When the process of certification was begun, physicians were awarded certificates that were not time-limited and therefore did not have to be renewed. In recognition of the pace of change in medical knowledge, a program of re-certification through a periodic process (every ten years) of credential review and further examination was established. Realizing that this process cannot assess how a physician is evolving his or her knowledge and skills after the initial certificate or re-certification is awarded, the ReCertification program was created in 1998 as the new gold standard. The ASAM certificate is recognized throughout the world as signifying excellence in the practice of Addiction Medicine. It demonstrates that a doctor has met vigorous standards through intensive study, assessment, and evaluation. Certification is designed to assure the public that a medical specialist has successfully completed an approved educational program and an evaluation, including a secure examination designed to assess the knowledge, experience, and skills requisite to the provision of high quality patient care

Reasons to become ASAM ReCertified:

• Treatment Centers, hospitals, and yes, even managed care organizations
  actively seek and recruit ASAM Certified Members to provide direction
  and leadership for their programs.
• ASAM ReCertification provides physicians with career opportunities,
  education, and access to experts in the field.
• An ASAM-certified physician is one who has shown mastery of the
  knowledge expected of a physician practicing in the field of alcoholism
  and other drug dependencies. Certification is an evolutionary process,
  and periodic demonstration of the mastery of current knowledge is a
  critical element.
• Recognition by peers and CD staff as knowledgeable in addiction medicine.
• Many states such as New Jersey require their medical Directors to be
  Certified in Addiction Medicine.
• State Hospitals and Medical Facilities call on ASAM Certified Physicians
  for testimony and identifying legislation that affects substance abuse
  issues and treatment.
• The widely recognized National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA)
  1999 Standards for Accreditation of Managed Behavioral Healthcare
  Organizations (MBHOs) require MBHOs accredited by NCQA to have policies
  and procedures for credentialing "psychiatrists and/or physicians who
  are certified in addiction medicine." NCQA recognition of addiction
  certified physicians gives added value to the ASAM certificate by making
  ASAM-certified physicians eligible to be credentialed by NCQA-accredited
  MBHOs.
• Credibility with third party payers when advocating for patient treatment/length of stay.
• Since its inception in 1986, ASAM has certified more than 3,300
  physicians in the specialty of Addiction Medicine. ASAM also offers a
  subsection for those physicians interested in being certified as a
  Medical Review Officer.
• The importance of ASAM ReCertification is in direct proportion to the
  credibility of the Certifying Organization, ASAM. How credible is ASAM?
  ASAM is represented in the AMA house of delegates, is recognized as a
  Specialty Code, and is a member of the Council of Medical Societies of
  American College of Physicians.
• No physician can be interested in the field of addiction medicine
  without being involved in most if not all of the purposes toward which ASAM
  is working. Joining the significant others who are dedicated to these
  endeavors offers the individual physician a platform, a team, and a sounding
  board, all of which are needed before one can synthesize and fully develop
  scientific concepts. For a physician interested in addiction, there is no
  other professional option that offers the same opportunities for growth and
  development.
• ASAM is constantly working to achieve specialty status for Addiction Medicine with the American Board of Medical Specialties.
• For those physicians interested in faculty appointments (either
  voluntary or full time) at a medical school, the demonstration of
  certification by an outside recognized agency will serve to enhance
  their applications.