palliative medicine 3 (<1) 0 3 (<1)
CAQ Medical toxicology 0 1 (<1) 10 (<1)
CAQ Sports medicine 0 0 6 (<1)
CAQ Undersea and hyperbaric medicine 3 (<1) 0 7 (<1)
Family Physicians CAQ Addiction medicine 0 0 4 (<1)
CAQ Adolescent and young adult medicineb NA NA 8 (<1)
Primary Family medicine/OMTc 456 (28) 186 (20) 11,420 (40)
CAQ Geriatric medicine 4 (<1) 9 (1) 283 (1)
CAQ Hospice and palliative medicine 2 (<1) 0 118 (<1)
CAQ Sleep medicine 24 (2) 0 5 (<1)
CAQ Sports medicine 0 4 (<1) 181 (1)
CAQ Undersea and hyperbaric medicine 5 (<1) 0 13 (<1)
Internal Medicine CSQ Allergy and immunology 0 0 9 (<1)
CAQ Cardiac electrophysiology 0 0 23 (<1)
CSQ Cardiology 7 (<1) 0 442 (2)
CAQ Critical care medicine 0 0 132 (<1)
CSQ Endocrinology 0 0 35 (<1)
CSQ Gastroenterology 4 (<1) 0 201 (1)
CAQ Geriatrics 2 (<1) 0 60 (<1)
CSQ Hematology 0 0 45 (<1)
CAQ Hospice and palliative medicine 30 (2) 0 48 (<1)
CSQ Infectious diseases 0 1 (<1) 61 (<1)
Primary Internal medicine 290 (18) 107 (11) 3317 (12)
CAQ Interventional cardiology 0 0 79 (<1)
CSQ Nephrology 0 0 23 (<1)
CSQ Oncology 2 (<1) 0 93 (<1)
CSQ Pulmonary diseases 5 (<1) 0 188 (1)
CSQ Rheumatology 1 (<1) 0 59 (<1)
CAQ Sleep medicine 16 (1) 0 50 (<1)
CAQ Sports medicine 0 0 7 (<1)
CAQ Undersea and hyperbaric medicine 1 (<1) 0 1 (<1)
Neurology and Psychiatry CAQ Addiction medicine 0 0 2 (<1)
CSQ Child neurology 0 0 1 (<1)
CSQ Child psychiatry 1 (<1) 3 (<1) 40 (<1)
CAQ Geriatric psychiatry 2 (<1) 0 9 (<1)
CAQ Hospice and palliative medicine 0 0 2 (<1)
Primary Neurology 13 (1) 14 (2) 220 (1)
CAQ Neurophysiology 0 0 22 (<1)
Primary Psychiatry 10 (1) 8 (1) 277 (1)
CAQ Sleep medicine 9 (1) 0 15 (<1)
NMM Primary NMM/OMM 26 (2) 24 (3) 505 (2)
Primary Special Proficiency in OMMb NA NA 126 (<1)
CAQ Sports medicine 0 0 6 (<1)
Nuclear Medicine Primary Nuclear medicine 0 0 27 (<1)
Obstetrics and Gynecology CSQ Female pelvic medicine reconstructive surgery 2 (<1) 0 2 (<1)
CSQ Gynecologic oncology 2 (<1) 0 7 (<1)
CSQ Maternal and fetal medicine 8 (1) 1 (<1) 29 (<1)
Primary Obstetrics and gynecologic surgeryb NA NA 55 (<1)
Primary Obstetrics and gynecology 68 (4) 88 (9) 1082 (4)
CSQ Reproductive endocrinology 0 0 12 (<1)
Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Primary Ophthalmology 22 (1) 9 (1) 346 (1)
Primary Otolaryngology and facial plastic surgery 23 (1) 7 (1) 390 (1)
CAQ Otolaryngic-sleep medicine 0 0 6 (<1)
CAQ Otolaryngic allergy 3 (<1) 1 (<1) 21 (<1)
Primary Otolaryngology 0 1 (<1) 11 (<1)
Primary Otorhinolaryngologyb NA NA 30 (<1)
