The Answer
In order to ensure that the public receives the best health care possible from the most qualified doctors, the medical profession has organized itself by specialty to set standards of education, training, and experience that are appropriate to each specialty. This has been done through the creation of the American Board of Medical Specialties, which determines which boards are the most qualified to certify doctors in specific specialties, including plastic purgery.

The Board
The American Board of Medical Specialties recognizes only one board as qualified to certify plastic surgeons: The American Board of Plastic Surgery. The American Board of Plastic Surgery has the most stringent requirements for certification in plastic surgery of any organization that certifies plastic surgeons. A plastic surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery has graduated from an accredited medical school and has completed at least five years of additional training as a resident surgeon, which includes minimums of three years in general surgery and two years in plastic surgery. Additionally, the doctor has successfully completed comprehensive written and oral examinations.

The Others
There are a number of other boards that certify doctors in cosmetic surgery. However, generally, these organizations do not require a doctor to meet the stringent criteria established by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, but grant "board certification" pursuant to substantially lesser requirements. There is no organization that requires the high standards for board certification that are required by The American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Associations
There are also a number of professional organizations and associations for which plastic surgeons belong. There are two of these that require board certification by The American Board of Plastic Surgery as a criterion for membership. These are the American Society of Plastic Surgeons ("ASPS") and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery ("ASAPS").