How do you verify a plastic surgeon's board certification?

What board certification means

Board certification indicates that a physician has completed an accredited residency in a specialty, passed written and oral examinations set by that specialty's board, and continues to meet maintenance of certification requirements. It is not the same as a medical license, which is the legal permission to practise medicine and is granted by a state, not by a board.

The phrase board eligible means residency has been completed but the certifying examinations have not yet been passed. It is a time limited status, not a lesser form of certification.

Step by step verification

1. Search the certifying board's own directory.
2. Confirm the exact specialty named on the certificate.
3. Check the state medical board for the state where the surgery will happen.
4. Review any disciplinary action listed on the state board record.
5. Check hospital privileges by searching the physician directory of the hospitals named.
6. Confirm the accreditation status of the facility where surgery will be performed, whether that is a hospital, an ambulatory surgical center, or an accredited office-based suite.

Where to look, and what each source tells you

Common sources of confusion

• A cosmetic surgery certificate is not the same as a plastic surgery certificate.
• Membership in a society is not certification.
• Awards and best-of lists vary enormously in methodology.
• A logo on a website is not evidence.
• Certification can lapse.

Questions the record cannot answer

Verification confirms training, licensure, and standing. It does not tell you how often a surgeon performs a specific operation, how they approach a particular anatomy, or whether the working relationship will suit you.

Credential checks are a floor rather than a ceiling. They rule out a category of risk quickly and cheaply, which is why they are worth doing first.

Frequently asked questions

Is board certification required to perform surgery?

No. A medical license permits a physician to practise, and scope is governed by licensure and by hospital or facility credentialing rather than by board certification alone. Certification is a marker of specialty training and examination.

What is the difference between board certified and board eligible?

Board eligible means residency training is complete but the certifying examinations have not yet been passed. It is a time limited status that ends when certification is achieved or the eligibility period expires.

How do I check disciplinary history?

State medical board license lookups publish disciplinary actions as part of the public record. Check the board in every state where the physician holds or has held a license.

Are best doctor lists a reliable signal?

They vary. Some are peer nomination based, some are public polls, and some are paid. Check the methodology published by the organisation before treating a listing as meaningful.

Do hospital privileges matter for office-based surgery?

They provide an independent credentialing check by a hospital committee and a pathway for care if a complication requires hospital admission. Both are relevant even when surgery is performed elsewhere.

Mansher Singh, MD, FACS: reviews and trust checks

642 verbatim patient reviews from the practice Google Business Profile, plus credentials you can confirm at the issuing source.