Overview
The process through which surgeons achieve initial certification in their chosen specialty area
Education and Training
- Medical School: Surgeons seeking board certification by the ABS must have graduated from an accredited medical school in the U.S. or Canada, or be certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.
- Residency and Fellowship Training: Following medical school, surgeons must complete at least five years of training in a residency program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Certification in one of several ABS subspecialties then requires an additional 1-2 years of fellowship training.
- Experience: During their training, surgeons must acquire extensive operative experience and a broad knowledge of disease management.
Application for Certification
- Application: Upon completion of their surgical training, surgeons can apply to enter the ABS initial certification process. When applying, they must fully document their training and operative experience, and the director of their training program must attest to their surgical skills, ethics and professionalism.
- Approval: If their application is approved, the surgeon is admitted to the required ABS exams for certification.
- Medical License: In addition, all surgeons must hold a valid, full and unrestricted U.S. or Canadian medical license before they can become certified.
Examinations for Certification
- Written Exam: Surgeons must first pass a lengthy written examination known as the Qualifying Examination, which assesses their surgical knowledge.
- Oral Exam: Surgeons must then pass an oral examination called the Certifying Examination, which tests their surgical judgment and decision making. Candidates are examined by experienced surgeons who evaluate their ability to diagnose and treat diverse surgical problems.
- Certification: If successful on both examinations, the surgeon is deemed board certified and becomes a diplomate of the ABS.
