[Intl_DxMedPhys] [EXTERNAL] Re: Are CAMPEP residency and ABR board really necessary for Diagnostic and NM Physics?

Tue Nov 25 13:34:24 EST 2025

As has been pointed out by others in the past the ABR is one of 24 medical
specialty boards that are "members" of the ABMS (American Board of Medical
Specialties)  From the ABMS website

About Board Certification
Importance of board certification and maintaining certification

Certification by an ABMS Member Board
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.abms.org/member-boards/__;!!KGKeukY!0FWPaV7EIntkw4pOxiM4Ag075CKG2NnagFd0f4k7avcorY_MJeeXF54xHLZ9hbD7Hllc2ycRV41l_Aq6CdfPIu-AvPbQH8cJq0qOImuolkSsagk$ > helps
demonstrate to the public that a physician and medical specialist meets
nationally recognized standards for education, knowledge, experience, and
skills and maintains their certification through continuous learning and
practice improvement in order to provide high quality care in a
specific medical
specialty or subspecialty
<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.abms.org/member-boards/specialty-subspecialty-certificates/__;!!KGKeukY!0FWPaV7EIntkw4pOxiM4Ag075CKG2NnagFd0f4k7avcorY_MJeeXF54xHLZ9hbD7Hllc2ycRV41l_Aq6CdfPIu-AvPbQH8cJq0qOImuo87-e12U$ >.
Once board certified, the individual may be referred to as a diplomate of
the board.
The Medical Physicist certifications by ABR fall under the "Medical
Specialist" category above.  One element that varies between the boards
listed in the "non-ABR" boards and the ABMP is the maintenance of
certification through continuous learning and practice improvement.  Other
board certification pathways for those working in Radiation Protection,
Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology have similar goals and wording in
their certification statements; but, enforcement and monitoring of
certification maintenance may vary.  There are advantages to being Board
Certified by ABR and other physics related boards.  Over the years I have
benefited from having completed board certification by ABR, ABSNM, and
HPS.   -- ABMP and MR boards are also excellent certification pathways that
one can demonstrate education, knowledge and experience in those areas.
Unfortunately a single board certification can not be comprehensive enough
to cover all areas served by those serving in specific disciplines -- that
is why ABR has physics certification in Dx, Tx and NM.  There needs to be
overlap in some of the fundamental areas for all physics related boards.
The differentiator between the board certifications is / and should be
focused detailed understanding and competence in the more narrow category
covered by those boards.

Jerry Thomas, MS, FAAPM, DABR, CHP, DABSNM
Diagnostic Medical Physicist / Radiation Safety Officer
Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Wichita
Wichita, KS  67214

Phone:  316-268-5958  (office)
            240-447-1014  (cell)

On Tue, Nov 25, 2025 at 7:57 AM Nima Kasraie via Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list
<intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu> wrote:

