# Board certification

> Board certification is an optional credential showing a lawyer met extra standards in one field. Any licensed lawyer can take a car accident case.

Canonical page: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/board-certification/  
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026 by the Accident Claim Facts editorial team  
General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

## Quick answer

Board certification is an optional credential for lawyers. It shows that a lawyer met extra standards of experience, testing and education in one field of law, set by a state program or by an organization accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). A lawyer does not need it to practice or to handle a car accident case.

## In a car accident claim

Any licensed lawyer may take a crash case, so certification is one signal among many. Under the ABA's model rule, a lawyer should say they are certified as a specialist only if they are certified by an organization approved by a state authority or accredited by the American Bar Association, and the certifying organization must be named. States adopt their own versions of this rule.

Certification comes from two kinds of bodies. Some states run their own programs; Texas, for example, certifies lawyers in Personal Injury Trial Law through the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. The ABA also accredits private programs and lists 8 organizations with accredited lawyer certification programs. Our guide to [checking a lawyer's license](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/check-a-lawyers-license/) explains how to confirm a license and any certification, and [questions to ask a lawyer](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/questions-to-ask-a-lawyer/) covers experience more broadly.

## Example

> **Example:** Two licensed lawyers in the same city both handle crash cases. One's website says "Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization"; the other has no certification. Both may take the case. The client checks the first lawyer's listing with the board, then asks both lawyers how many similar cases they have handled.

## Related terms

- [Contingency fee](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/contingency-fee/)
- [Fee agreement](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/fee-agreement/)
- [Lawyer referral service](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/glossary/lawyer-referral-service/)

## FAQ

### Does a car accident lawyer need to be board certified?

No. A license to practice in the state is what the law requires. Certification is an extra credential that some lawyers choose to earn.

### How can I check whether a lawyer is board certified?

Look up the lawyer with the certifying organization named in the claim. Under the ABA's model rule, a lawyer who claims certification must name the organization that certified them.

## Sources

- [American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Specialization](https://www.americanbar.org/groups/specialization/) — what lawyer certification is and who accredits it
- [Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Personal Injury Trial Law](https://www.tbls.org/specialtyarea/PI) — an example of a state certification program
- [American Bar Association, Model Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 7.2(c)](https://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/publications/model_rules_of_professional_conduct/rule_7_2_advertising/), checked October 29, 2026
- [American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Specialization, ABA Accredited Programs](https://www.americanbar.org/groups/specialization/organizations-with-aba-accredited-lawyer-certification-programs/), checked October 29, 2026