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Surgical Critical Care
Neurocritical Care
Diplomates who are certified in surgical critical care by the ABS may be eligible for the neurocritical care subspecialty certification, offered through the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA).
Intro
Subspecialty certification in neurocritical care
Previously, we announced that the NCC subspecialty certification exam, which is administered by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, would be offered every odd-numbered year. This exam will now instead be offered every even-numbered year.
The next administration of this exam, in fall 2026, will be the final year that ABS surgical critical care diplomates will be able to apply for this examination via the “legacy” or practice pathways as outlined below. After 2026, completion of an accredited NCC training program will be required to apply for NCC certification.
Successful completion of the neurocritical care (NCC) subspecialty certification exam is required for board certification in NCC. Eligible candidates are ABS diplomates certified in surgical critical care (SCC) and are primarily engaged in the practice of NCC.
The ABS has partnered with the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) to provide a pathway to certification in NCC for ABS diplomates currently certified in SCC. The ABA has generously agreed to provide access to this certificate, and once certification is achieved through one of the available pathways, SCC diplomates will be holders of an ABA certificate. As such, all policies around exam eligibility and maintaining certification will be made by the ABA. Please see the ABA website for their current policies regarding this examination, which will be administered every even-numbered year.
During a six-year “legacy” or practice pathway period, eligible SCC diplomates may qualify to take the exam if they are certified in NCC by the UCNS or CAST, have completed a fellowship in NCC, or have documented a certain amount of post-training clinical practice specifically related to NCC. Please see Available Pathways below for more information.
Certification in NCC is offered in conjunction with the ABA, the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPNS), the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM), and the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS). An applicant may pursue the certification process through only one certifying board.
9/16
2025
Surgical Critical Care Certifying Examination
Location: Pearson VUE testing centers
Fee: $1,725
Application Deadline: 7/1/2025
Fee: $550
Late App Deadline: 7/15/2025
8/26 - 11/4
2025
Continuous Certification Assessment
Location: Virtual
Fee: $285
Registration Start: 8/1/2025 - 11/4/2025
The $285 annual fee covers one assessment every other year, free access to all assessment reference materials, and general Continuous Certification Program participation.
General Requirements
Surgeons must meet specific requirements before they are deemed certified in neurocritical care
Applicants to the NCC examination must be capable of performing independently the entire scope of the NCC practice without accommodation or with reasonable accommodation.
Additionally, to be eligible for this exam, applicants must meet the following requirements:
"Legacy"/Practice Pathway
Have fulfilled either the "legacy" pathway or the practice pathway as defined below.
NCC Experience
Attest to current privileges and clinical activity in NCC (practicing it, on average, at least one day per week during 12 consecutive months over the previous three years).
Medical License
Have a currently registered full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the U.S. or Canada. Applicants are required to inform the ABS of any conditions or restrictions in force on any active medical license they hold.
Professional Activity
Be actively and primarily engaged in the practice of NCC as indicated by holding full surgical privileges in this 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.
Available Pathways
Both pathways available until 2026
Both the “Legacy” Pathway and Practice Pathway will be available for six years, from 2021-2026. Please see the ABA website for their policies regarding this examination, which will be administered every even-numbered year.
“Legacy” Pathway
During the six-year “legacy” pathway period, eligible diplomates may qualify to take the exam if they are certified in neurocritical care by the UCNS or CAST, or if they have completed a UCNS, CAST, or other non-accredited fellowship in NCC.
Practice Pathway
During the six-year practice pathway period, eligible diplomates may qualify to take the exam if they have documented one of the following at the time of application:
- An average of at least 17% of their post-training clinical practice time spent in the practice of NCC (at least seven hours per week) for the past six years,* or
- An average of at least 25% of their post-training clinical practice time spent in the practice of NCC (at least 10 hours per week) for the past four years,* or
- An average of at least 33% of their post-training clinical practice time spent in the practice of NCC (at least 13 hours per week) for the past three years,* or
- An average of at least 50% of their post-training clinical practice time spent in the practice of NCC (at least 20 hours per week) for the past two years,* or
- An average of at least 25% of their total post-training professional time spent in the practice of NCC (at least 10 hours per week) for the past four years.**
* This calculation is based on an average work week of 40 hours. Physicians whose total practice exceeds 40 hours per week may still use the 40 hours number as the denominator of their percentage calculation.
** This approach specifically applies to academic program directors, administrators, or researchers, and provides them a pathway to qualification.
Post "Legacy"/Practice Pathway Period
Begins in 2027
After the six-year “legacy” or practice pathway period (2027 and beyond), all candidates who register for the NCC exam must meet the general requirements listed above, and must have completed one of the following training pathways:
- One year of general ACGME-accredited SCC fellowship AND one year of an ACGME-accredited NCC fellowship, or
- Two years of an ACGME-accredited NCC fellowship.
How to Apply
Applications will be accepted every even-numbered year
Candidates who meet the requirements for this certification as defined above may apply for the exam through the Online Applications page in their ABS portal. Please note that applications will only be accepted in years during which the exam is offered, which is every even-numbered year.
Applicants are encouraged to begin the application process as early as possible. If the application process is not started but not completed, any materials or fees submitted cannot be carried over to another year.
Items Required
The online application form must be completed and submitted through the ABS portal, and must include the following documentation:
Pathway-specific materials
- "Legacy" Pathway: Proof of certification in NCC by UCNS or CAST, or documentation of completion of a UCNS, CAST, or other non-accredited fellowship in NCC.
- Practice Pathway: An attestation to the percentage of time spent in practice that is dedicated to NCC signed by applicant’s chief of neurology/neurosurgery.
Confirmation Letter
- A letter from either:
- Institution, confirming applicant’s full surgical privileges in NCC at an accredited health care institution, or
- Program director, confirming applicant’s current fellowship status in another recognized surgical specialty.
Reference Letters
- Two (2) reference letters attesting to applicant’s NCC practice and experience from:
- Chief of neurology or neurosurgery, AND
- Chief of surgery
Following submission of all application materials and documentation, a link to pay the application fee via credit card will post to the applicant’s ABS portal within three (3) business days. Processing of submitted materials will then follow.
Application and payment must be submitted by the deadline listed, to be considered for the next examination in NCC, administered by the ABA.
Following approval of the application, the ABA will contact applicants directly to complete registration, submit payment for the examination, and schedule a testing center date and location.
Maintaining Certification
Certification must be maintained through the ABA
If successful on the exam, diplomates will be deemed certified in NCC and will receive their official certificate within six months from the ABA. Diplomates must participate in the ABA MOCA 2.0® program to maintain the certificate.
Contact
Our exam managers are here to help.
Most questions can be answered with the information available on our website. For specific inquiries, please contact our team.