American Board of Radiology

What American Board of Radiology does

The American Board of Radiology (ABR) is a not-for-profit professional certification body founded in 1934 and headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, operating as one of 24 Member Boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). It certifies physicians in Diagnostic Radiology, Interventional Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology, and Radiation Oncology, and medical physicists in Medical Physics, with additional subspecialty certifications in neuroradiology, pediatric radiology, nuclear radiology, and pain medicine. The ABR's product surface spans initial certification (computer-based qualifying and certifying exams, plus oral certifying exams), and Continuing Certification (formerly Maintenance of Certification) anchored by the Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) platform, which has captured over 15.6 million answers since 2019. Technology infrastructure consists of the myABR portal for candidate and diplomate lifecycle management, the OLA digital assessment platform, and a proprietary remote oral examination system with video proctoring introduced in 2021.

Revenue is generated through three streams: one-time initial certification application and exam fees from candidates, recurring annual Continuing Certification fees from diplomates covering OLA and portal access, and transactional fees for verification letters ($30 self-service, $100 third-party) and replacement certificates ($100 per copy). The organization employs 51-100 staff but is operationally underpinned by more than 1,300 volunteer physicians and medical physicists who write exam content, serve on committees, and govern through Boards of Governors and Trustees. Distribution runs primarily through the myABR digital portal integrated with ACGME-accredited residency programs, supplemented by a public-facing verification tool and ABMS-hosted certification lookup. ABR is led by President Cheri L. Canon, MD, President-elect John A. Kaufman, MD, and Executive Director Brent Wagner, MD, MBA, and maintains Candid GuideStar Platinum nonprofit transparency status annually since 2017.

Name

American Board of Radiology

Legal name

American Board of Radiology Incorporated

Website

https://theabr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The American Board of Radiology (ABR) is a not-for-profit founded in 1934 that certifies physicians and medical physicists in diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, medical physics, and radiation oncology as one of 24 ABMS Member Boards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tucson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Initial Certification Fees: Candidates pay application and exam fees for initial board certification, including fees for qualifying exams, certifying exams, and specialty exams.
2. Annual Certification Fees: Annual fees charged to diplomates for maintaining Continuing Certification program access, including OLA tools, myABR portal access, and public reporting status.
3. Verification and Certificate Services: Fees for formal certification letters ($30 for self-verification, $100 for third-party requests) and replacement certificates ($100 per copy).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The American Board of Radiology (ABR) is a not-for-profit certification board that administers initial board certification, subspecialty certification, and ongoing Continuing Certification for physicians in Diagnostic Radiology, Interventional Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology, Medical Physics, and Radiation Oncology. Candidates qualify through ACGME-accredited (or RCPSC-recognized Canadian) residency programs, sit computer-based Qualifying/Certifying exams and oral Certifying exams (delivered remotely since 2021), and maintain certification through annual Continuing Certification fees and the Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) Part 3 platform. ABR also operates the public myABR portal for candidates and diplomates and a free public verification tool that lets patients, employers, and regulators confirm board-certified status.

