Board certification involves an evaluation of a clinician’s knowledge in their chosen specialty or subspecialty and provides an opportunity for a clinician to demonstrate professional competence. In developing and administering specialty and subspecialty evaluations, medical boards provide a standardized way of validating clinical competence continuously during their careers and as the knowledge and standards of their specialties evolve. The cultural expectation that practicing physicians be board-certified reflects the importance of professional competency in the field of medicine.