Resources

Policies, articles, content outlines, news, announcements, exam dates and related fees, and more.

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Dates & Fees
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Resources

Important information about certification

The ABS has a plethora of materials available for both surgeons and non-surgeons, including examination guides and content outlines, policies related to ABS certification, published journal articles about certification, information for patients, and more. Please see the sections below for specific materials categories, or view all of our available resources to peruse our entire resource library.

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Dates & Fees

Examination dates, application deadlines, and related fees

5/19 - 5/21
2025
Vascular Surgery Certifying Examination
Location: Virtual
Fee: $1,700
7/17
2025
General Surgery Qualifying Examination
Location: Pearson VUE testing centers
Fee: $1,525
Application Deadline: 4/14/2025
Fee: $550
Late App Deadline: 5/12/2025
Fee: $750
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.

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
Fee: $750
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Program/Trainee Documents and Info Booklets

Training-related information

Training-related resources for programs and trainees, including EPA materials.

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Booklet of Information – Surgery
Outlines the requirements for certification in general surgery.
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Booklet of Information – Vascular Surgery
Outlines the requirements for certification in vascular surgery.
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RLQ pain/Appendicitis (GS EPA)
Evaluation and management of a patient with RLQ pain...
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Benign or malignant breast disease (GS EPA)
Evaluation and management of a patient with benign or...
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Benign or malignant colon disease (GS EPA)
Evaluation and management of a patient with benign or...
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Gallbladder disease (GS EPA)
Evaluation and management of a patient with gallbladder disease.
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Exam Content Outlines & Guides

Examination information

Exam content outlines include topic categories and the approximate percentage of questions in each category included on a particular exam.

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General Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE®) Content Outline
Targeted weights for each specific section and category on the ABSITE.
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Vascular Surgery Qualifying Examination (QE) Content Outline
Approximate percentage of questions on each topic that are included on the Vascular Surgery Qualifying Examination.
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Vascular Surgery In-Training Examination (VSITE) Content Outline
Targeted weights for each specific section and category on the VSITE.
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Pediatric Surgery Qualifying Examination (QE) Content Outline
Approximate percentage of questions on each topic that are included on the Pediatric Surgery Qualifying Examination.
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Pediatric Surgery In-Training Examination (PSITE) Content Outline
Targeted weights for each specific section and category on the PSITE.
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Surgical Critical Care Certifying Examination (CE) Content Outline
Approximate percentage of questions on each topic that are included on the Surgical Critical Care Certifying Examination.
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Assessment References

References for the Continuous Certification Assessment

All assessments are developed using references from an ABS partner journal or open-access articles that are selected by question authors each year.  Reference lists for each specialty are published each year ahead of the assessment administration window. 

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2024 General Surgery Continuous Certification Assessment – Alimentary Tract Module All References
All references for the Alimentary Tract module on the...
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2024 General Surgery Continuous Certification Assessment – Breast Surgery Module All References
All references for the Breast Surgery module on the...
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2024 Complex General Surgical Oncology Continuous Certification Assessment – All References
All references for the 2024 Complex General Surgical Oncology...
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2024 Surgical Critical Care Continuous Certification Assessment – All References
All references for the 2024 Surgical Critical Care Continuous...
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2024 Pediatric Surgery Continuous Certification Assessment – All References
All references for the 2024 Pediatric Surgery Continuous Certification...
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2024 Hand Surgery Continuous Certification Assessment – All References
All references for the 2024 Hand Surgery Continuous Certification...
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SCORE CURRICULUM OUTLINES

SCORE Curriculum Outlines are updated annually

The SCORE Curriculum outlines for each specialty list patient care topics to be covered during a surgical training program.

SCORE Curriculum Outline for General Surgery

The SCORE Curriculum Outline for General Surgery is a list of topics to be covered in a five-year general...
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SCORE Curriculum Outline for Vascular Surgery

Lists patient care topics to be covered in a five-year integrated or two-year independent vascular surgery training program.
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SCORE Curriculum Outline for Pediatric Surgery

Lists patient care topics to be covered in a two-year pediatric surgery training program.
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SCORE Curriculum Outline for Surgical Critical Care

Lists patient care topics to be covered in a one-year surgical critical care training program.
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ABS Policies

Policies and procedures related to ABS certification

Candidates and diplomates are excepted to know and abide by all ABS policies and procedures.

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Certificate Replacement Policy

Policy outlining how a diplomate may request a replacement of their original ABS certificate.
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Military Activation Policy

Policy regarding active duty military as it relates to ABS examinations.
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Exam Admissibility Policy – General Surgery & Vascular Surgery

Policy outlining examination admissibility time limits for initial certification in general and vascular surgery.
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General Surgery Limit on Number of Programs

Policy regarding the number of residency training programs that an applicant for board certification in general surgery may train...
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Journal Articles

Published work on ABS data

Articles related to the ABS and board certification.

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Competency-based curriculum development on medical education: an introduction (PDF)

McGaghie WC, Miller GE, Sajid AW, Telder TV. Public Health Pap. 1978;(68):11-91.
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The American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination as a predictor of success on the qualifying examination.

Biester TW. Curr Surg. 1987;44(3):194-198.
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The initial examination for a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand.

Urbaniak JR, Cruft GE, Biester TW. J Bone Joint Surg. 1990;72(5):639-642.
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What does the American Board of Surgery In-Training/Surgical Basic Science Examination tell us about graduate surgical education?

DaRosa DA, Shuck JM, Biester TW, Folse R. Surgery. 1993;113(1):8-13.
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Additional Resources

Information for patients and the public

Patient resources for understanding options available to them, medical license verification, checking board certification status, and more.

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Verifying Board Certification Status

How to verify a surgeon's current board certification status with the American Board of Surgery.
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Other ABMS Surgical Specialty Boards

Policy governing leave during residency or fellowship training for applicants for board certification in vascular surgery.
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Checking Medical Licensure/Disciplinary Status

Resources to assist in verifying medical licensure status.
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Information for Patients

Patient information on different types of surgery, checking medical license, surgical careers, other surgical boards, and more.
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