Information Letter IL 10-97-031 set forth a requirement that VA physicians appointed to a clinical setting on or after July 1, 1997 be Board Certified in their specialty.

THIS LETTER WAS WITHDRAWN EFFECTIVE January 11, 2001.

The new directive on this issue is VHA DIRECTIVE 2001-001.  The heart of the new directive is:

"It is VHA policy that VA health care facilities may hire non-board certified physicians without a waiver from the Chief Patient Care Services Officer.  However, the facility Director and Chief of Staff will ensure that any non-board certified physician, or physician not eligible for board certification, is otherwise well qualified and fully capable of providing high quality care for veteran patients."