About ABCL

The formation of the American Board of Clinical Lipidology was spearheaded by the National Lipid Association (NLA), the professional society serving health care professionals specializing in lipid management and preventive cardiology. Primary goals of the Board are to establish lipidology as an independent medical specialty, help build a foundation of educational opportunities that will provide lipid specialists with the ability to advance their professional development, validate their knowledge and advanced training in the field and ultimately, allow them to demonstrate their commitment to lipidology by obtaining certification as a clinical lipid specialist.

The ABCL was incorporated in 2003 as a private, not-for-profit corporation. Board members are elected by the Board of Directors and serve three-year terms. The ABCL is an independent certifying organization, separate from the National Lipid Association and any other organization, association or society. Although the ABCL and the NLA are independent from each other, the two organizations will work closely together to ensure that there are adequate educational opportunities for lipid professionals to help them meet the prerequisites of the ABCL certifying examination.

The Board receives no public funds or commercial support and has no licensing authority or function.

Obtaining certification in clinical lipidology is purely voluntary and not a requirement for practicing medicine, but is highly recommended as a way for physicians to validate that they have met the rigorous standards established by the ABCL. Certification by the ABCL does not confer credentialing, privileges to practice or licensing. The ABCL does not intend either to interfere with or to restrict the professional activities of a licensed physician based on certification status.