A board-certified doctor is a physician who has met additional education and training requirements in a given specialty and has demonstrated their knowledge by passing an exam. Board certification signifies the highest level of accreditation within a given specialty and is a significant achievement that not all doctors attain. Board-certified doctors are skilled, knowledgeable, and experts in their specialty, meeting a higher standard. Board certification is optional, and doctors can choose from different boards for their specialty certification. Board certification is a symbol that a doctor has undergone additional training in their area of specialty, proven a high level of expertise in that specialty, and is therefore better qualified to practice in that specialty compared to a non-certified doctor. Medical licensure is not the same thing as board certification, and it is legally required for a doctor to obtain a valid state medical license to practice medicine in the U.S. .