NBPAS Celebrates Milestone Recognition in Oklahoma, Advancing Physician Freedom and Patient Access

EL CAJON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a major victory for physicians, patients, and healthcare access, the Oklahoma Board of Medicine has officially recognized the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS), allowing NBPAS-certified physicians to advertise themselves as “board certified.” This milestone marks a turning point in the fight for fair, physician-friendly certification policies and reinforces Oklahoma’s reputation as a national leader in medical reform.

By removing outdated advertising restrictions, Oklahoma is setting a precedent for modernizing physician certification. This decision ensures that qualified doctors are not burdened by unnecessary requirements that contribute to burnout, workforce shortages, and restricted patient access to care.

Oklahoma Medical Board member Jessica Keller, MD, a practicing pediatrician, emphasized the growing recognition of NBPAS. “From a Board perspective of how we can help our physicians, a lot of whom are primary care physicians, this [NBPAS] makes a lot of sense,” said Dr. Keller. “I think the hospitals are already doing it - so I think it is trending that way.”

Dr. Keller also underscored the importance of high quality, relevant continuing medical education that offers physicians flexibility of lifelong learning over rigid mandates. “There is so much information out there at your fingertips, and you don’t necessarily need to get questions from your board. You go through these other organizations and get CME,” she added.

Currently, only three states -Texas, California, and Florida - still prevent board certified physicians from publicly identifying as board certified unless they comply with controversial Maintenance of Certification (MOC) programs. Originally intended to prevent fraudulent claims, these advertising rules have unintentionally evolved into bureaucratic hurdles that force physicians into costly, time-consuming requirements without clear evidence of improving patient care.

Concerns about the relevance and practicality of MOC requirements were also raised during the decision-making process. Members of the Oklahoma Board of Medicine noted that many of the traditional certification programs are disconnected from actual clinical practice, outdated, time-consuming, costly, and out of alignment with rapid developments in data availability and clinical advancements. One member even shared an account of several physicians at a local hospital that resigned rather than comply with MOC requirements.

The Oklahoma Board’s decision carries significant implications for physician retention, particularly as burnout and administrative burdens continue to drive clinicians out of medicine. By officially recognizing NBPAS, Oklahoma is taking an important step toward keeping experienced, board-certified physicians in practice, helping to reduce workforce shortages, and ensuring patients continue to have access to high-quality care.

NBPAS Founder and President Paul Teirstein, MD, called the decision a “big win for physicians, patients, and the public,” likening outdated MOC requirements to an unfair restriction in other professional fields. “Imagine if you earned your law degree or MBA from a top university but were later told you could no longer list it on your resume unless you paid that same university for ongoing coursework, even though other high quality, competing options are readily available,” said Dr. Teirstein. “That’s essentially what’s happening to physicians when they are listed as ‘Not Certified’ and prevented from advertising their credentials.”

Teirstein concluded, “Oklahoma is leading the way in protecting physicians from burdensome recertification mandates, and we look forward to seeing more states take similar action.”

As more states recognize the need for reform, Oklahoma’s decision sets a precedent that could pave the way for broader acceptance of physician-friendly certification policies across the country.

About NBPAS

The National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS) is a nonprofit, physician-led organization dedicated to providing a practical, evidence-based pathway for continuous board certification. Founded in 2015, NBPAS currently certifies over 14,000 physicians across hospitals, health systems, telemedicine providers, major insurers, and the VHA system.

As NBPAS enters its 10th year, its commitment remains strong to champion physician choice, promote quality lifelong learning, and eliminate unnecessary burdens that contribute to physician burnout.

Learn more about NBPAS and how you can support physician choice at nbpas.org.