Product overview

The American Board of Radiology (ABR) offers a comprehensive certification ecosystem for four primary disciplines: Diagnostic Radiology (DR), Interventional Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology (IR/DR), Medical Physics (MP), and Radiation Oncology (RO), along with subspecialty certifications in neuroradiology, pediatric radiology, nuclear radiology, and pain medicine. The certification process encompasses initial certification via computer-based and oral exams, and ongoing professional development through the Continuing Certification program with Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA). Candidates and diplomates interact with the myABR portal for applications, exam registration, and certification management, while the public-facing Certification Verification Tool enables verification of board-certified professionals. The organization also runs the ABMS Scholars Program in partnership with ABMS for research and leadership development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Diagnostic Radiology (DR) Certification Initial board certification for diagnostic radiologists who interpret medical imaging. Candidates complete a 4-year ACGME-accredited DR residency and pass a computer-based Qualifying (Core) Exam plus a Certifying Exam to qualify for independent practice and access Continuing Certification.
• Interventional Radiology/Diagnostic Radiology (IR/DR) Certification Specialty board certification for interventional radiologists specializing in image-guided, minimally invasive procedures. Available through integrated 5-year or independent 2-year IR residency pathways, requiring the DR Qualifying Core Exam plus IR-specific computer-based and oral Certifying Exams, and leading to combined IR/DR certification.
• Medical Physics (MP) Certification Board certification for medical physicists across diagnostic, nuclear, and therapeutic medical physics disciplines. Candidates complete CAMPEP-accredited training and pass Part 1 (General and Clinical), Part 2 qualifying exams, and an oral certifying exam, with a 10-year time limit between Part 1 and board eligibility.
• Radiation Oncology (RO) Certification Board certification for radiation oncologists treating cancer patients through radiation therapy. Candidates pass a three-part qualifying exam covering physics, cancer biology, and clinical knowledge, plus an oral certifying exam, and maintain certification through Continuing Certification.
• Subspecialty Certifications Additional subspecialty certificates in neuroradiology, pediatric radiology, nuclear radiology, and pain medicine, available to existing ABR diplomates in Diagnostic Radiology, IR/DR, or Radiation Oncology. Subspecialty certificate holders must also participate in Continuing Certification.
• Continuing Certification with Online Longitudinal Assessment (OLA) Ongoing professional development program (formerly Maintenance of Certification) required of non-lifetime certificate holders, comprising four parts: Professionalism and Professional Standing, Lifelong Learning (CME/CE), Assessment of Knowledge, Judgment, and Skills via OLA, and Improvement in Medical Practice. Diplomates pay annual fees and complete continuous OLA questions to maintain certified status.
• Certification Verification and Replacement Services Formal verification letters ($30 self-request, $100 third-party request) and replacement or duplicate original certificates printed on linen paper with official raised seal ($100 per copy), available through the ABR for candidates and diplomates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 15.6 million OLA answers submitted since 2019
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Society for Pediatric Radiology (SPR)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026ABR added receptions during SPR annual meetings in 2026 to expand engagement with pediatric radiology professionals.
• Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026ABR added receptions during SNMMI annual meetings in 2026 to engage nuclear medicine and molecular imaging professionals in certification and volunteer activities.
• ABMS Scholars ProgramflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022One-year part-time program facilitating research projects addressing pressing healthcare issues. ABR became involved in 2022 and aims to fund up to four projects annually covering diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, medical physics, and radiation oncology. First scholar was Sara Hunter, MD from Cleveland Clinic.
• Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022ABR hosts annual appreciation receptions during SIR's annual meeting, providing opportunities for ABR leadership to thank volunteers, foster collegial connections, and strengthen relationships with IR professionals.
• Association of Academic Radiology (AAR)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022ABR hosts annual appreciation receptions during AAR annual meetings, engaging academic radiologists in volunteer opportunities and professional development initiatives.
• American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022ABR hosts annual appreciation receptions during ASTRO annual meetings and collaborates on radiation oncology certification standards. ABR Trustee Catheryn Yashar was elected ASTRO President-elect.
• American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022ABR hosts annual appreciation receptions during AAPM annual meetings, engaging medical physicists in certification processes and volunteer opportunities.
• American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ABR is one of 24 Member Boards of ABMS, collaborating to set standards for physician certification and professional development across medical specialties. This membership enables participation in initiatives like the ABMS Scholars Program for research and leadership development.
• Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACGME accredits residency programs that prepare physicians for ABR certification. The ABR references ACGME program requirements and standards in its eligibility criteria, ensuring alignment between training and certification standards.
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCPSC-accredited Canadian residency programs are recognized by the ABR for initial certification eligibility, similar to ACGME-accredited U.S. programs. Allows Canadian training to qualify for ABR certification.
• Cleveland ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleveland Clinic physician Sara Hunter, MD was the first ABR-sponsored ABMS Visiting Scholar in 2022-23, conducting research on Continuing Certification programs including Online Longitudinal Assessment.
• Johns Hopkins UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple ABR Visiting Scholars affiliated with Johns Hopkins, including diagnostic radiology assistant professor Francis Deng, MD and radiation oncology resident Leslie Chang, MD.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Board of Internal Medicine: One of the largest ABMS Member Boards, certifying internists and subspecialists. Directly comparable as a peer ABMS specialty board offering initial certification, Continuing Certification (MOC), and public verification tools using similar volunteer-driven exam development.
• American Board of Surgery: ABMS Member Board certifying surgeons with initial certification and Continuous Certification Program (CCP). Operates the same model as ABR: volunteer-developed exams, secure exam platform, and public verification portal.
• American Board of Pediatrics: ABMS Member Board certifying pediatricians with initial certification, subspecialty certifications, and Maintenance of Certification (MOC). Directly mirrors ABR's structure across four primary disciplines plus subspecialties.
• American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery: ABMS Member Board for orthopaedic surgery offering initial certification, subspecialty certificates, and a Continuing Certification program. Operates a very similar volunteer-exam-based certification model to ABR.
• American Board of Anesthesiology: ABMS Member Board that administers staged initial certification (BASIC, ADVANCED, APPLIED) and MOCA continuing certification. Comparable to ABR in its multi-stage exam architecture and Continuing Certification framework.
• American Board of Pathology: ABMS Member Board certifying pathologists across primary and subspecialty certificates, with a Continuing Certification program. Highly comparable scale and product mix to ABR.
• American Board of Family Medicine: ABMS Member Board offering initial certification, subspecialty certificates, and Continuous Certification through self-assessment modules. Mirrors ABR's recurring engagement model and digital portal strategy.
• American Board of Emergency Medicine: ABMS Member Board certifying emergency physicians with initial certification, subspecialties, and Continuing Certification (ConCert). Directly analogous in structure, lifecycle, and recertification mechanics to ABR.

Broad incumbents

• Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME): The accreditation body for US residency programs that ABR references for eligibility. It is the upstream institutional accreditor whose standards flow into ABR's certification requirements, making it a structural peer and ecosystem partner.

Regional players

• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada: Canada's national specialty certification body whose programs ABR recognizes for initial certification eligibility. Operates the same specialty-board model in a different geography with mutual recognition agreements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ABR_Radiology
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwLP56cur4jkEMwHQxKSp0g/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/ABRRadiology
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-american-board-of-radiology
• Instagraminstagram.com/abr_radiology

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American Board of Radiology