United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS)

ACCREDITATION:UCNS-accredited programs demonstrate that they meet the standards of graduate medical education excellence set by the UCNS and the subspecialty experts of each of the UCNS-recognized subspecialties. The peer-reviewed accreditation process is overseen by the Accreditation Council, a standing committee reporting to the UCNS Board of Directors. As of the end of 2022, United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS) has accredited 234 programs in nine subspecialties.

CONTINUING CERTIFICATION: UCNS continuous certification (C-cert) provides diplomates with a relevant, effective, timely, and convenient way to meet the needs of lifelong learning and self-assessment. UCNS diplomates maintain their certification by meeting annual C-cert requirements. Diplomates must possess an active, unrestricted license to practice medicine, be a diplomate in good standing of the ABMS, AOA, or RCPSC, pay the annual C-cert administrative fee, read annual designated subspecialty journal articles, and pass an annual online knowledge assessment quiz.

INITIAL CERTIFICATION:UCNS offers high-stakes certification examinations for eight neurologic subspecialties. Physicians through this certification process demonstrate that they meet the standards of medical education excellence set by the UCNS and the subspecialty experts of each of the UCNS-recognized subspecialties. The peer-reviewed accreditation process is overseen by the Accreditation Council, a standing committee reporting to the UCNS Board of Directors. In 2022, certification examinations were offered for the neurologic subspecialties of Autonomic Disorders, Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry, Headache Medicine, and Interventional Neurology. As of the end of 2022 there are 3,134 UCNS-certified physicians.