Frequently Asked Questions - Recertification Applications and Examinations
A. Application forms for recertification are posted each year in early spring under My Records/My Account and also under each exam's section of the website. An announcement will be posted on the home page at that time and letters sent to eligible diplomates. Go to My Records/My Account, log in, then click on "Online Applications" and then the link for your exam (if available). This will take you to your Status of Application page where you will access all of the application forms, including reference forms, and check the status of your application.
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2) Q. For the operative experience report, do I need to use a calendar year or can I go from, for example, April to April?
A. You may use whichever time period works best for you—either a full calendar year or one year back from when you are applying.
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3) Q. I am affiliated with two hospitals but only performed surgery at one. What should I do?
A. The signature form only needs to be signed by the authenticating official of the hospital(s) from which your cases were reported. If you did not report cases from a hospital, you do not need to obtain a signature.
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4) Q. What information does the ABS operative experience report ask for? Can a surgical report from a hospital be submitted instead?
A. No. The ABS operative experience report must be completed via the ABS website or transmitted electronically from the ACS case log. The report asks only for the numbers of primary procedures performed during the past calendar year or recent 12-month period at the two institutions you utilize the most. No other information is requested. The data from it appears on your signature form, which then must be authenticated by the physician you indicated can attest to its accuracy—this may be the chief of surgery, department head, etc.
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5) Q. I no longer operate and only see patients in my office. What should I submit?
A. In lieu of the operative experience report, please submit a cover letter with your application that provides full details about your current clinical activities. The cover letter should describe your patient contact and any clinical procedures you perform. The two reference forms may be completed by supervisors or peers who are familiar with your clinical activities and can provide knowledgeable attestation to your ethical and professional status.
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6) Q. Where do I obtain the authorization code to transfer operative cases from the ACS or CME from the ACS or SAGES?
A. The authorization codes are listed on the Status of Application page (log in to My Records/My Account, click on "Online Applications" and then your exam). Scroll down to either 1A) CME Repository or 2) Operative Experience Report. The links to perform the respective transfers are posted there as well.
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7) Q. How do I know if the ABS has received my cases from the ACS case log or CME from the ACS or SAGES?
A. When you use the transfer option, you will receive an e-mail from the ACS or SAGES once the transfer has been completed. Please check your e-mail for this message. Cases from the ACS case log are transferred immediately - you will see them listed in your operative experience report. CME data is transferred within one hour - once the transfer has occurred, you will see the CME listed in your CME repository. If you are having trouble transferring your cases or CME, please contact our IT department for assistance.
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8) Q. What type of CME documentation is acceptable for the recertification application?
A. Acceptable documentation of Category I CME would be photocopies of certificates from the primary sponsor of the educational activity clearly stating that it is Category I and accredited by the ACCME or AMA. Please note the ABS no longer accepts Medscape CME activities.
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9) Q. Can CME documentation be sent after the other application materials?
A. Documentation of Category I CME activities should be sent at the same time as the other application materials; the activities must also be listed on the online application form. While sending it later will not incur a late fee, it will delay the review of your application. Applications will not be considered for approval until all required items are at the ABS office.
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10) Q. What is the two-year period that should be used for reporting CME?
A. Either the two prior calendar years OR the two-year period (24 months) prior to applying.
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11) Q. My Category I CME documentation mentions the Physician's Recognition Award (PRA). May it still be used?
A. You may use all of the Category I credit that you obtained toward the PRA, but not the award itself.
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12) Q. Do we receive CME credits for passing the recertification exam?
A. The ABS itself does not offer CME credits; however we will allow you to waive up to 60 Category I CME and self-assessment credits toward MOC (see MOC Part 2), or another recertification exam if taken in the next two years/recent 24-month period. The American Medical Association will also issue AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits for certification or recertification by the ABS or another ABMS board—see the AMA website and direct CME application (pdf).
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13) Q. If I am the chief of surgery and/or chair of the credentials committee, who should complete my reference forms?