Orthopedic Surgery CAQ Hand surgery 11 (1) 6 (1) 42 (<1)
Primary Orthopedic surgery 61 (4) 51 (5) 1141 (4)
CAQ Undersea and hyperbaric medicine 1 (<1) 0 1 (<1)
Pathology Primary Anatomic pathology 2 (<1) 1 (<1) 27 (<1)
Primary Anatomic pathology and laboratory medicine 0 0 15 (<1)
CAQ Dermatopathology 1 (<1) 0 2 (<1)
CSQ Forensic pathology 1 (<1) 0 4 (<1)
Primary Laboratory medicine 3 (<1) 1 (<1) 17 (<1)
Pediatrics CSQ Adolescent medicine 0 1 (<1) 1 (<1)
CSQ Neonatology 2 (<1) 0 32 (<1)
CSQ Pediatric allergy and immunology 3 (<1) 0 8 (<1)
CSQ Pediatric endocrinology 0 2 (<1) 2 (<1)
CSQ Pediatric pulmonologyb NA NA 2 (<1)
Primary Pediatrics 44 (3) 31 (3) 511 (2)
CAQ Sports medicine 1 (<1) 0 1 (<1)
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation CAQ Hospice and palliative medicine 0 0 1 (<1)
CAQ Occupational medicine 1 (<1) 1 (<1) 51 (<1)
Primary Physical medicine and rehabilitation 16 (1) 1 (<1) 236 (1)
CAQ Sports medicine 0 0 3 (<1)
Preventive Medicine Primary Preventive medicine-aerospace medicine 1 (<1) 2 (<1) 42 (<1)
Primary Preventive medicine-occupation medicineb NA NA 8 (<1)
Primary Preventive medicine-public health 2 (<1) 3 (<1) 40 (<1)
Primary Preventive-occupational-environmental medicine 1 (<1) 7 (1) 88 (<1)
CAQ Sports medicine 0 0 1 (<1)
CAQ Undersea hyperbaric medicine 0 0 5 (<1)
Proctology Primary Proctology 0 0 24 (<1)
Radiology CAQ Angiography and intervention radiologyb NA NA 18 (<1)
CAQ Body imagingb NA NA 9 (<1)
Primary Diagnostic radiology 42 (3) 30 (3) 669 (2)
Primary Diagnostic roentgenologyb NA NA 2 (<1)
CAQ Diagnostic ultrasound 0 0 1 (<1)
CAQ Neuroradiology 1 (<1) 1 (<1) 55 (<1)
CAQ Nuclear radiology 0 0 5 (<1)
CAQ Pediatric radiology 1 (<1) 0 21 (<1)
Primary Radiation oncology 1 (<1) 1 (<1) 20 (<1)
CSQ Radiation therapyb NA NA 1 (<1)
Primary Radiologyb NA NA 54 (<1)
CAQ Vascular/interventional radiology 0 0 14 (<1)
Surgery Primary Cardiothoracic surgery 2 (<1) 1 (<1) 10 (<1)
CAQ Critical care surgery 12 (1) 1 (<1) 63 (<1)
Primary Facial plastic surgery 0 0 5 (<1)
Primary General vascular surgery 2 (<1) 1 (<1) 121 (<1)
CAQ Hospice and palliative medicine 0 0 2 (<1)
Primary Neurological surgery 5 (<1) 2 (<1) 102 (<1)
Primary Plastic and reconstructive surgery 1 (<1) 0 63 (<1)
Primary Surgery (general) 86 (5) 28 (3) 1029 (4)
Primary Thoracic cardiovascular surgeryb NA NA 53 (<1)
Primary Thoracic surgeryb NA NA 5 (<1)
CAQ Undersea and hyperbaric medicine 0 0 1 (<1)
Primary Urological surgery 10 (1) 3 (<1) 204 (1)
Total 1604 936 28,631
[ a ] [ b ] [ c ] [*]

