National Board of Physicians and Surgeons
NBPAS promotes physician-led, evidence-based board certification that supports lifelong learning without imposing unproven or burdensome requirements.
Learn about NBPAS CriteriaOur Background
Requirement for Maintenance of Certification (MOC) begins
American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) initiates Maintenance of Certification (MOC) requirements, setting the stage for future challenges in physician certification.
Growing discontent over MOC inspires the start of NBPAS
Over 22,000 physicians voice discontent with the MOC requirements. In response to these concerns, renowned interventional cardiologist Paul Teirstein, M.D., along with a group of 20 physician leaders, launch a competing continuous certification pathway now known as the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS).
Studies show MOC lacks evidence that it improves patient care
A growing body of evidence finds no association between MOC completion and lower surgical complication rates, underscoring what physicians already know to be true - MOC does not make better doctors or improve patient outcomes.
NBPAS meets NCQA national accreditation requirements for health plans
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) confirms that NBPAS is being included in their 2022 Health Plan Standards and Guidelines as an acceptable source to verify board certification.
NBPAS meets URAC national accreditation requirements for health plans
URAC confirms that they accept physician board certification from NBPAS, as long as it is accepted by the organization's clinical leadership.
NBPAS meets national accreditation requirements for hospitals including The Joint Commission (TJC) and Det Norske Veritas (DNV)
The Joint Commission adds NBPAS to its list of designated equivalent source agencies for verifying board certification. DNV Healthcare clarifies that they do not require physician board certification for their accreditation programs, leaving the decision to accept specific certifications to individual hospitals.
NBPAS continues to grow nationwide
Over 15,000 NBPAS-certified physicians across all 50 states. Certifying/recertifying over 400 physicians a month. Over 250 hospitals, health systems, telemedicine companies, and payers recognize NBPAS certification.