> True as it may seem, be advised though: There are some recruiters and
> chiefs and directors out there that do not put ABMP/ABMP/MRSE on the same
> level as an ABR. I’ve seen the bias in hiring. Another issue is bargaining
> power. When you have an
>
> True as it may seem, be advised though: There are some recruiters and
> chiefs and directors out there that do not put ABMP/ABMP/MRSE on the same
> level as an ABR. I’ve seen the bias in hiring.
>
>
>
> Another issue is bargaining power. When you have an ABR, you can negotiate
> for a higher salary. (though not much and not always). But I’ve seen that
> happen too.
>
>
>
>
>
> Nima
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list <
> intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list-bounces at lists.osu.edu> *On Behalf Of *1 via
> Intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list
> *Sent:* Monday, November 24, 2025 7:03 PM
> *To:* intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list at lists.osu.edu
> *Subject:* [Intl_DxMedPhys] Are CAMPEP residency and ABR board really
> necessary for Diagnostic and NM Physics?
>
>
>
> There are alternative boards in MR and NM that you can get without a
> residency, but through job training. https: //urldefense. com/v3/__https:
> //abmpexam.
> com/test-information/application-downloads/__;!!KGKeukY!11G60kSjlNtFNAVK-NMt7V4fpCyXCTEB4MQev7xhwEfC9j3UM_CG8N-p5_kgfDPf9YEAPMm20Rny6ISXm6sf-3tNJRFSdyR7E-WKwQ$
>
> There are alternative boards in MR and NM that you can get without a
>
> residency, but through job training.
>
>
>
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://abmpexam.com/test-information/application-downloads/__;!!KGKeukY!11G60kSjlNtFNAVK-NMt7V4fpCyXCTEB4MQev7xhwEfC9j3UM_CG8N-p5_kgfDPf9YEAPMm20Rny6ISXm6sf-3tNJRFSdyR7E-WKwQ$ <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/abmpexam.com/test-information/application-downloads/__;!!KGKeukY!11G60kSjlNtFNAVK-NMt7V4fpCyXCTEB4MQev7xhwEfC9j3UM_CG8N-p5_kgfDPf9YEAPMm20Rny6ISXm6sf-3tNJRFSdyR7E-WKwQ$>
>
>
>
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.absnm.org/examinations-and-certification.html__;!!KGKeukY!11G60kSjlNtFNAVK-NMt7V4fpCyXCTEB4MQev7xhwEfC9j3UM_CG8N-p5_kgfDPf9YEAPMm20Rny6ISXm6sf-3tNJRFSdyRnq1ipWw$ <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.absnm.org/examinations-and-certification.html__;!!KGKeukY!11G60kSjlNtFNAVK-NMt7V4fpCyXCTEB4MQev7xhwEfC9j3UM_CG8N-p5_kgfDPf9YEAPMm20Rny6ISXm6sf-3tNJRFSdyRnq1ipWw$>
>
>
>
> Also, most of the states do not require ABR board certification for
>
> regulatory testing. Only 3 states strictly require you to hold ABR
>
> Board Certification to get a license to practice. In the other 47
>
> states, you can generally perform regulatory testing without board
>
> certification if you meet alternative “Qualified Medical Physicist”
>
> criteria (usually a Master’s degree + 2–3 years of experience).
>
>
>
> For ACR compliance testing, alternative options are available. In CT,
>
> MR and NM/PET, you can go through the non-board-certified track with 3
>
> years of experience. In mammography, you can go through the state
>
> license track. There is no physicist requirement for ultrasound and
>
> radiography.
>
>
>
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://accreditationsupport.acr.org/support/solutions/articles/11000055869-medical-physicist-ct-revised-12-12-19-__;!!KGKeukY!11G60kSjlNtFNAVK-NMt7V4fpCyXCTEB4MQev7xhwEfC9j3UM_CG8N-p5_kgfDPf9YEAPMm20Rny6ISXm6sf-3tNJRFSdyS6QmzgDQ$ <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/accreditationsupport.acr.org/support/solutions/articles/11000055869-medical-physicist-ct-revised-12-12-19-__;!!KGKeukY!11G60kSjlNtFNAVK-NMt7V4fpCyXCTEB4MQev7xhwEfC9j3UM_CG8N-p5_kgfDPf9YEAPMm20Rny6ISXm6sf-3tNJRFSdyS6QmzgDQ$>
>
>
>
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://accreditationsupport.acr.org/support/solutions/articles/11000056183-medical-physicist-nuclear-medicine-and-pet-revised-12-12-19-__;!!KGKeukY!11G60kSjlNtFNAVK-NMt7V4fpCyXCTEB4MQev7xhwEfC9j3UM_CG8N-p5_kgfDPf9YEAPMm20Rny6ISXm6sf-3tNJRFSdyQ9SvP4dw$ <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/accreditationsupport.acr.org/support/solutions/articles/11000056183-medical-physicist-nuclear-medicine-and-pet-revised-12-12-19-__;!!KGKeukY!11G60kSjlNtFNAVK-NMt7V4fpCyXCTEB4MQev7xhwEfC9j3UM_CG8N-p5_kgfDPf9YEAPMm20Rny6ISXm6sf-3tNJRFSdyQ9SvP4dw$>
>
>
>
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://accreditationsupport.acr.org/support/solutions/articles/11000055863-medical-physicist-mr-scientist-mri-breast-mri-revised-12-12-19-__;!!KGKeukY!11G60kSjlNtFNAVK-NMt7V4fpCyXCTEB4MQev7xhwEfC9j3UM_CG8N-p5_kgfDPf9YEAPMm20Rny6ISXm6sf-3tNJRFSdyQiazi1dA$ <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/accreditationsupport.acr.org/support/solutions/articles/11000055863-medical-physicist-mr-scientist-mri-breast-mri-revised-12-12-19-__;!!KGKeukY!11G60kSjlNtFNAVK-NMt7V4fpCyXCTEB4MQev7xhwEfC9j3UM_CG8N-p5_kgfDPf9YEAPMm20Rny6ISXm6sf-3tNJRFSdyQiazi1dA$>
>
>
>
> I wonder what the actual advantage is of doing a residency to obtain
>
> ABR board certification in Diagnostic and NM physics.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> UT Southwestern
>
> Medical Center
>
> The future of medicine, today.
>

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
This email message and any accompanying data or files is confidential and may contain privileged information intended only for the named recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient(s), you are hereby notified that the dissemination, distribution, and or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you receive this message in error, or are not the named recipient(s), please notify the sender at the email address above, delete this email from your computer, and destroy any copies in any form immediately. Receipt by anyone other than the named recipient(s) is not a waiver of any attorney-client, work product, or other applicable privilege.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/private/intl_dxmedphys_wd_osu_list/attachments/20251125/162c9c7d/attachment.html>