Introduction: The authors sought to identify how physician specialty certification is defined in the North American literature.
Methods: A rigorous, established six-stage scoping review framework was used to identify the North American certification literature published between January 2006 and May 2016 relating to physician specialty certification. Data were abstracted using a charting form developed by the study team. Quantitative summary data and qualitative thematic analysis of the purpose of certification were derived from the extracted data.
Results: A two stage screening process identified 88 articles that met predefined criteria. Only 14 of the 88 articles (16%) contained a referenced purpose of certification. Eighteen definitions were identified from these articles. Definitional concepts included lifelong learning and continuous professional development, assessment of competence and performance, performance improvement, public accountability, and professional standing.
Discussion: Most articles identified in this scoping review did not define certification or describe its purpose or intent. Future studies should provide a definition of certification to further scholarly examination of its intent and effects and inform its further evolution.