What Defines a Board Certified Dermatologist?

• Completed four years of studies in an accredited medical school, one year of internship, and three years residency training in DERMATOLOGY at an ACGME accredited program
• Passed the rigorous board exams given by the American Board of Dermatology or the American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology
• Required to keep up with the medical advances and knowledge through continuing medical education courses, meetings, and studies.
• ALL board certified dermatologists are tested regularly by either
  • Taking a board exam every 10 years, or
  • Participating in ongoing self-assessment exams monitored by their certifying board.

Beware of terms that may be used to mislead the general public:

• “Board certified skin specialist”
  • Board certification is a credentialing agency that evaluates the physician’s knowledge and skills to practice safely and effectively in a particular specialty.
  • Ask which specialty your provider is board certified in before you make your appointment.
  • For example, a physician can be board certified in Family Medicine, Pediatrics, or Internal Medicine and practice as a “skin specialist” which does NOT equate to the rigorous training and immense dermatologic knowledge of a board certified dermatologist

All CalDerm members are board certified dermatologists. To search for one near you, check out our "Find a Derm" directory.