THE AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGERY | ABSURGERY.ORG PAGE 1 OF 2
The ABS Continuous Certification
Program is designed to provide
flexible, high-quality, practice-
relevant learning and assessment
to support surgeons in their
practice as they maintain their ABS
board certification.
Continuous Certification
Assessment
As part of this program, the Continuous Certifi-
cation Assessment has replaced the traditional
recertification exam for all ABS specialties and
sub-specialties. The assessments focus on
the latest and most important developments in
their respective practice areas, to assist ABS
diplomates in staying up to date.
Assessment Structure
• General surgery assessment is modular:
» 20 questions on core surgical principles
» 20 questions on a practice-related area
of the diplomate’s choosing
• Complex general surgery oncology, hand
surgery, pediatric surgery, surgical critical
care, and vascular surgery assessments are
not modular at this time
Assessment Details
• Take assessment using your own computer
• Once assessment is started:
» Two weeks to complete
» Ability to save and continue later
» Individual questions are not timed
• If taking more than one assessment, you can
begin each assessment on a different date
within assessment window
• Immediate feedback provided
» Two attempts to answer correctly
• A fail does not necessarily affect certification
status — see information about the grace
year on the following page.
Topics and references for all assessments will
be published in advance of the assessment
window on the ABS website.
Enrollment
Diplomates whose certificate expires at the end
of 2022 will use the new assessment to continue
their certification. Diplomates are not required to
take the new assessment until the year in which
their current certificate is due to expire.
All diplomates must continue to meet the other
ongoing requirements of the ABS Continuous
Certification Program.
See the next page for requirements and more.
Continuous Certification Program
Summary
THE AMERICAN BOARD OF SURGERY | ABSURGERY.ORG PAGE 2 OF 2
Continuous Certification
Program Requirements
Diplomates should keep their information
regarding these requirements up to date in
their ABS portal:
• A valid, full and unrestricted medical
license
• Hospital/surgical center privileges if
clinically active
• Adherence with the ABS Ethics &
Professionalism policy
• Practice improvement: Ongoing partici-
pation in a local, regional or national
outcomes registry or quality assessment
program
• 150 Category-1 CME credits from the past
five years, 50 of which must include self-
assessment
» Requirement will change to 125
Category-1 CME credits with no self-
assessment required after passing
first assessment, beginning Jan. 1 of
the year following the first successful
assessment attempt
• Annual fee once participating in new
assessment process
Grace Year
A grace year will be offered the following year
for diplomates who are enrolled in the program
and need to retake the assessment.
These diplomates will not lose certification until
the end of the grace year, as long as they are
current with their annual fee payment.
Advantages of the Continuous
Certification Program
• Evaluates knowledge and judgment more
relevant to a surgeon’s daily practice
• Assures patients that ABS-certified surgeons
are staying current in their area of practice
• Less need to prepare, less anxiety to take
• No travel or time away from practice
Registration
Registration for all 2024 Continuous Certifica-
tion Assessments will open on August 1, 2024.
All assessments will be available from August 26
- November 4, 2024.
The last day to begin the assessment to ensure
that you have the full two weeks for completion
is Monday, October 21, 2024.
See www.absurgery.org for more info:
• Continuous Certification Program Overview
• Continuous Certification Program
Requirements
• Continuous Certification Assessment
• Continuing Medical Education (CME)
• Frequently Asked Questions
Please make sure to keep your contact
information in the ABS Surgeon Portal up to date
for updates regarding Continuous Certification.
For specific questions, send an email to
cc@absurgery.org.
