Continuing certification and continuing education.

The authors review the guidelines of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) for recertification and the approaches of various medical specialty boards, including internal medicine, pathology, and family practice, toward implementing periodic recertification. At a time when psychiatry has an increasingly close alliance with the other medical specialties, it is important that this issue receive serious consideration. Close collaboration between APA and the ABPN on the recertification process assures that any procedures developed will be in keeping with psychiatrists' wishes and needs, while meeting the responsibility for public accountability.