Professionalism forms the basis of medicine’s contract with society. The ABPN is concerned with those aspects of professionalism that are demonstrated through a physician’s clinical competence, commitment to lifelong learning and professional improvement, interpersonal skills, and ethical understanding and behavior. In its credentialing, certification, and CC programs, the ABPN seeks to assess and document that its candidates and diplomates possess and maintain these aspects of professionalism.
To show evidence of professional standing, all diplomates must continuously hold an active, full, and unrestricted allopathic and/or osteopathic license to practice medicine in at least one state, commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States or Canada. All licenses held by a physician must be unrestricted. An active, full, unrestricted license must be maintained even if the physician is out of the country for extended periods of time.