board certification, 1. the process by which physicians are certified in a given medical specialty or subspecialty. Certification is awarded by the 23-member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties on completion of accredited training and examinations and fulfillment of individual requirements of the board. 2. the process by which health care professionals demonstrate competency in their areas of practice through examination, length of supervised practice, and/or educational attainment. National boards and professional associations establish the standards for certification.
