Medical certification and accreditation in the U. S. A.

There are two levels of professional certification for physicians in the United States. The first level is intercalated in stages during the medical school curriculum and completed at the end of the first postgraduate year. This mandatory process is known as the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) under the control of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). The second level is under the control of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which provides the necessary testing after the completion of specialty and subspecialty training programs. Specialty and subspecialty certification is voluntary. "Certification" is a term applicable to individuals. "Accreditation" applies to institutions or departments or educational programs.