The certification process is an important assessment tool for enhancing the quality of health care and protecting the public. Certification demonstrates a standard of excellence for osteopathic physicians, including quality of services and commitment to lifelong learning. In addition, many health care facilities and insurers require physicians to be board certified.
Since its establishment in 1939, the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists (BOS), the official certifying body of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), has issued 49,058 certifications, including primary certifications, subspecialty certifications, and certifications of added qualifications (family medicine and preventive medicine only). As of December 31, 2017, a total of 31,762 osteopathic physicians were certified by the AOA and held a combined total of 36,982 active certifications, representing a 7% increase over the number of active certifications held in 2016 (34,555).