A. The form(s) should be filled out by a physician of a comparable position at that institution, such as the chief of staff or medical director, with a note of explanation attached to either the reference form or application. Note that the two forms may not be filled out by the same person.
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14) Q. Can reference forms be sent separately from the other application materials?
A. Yes. They may be sent by the diplomate or by the person completing the form. Either way, the diplomate is responsible for ensuring they have been mailed to the ABS (original signatures required—no faxes, scans or photocopies). While no late fee is assessed if they arrive after the application deadline, the longer they take to arrive, the more you delay the review of your application. Note that the information contained in the reference forms is considered confidential and cannot be discussed with the applicant.
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15) Q. After an application is approved, how many opportunities does a diplomate have to pass a recertification examination?
A. Once an application is approved, a diplomate receives five opportunities in five years to pass the exam; recertification examinations are offered once annually. If you fail or postpone during the five-year period, you will subsequently be contacted with registration information for the next exam. A new application is not necessary until the five-year period is exhausted.
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16) Q. Are there any review courses for the General Surgery Recertification Examination?
A. We do not endorse or critically evaluate any review courses.
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17) Q. How do I obtain SESAP or VESEP?
A. To order SESAP, call the American College of Surgeons at 312-202-5474 or see the SESAP page of their website. VESAP is provided by the Society for Vascular Surgery; see its website's VESAP page for more information.
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1) Where do I find the recertification application forms?
2) For the operative experience report, do I need to use a calendar year or can I go from, for example, April to April?
3) I am affiliated with two hospitals but only performed surgery at one. What should I do?
4) What information does the ABS operative experience report ask for? Can a surgical report from a hospital be submitted instead?
5) I no longer operate and only see patients in my office. What should I submit?
6) Where do I obtain the authorization code to transfer operative cases from the ACS or CME from the ACS or SAGES?
7) How do I know if the ABS has received my cases from the ACS case log or CME from the ACS or SAGES?
8) What type of CME documentation is acceptable for the recertification application?
9) Can CME documentation be sent after the other application materials?
10) What is the two-year period that should be used for reporting CME?
11) My Category I CME documentation mentions the Physician's Recognition Award (PRA). May it still be used?
12) Do we receive CME credits for passing the recertification exam?
13) If I am the chief of surgery and/or chair of the credentials committee, who should complete my reference forms?
14) Can reference forms be sent separately from the other application materials?
15) After an application is approved, how many opportunities does a diplomate have to pass a recertification examination?
16) Are there any review courses for the General Surgery Recertification Examination?
17) How do I obtain SESAP or VESAP?
FAQs - Recertification Applications and Examinations
1) Q. Where do I find the recertification application forms?A. Application forms for recertification are posted each year in early spring under My Records/My Account and also under each exam's section of the website. An announcement will be posted on the home page at that time and letters sent to eligible diplomates. Go to My Records/My Account, log in, then click on "Online Applications" and then the link for your exam (if available). This will take you to your Status of Application page where you will access all of the application forms, including reference forms, and check the status of your application.
Back to Top
2) Q. For the operative experience report, do I need to use a calendar year or can I go from, for example, April to April?
A. You may use whichever time period works best for you—either a full calendar year or one year back from when you are applying.
Back to Top
3) Q. I am affiliated with two hospitals but only performed surgery at one. What should I do?
A. The signature form only needs to be signed by the authenticating official of the hospital(s) from which your cases were reported. If you did not report cases from a hospital, you do not need to obtain a signature.
Back to Top
4) Q. What information does the ABS operative experience report ask for? Can a surgical report from a hospital be submitted instead?
A. No. The ABS operative experience report must be completed via the ABS website or transmitted electronically from the ACS case log. The report asks only for the numbers of primary procedures performed during the past calendar year or recent 12-month period at the two institutions you utilize the most. No other information is requested. The data from it appears on your signature form, which then must be authenticated by the physician you indicated can attest to its accuracy—this may be the chief of surgery, department head, etc.
Back to Top
5) Q. I no longer operate and only see patients in my office. What should I submit?
