To become board certified in dermatology requires:
Going to medical school and becoming a doctor
Successfully completing residency training in dermatology
Passing the board exam, a challenging exam that tests the dermatologist on the knowledge and skills acquired during their years of training
Passing the board exam means the dermatologist is board certified. Board certification comes from one of these three organizations:
American Board of Dermatology
American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
When you see that your dermatologist is board certified by one of these organizations, you know you are receiving care from someone who has received the most rigorous education in the field. There are many different kinds of boards, and other certifications do not reflect the same level of training and expertise.