Taking QE After PGY-4

• As of 2016, the ABS permits eligible residents to apply for and take the General Surgery QE following their PGY-4 year.

Eligibility Requirements

As of 2021, PGY-4 applicants, upon program director recommendation, may apply for and take the QE without meeting the required ABS case numbers. A case log meeting the ABS case numbers will be required to be submitted in June of their chief year.

Program directors and program administrators must request access to the online application process for any eligible PGY-4 residents by contacting the exam coordinator. Please allow 3-5 business days to process these requests. Program directors and program administrators will be emailed the QE information letter that will include temporary log-in credentials for their PGY-4 residents.

To be eligible, the PGY-4 resident must meet all ABS training and application requirements at the time of application to the QE, except for the required case numbers as noted above.

This includes:

• 48 weeks of full-time clinical activity in each residency year (see also Leave Policy)
• Training completed at no more than 3 residency programs
• Current or past certification in ACLS and ATLS

• Please refer to our training requirements area for more details and a full list of requirements.
• Other Policies: PGY-4 applicants must also be in compliance with other ABS policies.
  Application Access: Program directors must request access to the online application process for any eligible PGY-4 residents by contacting the exam coordinator.

Additional Information After PGY-5

• If the resident completed the QE without having met the required ABS case numbers, a case log meeting the ABS case numbers must be submitted in June of their chief year.
• Likewise, if the resident completed the QE without having submitted documentation showing successful completion of the ABS Flexible Endoscopy Curriculum, the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery™ (FLS) program, and/or the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery™ (FES) program, that information should be submitted as soon as possible.
• Upon completion of residency, PGY-4 applicants will be required to submit additional information regarding their PGY-5 year, including rotations, non-clinical time and operative cases. The program director will be required to attest to this information and to the satisfactory completion of the entire residency experience.

Exam Opportunities and Status

• Taking the exam after PGY-4 will count toward the four opportunities in four years that are granted to successfully complete the QE. However, the overall seven-year limit to achieve certification will not go into effect until completion of residency.
• Individuals who pass the QE after their PGY-4 year will not have any official status with the ABS until their residency training has been satisfactorily completed according to ABS requirements. They also will not be eligible to take the General Surgery Certifying Exam (CE) until that time.