Definitions for "Board Eligible"
Denoting a physician who has completed the educational requirements necessary for eligibility to take the specialty board examinations.
To become Board eligible in a given medical specialty, a physician must usually complete a three-to-five year resident training program, after graduation from an approved school or a specific type and amount of hospital training.
Describes a physician who is eligible to take the specialty board examination by virtue of being graduated from an approved medical school, completing a specific type and length of training, and practicing for a specified amount of time. Some HMOs and other health facilities accept board eligibility as equivalent to board certification, significant in that many managed care companies restrict referrals to physicians without certification.