A. In lieu of the operative experience report, please submit a cover letter with your application that provides full details about your current clinical activities. The cover letter should describe your patient contact and any clinical procedures you perform. The two reference forms may be completed by supervisors or peers who are familiar with your clinical activities and can provide knowledgeable attestation to your ethical and professional status.
Back to Top
6) Q. Where do I obtain the authorization code to transfer operative cases from the ACS or CME from the ACS or SAGES?
A. The authorization codes are listed on the Status of Application page (log in to My Records/My Account, click on "Online Applications" and then your exam). Scroll down to either 1A) CME Repository or 2) Operative Experience Report. The links to perform the respective transfers are posted there as well.
Back to Top
7) Q. How do I know if the ABS has received my cases from the ACS case log or CME from the ACS or SAGES?
A. When you use the transfer option, you will receive an e-mail from the ACS or SAGES once the transfer has been completed. Please check your e-mail for this message. Cases from the ACS case log are transferred immediately - you will see them listed in your operative experience report. CME data is transferred within one hour - once the transfer has occurred, you will see the CME listed in your CME repository. If you are having trouble transferring your cases or CME, please contact our IT department for assistance.
Back to Top
8) Q. What type of CME documentation is acceptable for the recertification application?
A. Acceptable documentation of Category I CME would be photocopies of certificates from the primary sponsor of the educational activity clearly stating that it is Category I and accredited by the ACCME or AMA. Please note the ABS no longer accepts Medscape CME activities.
Back to Top
9) Q. Can CME documentation be sent after the other application materials?
A. Documentation of Category I CME activities should be sent at the same time as the other application materials; the activities must also be listed on the online application form. While sending it later will not incur a late fee, it will delay the review of your application. Applications will not be considered for approval until all required items are at the ABS office.
Back to Top
10) Q. What is the two-year period that should be used for reporting CME?
A. Either the two prior calendar years OR the two-year period (24 months) prior to applying.
Back to Top
11) Q. My Category I CME documentation mentions the Physician's Recognition Award (PRA). May it still be used?
A. You may use all of the Category I credit that you obtained toward the PRA, but not the award itself.
Back to Top
12) Q. Do we receive CME credits for passing the recertification exam?
A. The ABS itself does not offer CME credits; however we will allow you to waive up to 60 Category I CME and self-assessment credits toward MOC (see MOC Part 2), or another recertification exam if taken in the next two years/recent 24-month period. The American Medical Association will also issue AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits for certification or recertification by the ABS or another ABMS board—see the AMA website and direct CME application (pdf).
Back to Top
13) Q. If I am the chief of surgery and/or chair of the credentials committee, who should complete my reference forms?
A. The form(s) should be filled out by a physician of a comparable position at that institution, such as the chief of staff or medical director, with a note of explanation attached to either the reference form or application. Note that the two forms may not be filled out by the same person.
Back to Top
14) Q. Can reference forms be sent separately from the other application materials?
A. Yes. They may be sent by the diplomate or by the person completing the form. Either way, the diplomate is responsible for ensuring they have been mailed to the ABS (original signatures required—no faxes, scans or photocopies). While no late fee is assessed if they arrive after the application deadline, the longer they take to arrive, the more you delay the review of your application. Note that the information contained in the reference forms is considered confidential and cannot be discussed with the applicant.
Back to Top
15) Q. After an application is approved, how many opportunities does a diplomate have to pass a recertification examination?
A. Once an application is approved, a diplomate receives five opportunities in five years to pass the exam; recertification examinations are offered once annually. If you fail or postpone during the five-year period, you will subsequently be contacted with registration information for the next exam. A new application is not necessary until the five-year period is exhausted.
Back to Top
16) Q. Are there any review courses for the General Surgery Recertification Examination?
A. We do not endorse or critically evaluate any review courses.
Back to Top
17) Q. How do I obtain SESAP or VESEP?
A. To order SESAP, call the American College of Surgeons at 312-202-5474 or see the SESAP page of their website. VESAP is provided by the Society for Vascular Surgery; see its website's VESAP page for more information.
Back to Top
