What board certification actually means, and why it is worth checking.
What it is
Board certification means a physician completed an accredited residency in the specialty, then passed written and oral examinations set by the specialty board. In urology that is the American Board of Urology.
It is voluntary. A licensed physician can practice without it. It is the most straightforward signal that someone completed formal training in the field they are treating you for.
It is not a one time achievement
Certification requires ongoing maintenance, including continuing education and periodic reassessment. A physician certified decades ago and never recertified is in a different position from one who has maintained it.
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
FACS is a separate designation. It requires board certification, a review of surgical practice and outcomes, and a commitment to ethical standards. It is a peer review of how someone actually practices rather than an examination result.
Why it is worth asking
In hormone, weight and wellness medicine particularly, the range of training behind the person treating you is wide. Asking what someone is board certified in, and whether they maintain it, is a fair question and an easy one to check.
I am board certified in urology by the American Board of Urology and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.