Dermatology is a common yet often misunderstood branch of medical science. Whenever people hear the term dermatology, they think about beauty, cosmetics, and vanity. However, it is more than that. Dermatology is the science that deals with anything related to skin, hair, and nails. And a dermatologist is an expert that diagnoses and treats diseases and conditions concerning skin, hair, and nails. That said, being a skin expert entails profound and quality expertise. Hence, it would be best for aspiring and practicing dermatologists to have a certificate from the American Board of Dermatology or ABD.
But what is the American Board of Dermatology? What are their roles and purposes? And, why is it important for skin professionals to have an acknowledgment from ABD? This guide will answer every question you may have about ABD.
What is the American Board of Dermatology
The American Board of Dermatology is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), a 24-member organization that ensures and promotes quality healthcare in the US. Specifically, ABD focuses on setting and maintaining the standards of training, education, and residency for dermatologists. It serves the interest of the public by providing elite dermatologists in the industry.
The primary functions and roles of the American Board of Dermatology are:
Establish training standards for dermatologists
The ABD exists to serve the public and ensure that patients only receive the best medical assistance. Hence, one of the primary and core functions of the American Board of Dermatology is to establish the training standards for dermatologists.
The Board does this by:
- Setting post-doctoral training requirements in Dermatology, Dermatopathology (in concert with the American Board of Pathology), Pediatric Dermatology, and Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology.
- Accrediting Dermatology, Dermatopathology, Pediatric Dermatology, and Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology programs through participation with the Residency Review Committee for Dermatology.
- Evaluating and approving aspiring members of the Pediatric Dermatology fellowship.
- Reviewing the credentials and qualifications of professionals seeking an ABD degree or certificate.
- Creating ABD degree or certification exams for aspiring and practicing dermatologists.
Despite being the organization that sets the standards that need to be met by dermatologists, the ABD does not have the authority to define who can and cannot be a dermatologist. They also do not have general jurisdiction over who can apply at hospitals and be a member of the healthcare industry.
Supervising the training of skin experts
Since one of the core functions of the American Board of Dermatology is to accredit dermatology programs, the Board is also tasked to supervise the training process of the said professionals. They do this by monitoring the progress of residents under their residency programs and fellowship programs as reported and documented in annual progress reports by the Board directors.
Evaluating professionals applying for an ABD certificate
An ABD degree is a fundamental recognition that dermatologists need to have to gain more credibility. It is not an acknowledgment that anyone can simply get. In that regard, the American Board of Dermatology evaluates and assesses who can receive this prestigious certificate. Those who are eligible to have an ABD degree must meet the Board’s professional standing, have a continuous medical education, be familiar with patient safety, have periodic self-assessment, and continuously practice improvement of their expertise.
Creating certification exams
Dermatologists who want to earn an ABD degree must also pass the Board’s examination. And who else would be the one tasked to produce and create the certification exams? It is the American Board of Dermatology.
Supervising the maintenance of ABD degrees or certificates
Having recognition from the American Board of dermatology is not a one-time endeavor. It entails continuous Maintenance of Certification (MOC). In which you need to renew your certificate in a ten year renewal period continuously. This includes further training, a 50 item module, and examination under the Board.
Overall, the main intention of the American Board of Dermatology is to grant ABD dermatology degrees to skin physicians. Aside from helping patients have quality healthcare assistance, it also provides support to medical workers by providing them multiple benefits in the industry.
Importance of a degree from the American Board of Dermatology
Despite the tedious process of getting recognition from the American Board of Dermatology or earning an ABD degree, many skin physicians are still pursuing it. Why? Because it is a necessary credential that is truly advantageous in the medical field.
Here are the following reasons why an ABD degree is important:
Improved skills
Being a member of the healthcare industry means it is an ongoing learning experience. One’s hunger for improvement does not end after graduating from medical school and earning a dermatology degree. Besides, all physicians, no matter what field they are from, must continuously improve their expertise.
Hence, participating in an ABD degree program or the American Board of Dermatology’s MOC programs will undoubtedly refine one’s know-how in the industry. By doing so, you warrant yourself to get a piece of updated knowledge about the ever-changing and constantly innovating sector. Meaning, you will never be left behind on the new discoveries in dermatology. Thus, only providing the best services to your patients.
Enhanced professional credibility
Patients, organizations, healthcare facilities, and the government only trust physicians who undergo constant training. Thus, participating in the Board’s MOC program and getting an ABD degree increases one’s credibility as a professional. This is because the public is ensured that your skills and knowledge are up to date. Hence, they will be confident in the value and quality of your services.
Better working opportunities
Since having an ABD degree entails better credibility as a professional, it also helps you earn better working opportunities. Those who do not have a certificate from the American Board of Dermatology may find themselves under unsatisfactory working conditions. On the other hand, those with an ABD degree will yield better-paying salaries, improved employer-employee benefits, and better job security.
Generally, if you have an ABD degree or certificate, your value as a dermatologist increase. More people will trust your services, and more people will seek your advice. Your career will reach greater heights, and your path to success will be more evident and worthwhile.
How to get an American Board of Dermatology degree fast
Earning an ABD degree is a long journey. Not to mention, you also have to undergo a 10-year renewal period. Thus, those who wish to pursue dermatology as a career must prepare for the certification from the American Board of Dermatology beforehand.
Before you can begin processing your application for the Board’s MOC program, you must first have a dermatology degree. In which, he or she must be a graduate from a medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME).
Aside from medical school accreditation, those who wish to have an ABD degree must have the following requirements:
- Valid and unrestricted medical license
- No unethical or malpractice record
- An obvious set of expertise in dermatology
- ABD-required documentation processed by the candidate’s program director
- Complete the ABD competency assessments, which are essay evaluations, patient experience data, peer experience data, and quality improvement project attestations
Buy online
As you can see, earning an ABD degree is not an easy feat. If you are unfamiliar with the idea of an ABD degree, it is easy to get lost in the process. Hence, it would be best to visit the official website of ABD to know more about the specific details that this guide may have missed.
Meanwhile, if you are a practicing and licensed dermatologist who is confident enough in your skills, you can skip the long MOC process by buying an ABD degree online through our website. With our help, you can easily get a valid and real ABD degree in just a few weeks.
By buying your ABD degree from us, we guarantee that your diploma will be:
- Directly coming from the American Board of Dermatology
- Go through legalization and verification processes
- 100% safely appear on background checks
Aside from that, we also ensure to give you all the necessary documents that you might need to prove the authenticity of your ABD degree. Therefore, you can have a genuine recognition from the American Board of Dermatology that you can use anywhere and anyhow you like.