To reflect that the Joint Committee on the Recognition of Specialty Boards (JCRSB) is now a standing committee of the Council, the Council determined that the name of the JCRSB will be changed to the Specialty Board Recognition Committee (SBRC). This change is necessary because the JCRSB is no longer a “joint” committee of the APMA and CPME and is now a CPME standing committee.
Specialty boards in the profession of podiatric medicine have been established to certify advanced qualifications of individual podiatrists who have demonstrated special expertise in the recognized areas of podiatric orthopedics, podiatric surgery, and primary podiatric medicine. Certification is considered to be an earned credential for those podiatric physicians who have achieved certain levels of skill and ability based upon completion of specific advanced training and clinical experience and examination. Those individual podiatric physicians who are certified are recognized for their achievement and enhanced capabilities.
The American Podiatric Medical Association assigns the responsibility of specialty board recognition to the Council on Podiatric Medical Education. As delegated by the Council, the Specialty Board Recognition Committee shall be responsible for recommending to the Council granting new and continuing recognition to specialty boards in podiatric medicine. The Council is committed to assuring the public that those podiatric physicians who are certified have successfully completed the requirements for certification in an area of specialization. The recognition of a specialty board by the SBRC serves to provide important information to the profession, health-care institutions, and the public about the sound operations and fair conduct of the board’s certification process.
In its consideration of recognition of new specialty boards in podiatric medical practice, the Council is concerned with maintaining the orderly development of specifically identified specialties within the profession. Specialty boards are recognized only upon the basis of demonstrated need and potential benefit to the public. Proposals submitted by “special interest groups” seeking recognition of a specific type of clinical procedure, therapeutic modality, or technique are not regarded as appropriate for designation as a specialty board in podiatric medical practice.
The purposes of the CPME’s recognition process include:
- The determination of whether or not a public and professional need exists for the conduct of a certification process in a special area of podiatric medical practice.
- Continuing recognition of existing boards.
- Modification of existing types of certification.
- Prevention of unnecessary duplication by boards and maintenance of minimum standards for the conduct and operation of specialty boards.
The process for reviewing specialty boards in the podiatric medical profession includes concurrent review of the substantive issues related to the need for certification within a special area of practice and the assessment of the capabilities of the board to conduct and operate a proper certifying process.
Two specialty boards aligned with three special areas of practice are recognized by the Council. Recognition is based upon the demonstrated ability of a board to satisfy established criteria. With a view towards ensuring the health and safety of the public, only one specialty board may be recognized to conduct certification for each designated podiatric medical specialty area.
Recognized as the certifying board for the specialty areas of podiatric orthopedics and primary podiatric medicine is the:
American Board of Podiatric Medicine
1060 Aviation Boulevard, Suite 100
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
310-375-0700
310-475-1386 (fax)
Recognized as the certifying board for the specialty area of podiatric surgery is the:
American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery
445 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94117-3404
415-553-7800
415-553-7801 (fax)