Board Certification
Dr. Roscoe Nelson is a Board-certified Urologists. What Does This Mean?
Certification in urology is under the auspices of the American Board of Urology (ABU). ABU arranges and conducts examinations testing the qualifications of candidates who present themselves voluntarily for certification. Completion of the requirements for certification in urology requires the successful passage of a qualifying written examination which must be taken within three years after completing an approved urology residency.
After successful passage of this written qualifying examination, a second certifying examination must be taken within five years after notification of successful completion of the written examination. This certifying examination consists of pathology, uroradiology, and a standardized oral examination.
Over the past decade, approximately 80% of the candidates taking the written qualifying examination have passed, with the highest passing rate being among United States Medical School graduates. The certifying examination also has a failure rate of about 20%. ABU certification was initially for a 10-year period. Since 2007, however, those doctors who become certified, recertified, or subspecialty certified enter a process of Maintenance of Certification (MOC). MOC is designed to evaluate the continued competence of a diplomate. The recertification/MOC process extends over a 10-year period, with some requirements in the process to be completed every two years.
What Constitutes Residency Training in Urology?
To qualify for ABU certification, a candidate must complete an approved urologic residency-training program. A minimum of five years of clinical postgraduate education is required; of which 12 months must be spent in general surgery and 36 months must be spent in clinical urology. The remaining 12 months must be spent in general surgery, urology, or other clinical disciplines relevant to urology and acceptable to the Board.
Dr. Nelson completed two years of general surgery training and four years of urology residency, including his chief residency year at the University of California-Davis.
Urological residencies are subject to periodic reviews by the Residency Review Committee (RRC) for Urology, which operates under the umbrella of the American Medical Association (AMA) with representation from ABU, American College of Surgeons (ACS), and the Council on Medical Education – AMA. The accreditation process is an in-depth review of the resident experience, including the quantity of clinical material and quality of the teaching program. RRC’s role is to protect the interest of the resident by ensuring that the educational expectations implicit in the training program will be met.