Nonaccredited fellowships

[Burnted_out]

Do non-accredited fellowships provide some sort of certificate when fellows are done? How do they prove the fellowship was done?

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[colbgw02]

You get branded, but they euphemistically call it a "tattoo".

 

[colbgw02]

To be serious, of course they provide a certificate, but it's not like these things are designed and printed by the U.S. mint. It'd be easy to fake, if one were so inclined. The real proof comes when the privileging body requires their own form to be signed by the program, thereby verifying that you completed the fellowship. I used to sign several a week for former fellows who were changing jobs or wanting to moonlight.

Also, at least for my field, doing a fellowship doesn't necessarily convey privileges that aren't open to generalists in one's specialty. I have been known simply to omit my fellowship from privileging packets to avoid the extra paperwork and hassle. My board certification was sufficient.

 

[Burnted_out]

To be serious, of course they provide a certificate, but it's not like these things are designed and printed by the U.S. mint. It'd be easy to fake, if one were so inclined. The real proof comes when the privileging body requires their own form to be signed by the program, thereby verifying that you completed the fellowship. I used to sign several a week for former fellows who were changing jobs or wanting to moonlight.

Also, at least for my field, doing a fellowship doesn't necessarily convey privileges that aren't open to generalists in one's specialty. I have been known simply to omit my fellowship from privileging packets to avoid the extra paperwork and hassle. My board certification was sufficient.

Well so I graduated residency, went into private practice at a job that ended up being not what I was told would be, and realistically my area is so incredibly saturated that you can't do anything without a fellowship - at least in terms of outpatient. So my options are to move out of state or do a year fellowship. There are a number of nonaccredited fellowships that are available, and another 'fellowship' type opportunity at a private practice. The issue with the private practice is that apparently it's not a fellowship that they typically run but they agreed to train someone last year and are amenable to do so again. Apparently the person that they trained is joining the practice and has partnership now so it seems more legit. However I don't know what the difference is realistically - none of these fellowships are accredited, but looking up the grads they all seem to be working reasonable jobs, however they are not certified in the subspecialty given the non accredited status of their fellowships. I was told by the private practice that I can sit for the credentialing boards at the end of the year, but I am not sure I would get any type of certificate saying hey you did this fellowship,but appears I would get reasonable training and board certification.
Reason why I'm asking. Sorry it's such a long explanation!
I am uncertain what to do. In part because I would like to start something in January if I do this and get it over with so trying to figure things out on a short timeframe.

 

[colbgw02]

If a subspecialist certification, issued by your specialty's board, exists, then I would not do any additional training in that subspecialty that would not allow you to get that certificate. The exception might be if a group agrees to hire you contingent on completion of the fellowship, irrespective of its accreditation status.

Put another way, the situation you want to avoid is completing a fellowship that doesn't lead to subspecialty certification AND not being able to get a job because of it.

 

[Burnted_out]

If a subspecialist certification, issued by your specialty's board, exists, then I would not do any additional training in that subspecialty that would not allow you to get that certificate. The exception might be if a group agrees to hire you contingent on completion of the fellowship, irrespective of its accreditation status.

Put another way, the situation you want to avoid is completing a fellowship that doesn't lead to subspecialty certification AND not being able to get a job because of it.

But that's the thing - there are a ton! of these fellowships across the country and most grads seem to be working with no problem. Not to. make it nebulous I am talking about pain and spine fellowships. So all spine fellowships are nonaccredited so grads cant get certified through any board but I am not sure if they get a certificate saying they completed a fellowship? But most spine fellows work with no problem.
The place I'm looking at is telling me that I would be able to get board certified at the end of the year and have filled out paperwork for the previous person who did this and she will be getting board certified in the future, and has joined the practice too apparently.

 

[colbgw02]

There are a number of nonaccredited fellowships that are available, and another 'fellowship' type opportunity at a private practice...none of these fellowships are accredited, but looking up the grads they all seem to be working reasonable jobs, however they are not certified in the subspecialty given the non accredited status of their fellowships. I was told by the private practice that I can sit for the credentialing boards at the end of the year, but I am not sure I would get any type of certificate saying hey you did this fellowship,but appears I would get reasonable training and board certification

So all spine fellowships are nonaccredited so grads cant get certified through any board...The place I'm looking at is telling me that I would be able to get board certified at the end of the year

I'm thoroughly confused. On one hand you say that all of these fellowships are nonaccredited and you can't get board certified. On the other, you say that at least one of them will allow you to sit for the boards at the end of the year. Which is it?

 

[rokshana]

But that's the thing - there are a ton! of these fellowships across the country and most grads seem to be working with no problem. Not to. make it nebulous I am talking about pain and spine fellowships. So all spine fellowships are nonaccredited so grads cant get certified through any board but I am not sure if they get a certificate saying they completed a fellowship? But most spine fellows work with no problem.
The place I'm looking at is telling me that I would be able to get board certified at the end of the year and have filled out paperwork for the previous person who did this and she will be getting board certified in the future, and has joined the practice too apparently.

but is there anyone who has actually become BC through their fellowship?

 

[Burnted_out]

I'm thoroughly confused. On one hand you say that all of these fellowships are nonaccredited and you can't get board certified. On the other, you say that at least one of them will allow you to sit for the boards at the end of the year. Which is it?

Sorry if I am unclear. I am saying that there are interventional spine fellowships that people undergo sometimes. All spine fellowships are non-accredited so these individuals cannot become board certified in them but seem to work with no problem.
The fellowship I have been offered is non-accredited, pain fellowship. However the program is telling me that for THIS particular fellowship you can sit for the pain boards and the other person who has undergone THIS fellowship has been approved to sit for the pain boards through one of the accreditation bodies.
My question is - if one is going to do a non-accredited fellowship (and yes I am aware that accredited is best in a perfect world scenario) - does it really matter which one of these one goes to?
Hope that's more clear.

 

[Burnted_out]

but is there anyone who has actually become BC through their fellowship?

My understanding is that she has been given the green light to sit for the boards. whether this person passes the boards or not is a different story.

 

[colbgw02]

Sorry if I am unclear. I am saying that there are interventional spine fellowships that people undergo sometimes. All spine fellowships are non-accredited so these individuals cannot become board certified in them but seem to work with no problem.
The fellowship I have been offered is non-accredited, pain fellowship. However the program is telling me that for THIS particular fellowship you can sit for the pain boards and the other person who has undergone THIS fellowship has been approved to sit for the pain boards through one of the accreditation bodies.
My question is - if one is going to do a non-accredited fellowship (and yes I am aware that accredited is best in a perfect world scenario) - does it really matter which one of these one goes to?
Hope that's more clear.

Thanks for the clarification.

I would not worry at all about doing an interventional spine fellowship if it is industry standard for them to be unaccredited. You will not be at a disadvantage job-wise.

If the pain fellowship offers the opportunity to sit for boards, then you should do it. However, I would not choose that fellowship because of its path to certification - choose it only because it is where you want to be.