[The specialty certification boards]

A synthesis of the historical background of the councils for specialty certification in Mexico is presented. A comment is made on the role of the National Academy of Medicine and on its relation to the councils. Some statistical data are given on the councils endorsed by the Academy, which up to April 1992 grouped 29,093 physicians throughout the country. Finally, a brief comment is made on the future of these organization in Mexico and the increasing influence they will exert on the regulation of specialized medical practice.