The American Board of Urology (ABU) is organized to encourage study, improve standards, and promote competency in the practice of Urology. The Board evaluates candidates who are duly licensed to practice medicine, and arranges and conducts examinations for the purpose of certification, subspecialty certification, recertification, and ongoing maintenance of certification. Certificates are conferred by the Board to candidates who successfully complete all requirements for a given certificate.

The ABU certifies urologic physicians who meet its educational, professional standing, and examination criteria. To become certified, a urologist must have core competencies in all domains of urology, including but not limited to pediatric urology, endourology, female urology, andrology, oncology, urolithiasis, and general urology.  All certified urologists are trained to evaluate and treat all patients with urological disorders.

Application for certification is strictly voluntary. The Board makes no attempt to control the practice of urology by license or legal regulation, and in no way interferes with or limits the professional activities of any duly licensed physician. The ABU is not a membership organization.

The purpose of the American Board of Urology is:

1. To improve the quality of urologic care
2. To establish and maintain high standards of excellence in the specialty of Urology and its approved subspecialties
3. To encourage the study, and advance the cause of Urology.
4. To evaluate specialists in Urology who apply for initial and continuous certification and urologists in approved subspecialties who apply for subcertification.
5. To grant and issue to qualified physicians certificates of special knowledge and skills in Urology and approved subspecialties, and to suspend or revoke same
6. To serve the public, hospitals, medical schools, medical societies, and practitioners of medicine by furnishing lists of urologists whom it has certified to the American Board of Medical Specialties and the American Medical Association.

The American Board of Urology was organized in Chicago on September 24, 1934. It was incorporated May 6, 1935, in Dover, Delaware, and held its first legal meeting on May 10, 1935. It is a non-profit organization.

The Board of Trustees has twelve members (including officers). The Trustees are nominated by their societies, with two new Trustees elected annually in August. Once elected, each Trustee serves a six-year term. No salary is paid for service on the Board. 

The nominating societies of this Board and sponsors of its activities are as follows:

The American Board of Urology and 23 other medical specialty boards are members of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which includes as associate members the Association of American Medical Colleges, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, the Federation of State Medical Boards of the U.S.A., the National Board of Medical Examiners, and the Council of Medical Specialty Societies.

Back row (from left):
Gerald H.Jordan, MD; Timothy B.Boone, MD; Ralph V. Clayman, MD; William D. Steers, MD;  Barry A. Kogan, MD; Margaret S. Pearle, MD; Paul H.Lange, MD; Michael O. Koch, MD;

Front row (from left): 
Robert R. Bahnson, MD; David A. Bloom, MD; W. Bedford Waters, MD; Peter R. Carroll, MD; Howard Snyder,III, MD; Stuart S. Howards, MD; John B. Forrest, MD

The American Board of Urology receives its funding from application fees and contributions made by its Diplomates. 

A Financial Statement of the American Board of Urology is available upon written request from the Office of Consumer Affairs, Commonwealth of Virginia, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA  23218.