American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. (ABPN) sets the standards for training and certifying psychiatrists and neurologists in the United States, with the self-stated aim of promoting excellence in practice through its certification process. The ABPN is one of 24 member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).

Psychiatrists and neurologists who have passed the requisite training may take examinations to become board-certified by ABPN. As of 1994, physicians attaining ABPN Board certification are issued ten-year, time-limited certificates.

History
The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1934 by a committee of individuals drawn from the American Psychiatric Association, the American Neurological Association, and the American Medical Association. One founder, Walter Freeman, was an enthusiastic advocate and practitioner of the lobotomy, and became president of ABPN from 1946 to 1948.

Organization
The 2007 President of the ABPN Board of Directors is Michael V. Johnston, MD of Baltimore, Maryland. The Board of Directors is independently incorporated and has sixteen voting members; nominees are proposed by the American College of Psychiatrists, American Psychiatric Association, American Medical Association, American Neurological Association and the American Academy of Neurology, and selected by the Board.

ABPN reports that it certifies around 1000 psychiatrists and 500 neurologists a year.

Examination process
The ABPN examination includes a Part 1 computer-administered written test and a Part II oral examination involving an actual patient interview as well as clinical vignettes (video clips of former patients), followed by focused questioning from examiners and evaluation by numerical score.