The number of active board certifications held has risen steadily over the past several years, as noted in the Figure.2-5 With the increasing pressure by insurers and health care organizations for osteopathic physicians to hold board certification,6 this number is expected to continue to rise.

Figure. Active certifications held, 2009 through 2012.
Figure.

Active certifications held, 2009 through 2012.

Conclusion

As previously noted, osteopathic certification helps ensure quality of health care provided by osteopathic physicians. The number of certifications grew in 2012, and we expect it to continue this upward trend.

From the American Osteopathic Association's Department of Education
Address correspondence to Cheryl Gross, MA, CAE, Department of Education, American Osteopathic Association, 142 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60611-2864. E-mail:

Editor's Note: This JAOA theme issue on osteopathic medical education includes annual updates from the American Osteopathic Association's departments of accreditation and education. Last year's article on specialty board certification can be accessed online at http://www.jaoa.org/content/112/4/226.full.

References

1 Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists (BOS) history and structure. American Osteopathic Association website. http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-aoa/development/aoa-board-certification/Pages/bos-history.aspx. Accessed March 8, 2013.Search in Google Scholar

2 Ayres RE Scheinthal S Gross C Bell EC . Osteopathic specialty board certification. J Am Osteopath Assoc.2009;109(3):181-190.Search in Google Scholar

3 Ayres RE Scheinthal S Gross C Bell EC . Osteopathic specialty board certification. J Am Osteopath Assoc.2010;110(3):183-192.Search in Google Scholar

4 Ayres RE Scheinthal S Gross C Bell EC . Osteopathic specialty board certification. J Am Osteopath Assoc.2011;111(3):280-288.Search in Google Scholar

5 Ayres RE Scheinthal S Gross C Bell EC . Changes to osteopathic specialty board certification. J Am Osteopath Assoc.2012;112(4):226-231.Search in Google Scholar

6 Shaw K Cassel CK Black C Levinson W . Shared medical regulation in a time of increasing calls for accountability and transparency: comparison of recertification in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. JAMA. 2009;302(18):2008-2014.10.1001/jama.2009.1620Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Received: 2013-01-10
Revised: 2013-03-07
Accepted: 2013-03-08
Published Online: 2013-04-01
Published in Print: 2013-04-01

© 2013 The American Osteopathic Association

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Editorial
  2. A Rising Tide of Older Patients: Preparing Future DOs
  3. Letters to the Editor
  4. Bibliometric Measures and National Institutes of Health Funding at COMs, 2006-2010
  5. Impact Indices Shed False Light
  6. Osteopathic Training of MDs
  7. Corrections
  8. Corrections
  9. Medical Education
  10. Developing Osteopathic Competencies in Geriatrics for Medical Students
  11. Ohio Osteopathic Residency Directors' Self-Reported Administrative Knowledge and Skills Before and After Participation in an Administrative Training Program
  12. New Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine: Steps in Achieving Accreditation—An Update
  13. Osteopathic Graduate Medical Education 2013
  14. Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institutions and Academic Sponsorship
  15. AOA Continuing Medical Education
  16. AOA Specialty Board Certification
  17. Special Communication
  18. Appendix 1: Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine in the United States
  19. Appendix 2: Figures and Tables Reprinted From Trends in Osteopathic Medical School Applicants, Enrollment and Graduates From the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM)
  20. The Somatic Connection
  21. Yoga vs Usual Care for Chronic Low Back Pain
  22. Yoga vs Stretching and Use of a Self-Care Book for Chronic Low Back Pain
  23. Yoga vs Home-Based Exercise for Chronic Neck Pain
  24. Yoga for Chronic Neck Pain: A 12-Month Follow-Up
  25. Severity of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms Is Reduced by Osteopathy
  26. Manual Therapy May Benefit Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea
  27. Manual Therapy May Benefit Women With Interstitial Cystitis and Pelvic Floor Pain
  28. Clinical Images
  29. Necrobiosis Lipoidica
  30. In Your Words
  31. Maintaining Empathy in a Locked Psychiatric Unit
  32. CME QUIZ ANSWERS
  33. CME QUIZ ANSWERS
https://doi.org/10.7556/jaoa.2013.113.4.339
Creative Commons
BY-NC-ND 4.0

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Editorial
  2. A Rising Tide of Older Patients: Preparing Future DOs
  3. Letters to the Editor
  4. Bibliometric Measures and National Institutes of Health Funding at COMs, 2006-2010
  5. Impact Indices Shed False Light
  6. Osteopathic Training of MDs
  7. Corrections
  8. Corrections
  9. Medical Education
  10. Developing Osteopathic Competencies in Geriatrics for Medical Students
  11. Ohio Osteopathic Residency Directors' Self-Reported Administrative Knowledge and Skills Before and After Participation in an Administrative Training Program
  12. New Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine: Steps in Achieving Accreditation—An Update
  13. Osteopathic Graduate Medical Education 2013
  14. Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institutions and Academic Sponsorship
  15. AOA Continuing Medical Education
  16. AOA Specialty Board Certification
  17. Special Communication
  18. Appendix 1: Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine in the United States
  19. Appendix 2: Figures and Tables Reprinted From Trends in Osteopathic Medical School Applicants, Enrollment and Graduates From the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM)
  20. The Somatic Connection
  21. Yoga vs Usual Care for Chronic Low Back Pain
  22. Yoga vs Stretching and Use of a Self-Care Book for Chronic Low Back Pain
  23. Yoga vs Home-Based Exercise for Chronic Neck Pain
  24. Yoga for Chronic Neck Pain: A 12-Month Follow-Up
  25. Severity of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms Is Reduced by Osteopathy
  26. Manual Therapy May Benefit Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea
  27. Manual Therapy May Benefit Women With Interstitial Cystitis and Pelvic Floor Pain
  28. Clinical Images
  29. Necrobiosis Lipoidica
  30. In Your Words
  31. Maintaining Empathy in a Locked Psychiatric Unit
  32. CME QUIZ ANSWERS
  33. CME QUIZ ANSWERS
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 21.9.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.7556/jaoa.2013.113.4.339/html
Scroll to top button