Resources for Programs
Key documents
Timelines, booklets, curriculum information, and more.
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For Residency & Fellowship Programs
Information related to ABS certification requirements for program directors, program administrators and other program faculty.
Portal Login
Log in to your program’s ABS portal
The program login is separate from the standard ABS candidate or diplomate login. The program portal is where programs can update their trainee roster, place In-Training Examination orders, update program contact information, and access important program-specific documents and notices.
In-Training Examinations
ABS offers In-Training Examinations for general surgery, vascular surgery, and pediatric surgery
The ABS In-Training Examination (ABSITE), Vascular Surgery In-Training Examination (VSITE), and Pediatric Surgery In-Training Examination (PSITE) are offered annually to related ACGME- and RCPSC-accredited surgical training programs. They are multiple-choice exams designed to measure the progress attained by surgical trainees in their knowledge of applied science and management of clinical problems related to their surgical specialty area.
Important Dates
Upcoming examinations and related application deadlines
3/15 - 5/31
2024
General Surgery QE/CE Readmissibility
Location: Pearson VUE testing centers
Fee: TBD
Application Deadline: 2/1/2024
Fee: $450
3/26 - 4/6
2024
Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Focused Practice Designation Examination
Location: Pearson VUE testing centers
Fee: $750
Application Deadline: 4/1/2024
Fee: $550
5/13 - 5/15
2024
Vascular Surgery Certifying Examination
Location: Virtual
Fee: $1,700
Registration available following the release of 2023 VSQE results.
7/18
2024
General Surgery Qualifying Examination
Location: Pearson VUE testing centers
Fee: $1,525
Application Deadline: 5/13/2024
Fee: $550
8/5
2024
Hand Surgery Certifying Examination
Location: Pearson VUE testing centers
Fee: $1,725
Application Deadline: 3/1/2024
Fee: $550
Late App Deadline: 3/15/2024
Fee: $750
8/26 - 11/4
2024
Continuous Certification Assessment
Location: Virtual
Fee: $285
Registration Start: 8/1/2024 - 11/4/2024
The $285 annual fee covers one assessment every other year, free access to all assessment reference materials, and general Continuous Certification Program participation.
Global Requirements for Certification
Required of all candidates for certification
The following items are required of all candidates for ABS certification, no matter what specialty or subspecialty certification they are applying for.
- Accredited Program: Have satisfactorily completed a training program in the specific specialty area accredited by the ACGME or the RCPSC.
- Training: Have met all ABS training requirements for graduate education in the specific specialty area.
- Operative Log/Case Log: Submit an operative experience report that meets ABS standards of volume, complexity, and diversity of cases in the specific specialty area.
- Professional Activity: Be actively and primarily engaged in the specific practice area as indicated by holding full surgical privileges in the discipline at an accredited health care institution, or be currently engaged in pursuing additional graduate education in another recognized surgical specialty. An exception to this requirement is active military duty.
- Medical License: Have a currently registered full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the U.S. or Canada. Note: possession of a medical license is not required for application to the general surgery or vascular surgery exam process but is required for all other specialties.
- Adhere to the ABS Ethics and Professionalism Policy.
Entrustable Professional Activities
Now being implemented at all U.S.-based general surgery programs
On July 1, 2023, the ABS introduced Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) at all ACGME-accredited general surgery residency programs in an effort to promote competency-based assessment of surgical trainees.
EPAs are also in the early stages of development for the other ABS specialties, including vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, complex general surgical oncology, and surgical critical care, with plans to introduce this trainee assessment model to those specialty programs in the coming years as well.
Program News
Announcements for residency and/or fellowship programs
10/07/2022
General Surgery Program Director Update – October 2022
With the 2022-2023 academic year underway, the ABS would like to remind programs of our policies and alert them to several changes to...
06/23/2022
ABS Announces More Flexible Family Leave Policy for Fellowship-Based Trainees
The ABS is pleased to announce a more flexible family leave policy for trainees completing a vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, surgical oncology, or...
02/14/2022
ABS Announces Transition to Entrustable Professional Activities for General Surgery Resident Evaluation
The ABS is pleased to introduce the ABS Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA) Project, which will launch in July 2023 for general surgery residency...
General Surgery Residency Program Pass Rates
Three-year average pass rate of first-time examinees on general surgery initial certification examinations
The report posted below provides the most recent three-year average pass rate of first-time examinees on the General Surgery Qualifying Examination (QE) and General Surgery Certifying Examination (CE) for all ACGME-accredited general surgery residency programs with three years of examinee data.
The information is updated annually to reflect the rolling three-year experience. The current report encompasses examination results from July 2020 through June 2022.
This report is meant for the use of general surgery residency programs and for medical students who are interested in surgical residencies, as one factor that may be relevant in the evaluation of residency characteristics. The information is not considered in any way to reflect on the quality of care provided to patients by the parent institution..