Diplomate Totals

Current Totals

A total of approximately 33,500 surgeons (known as diplomates) are currently board certified by the ABS. See below for the current totals by specialty. Note that some surgeons are certified in more than one specialty.

• General Surgery: 31,365
• Vascular Surgery: 3,777
• Pediatric Surgery: 1,166
• Surgical Critical Care: 4,051
• Complex General Surgical Oncology: 431
• Hand Surgery: 186

Cumulative Totals

The following totals reflect the number of surgeons who have been certified or recertified in the specialty since the certificate was instituted.

General Surgery

• Surgeons certified: 69,816 through May 2022
• Year certification began: 1937

Vascular Surgery

• Surgeons certified: 4,730 through May 2022
• Year certification began: 1982; became a primary specialty 2006

Pediatric Surgery

• Surgeons certified: 1,655 through May 2022
• Year certification began: 1974

Surgical Critical Care

• Surgeons certified: 5,207 through May 2022
• Year certification began: 1986

Complex General Surgical Oncology

• Surgeons certified: 433 through May 2022
• Year certification began: 2015

Hand Surgery

• Surgeons certified: 346 through May 2022
• Year certification began: 1989