Resources

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.

The ABS policies listed on this website are the current ones in effect and supersede all previous versions. The ABS reserves the right to make changes to all policies at any time.

International Rotations Policy

Policy outlining the requirements for residency or fellowship rotations completed outside the U.S. or Canada for general, vascular, and pediatric surgery, and complex...

Vascular Surgery Readmissibility to Examinations

Policy outlining pathways available to surgeons who wish to regain admissibility to vascular surgery initial certification examinations.

Complex General Surgical Oncology Readmissibility to Examinations

Policy regarding regaining admissibility to complex general surgical oncology initial certification examinations.

Pediatric Surgery Readmissibility to Examinations

Policy regarding regaining admissibility to pediatric surgery initial certification examinations.

General Surgery Readmissibility to Examinations

Policy regarding regaining admissibility to general surgery initial certification examinations.

Training Waiver Policy

Policy governing trainee waiver requests from programs for extended leave.

Lapsed Certificates

Policy outlining the process for surgeons to regain their ABS certification following lapse or expiration.

Flexible Rotation Requests

Trainees may customize up to 12 months of rotations in the last 36 months of general surgery residency to allow for “early tracking”...

General Surgery Re-entry to Residency After Hiatus

Policy regarding re-entering surgical residency following a hiatus of three to six years

General Surgery Credit for Foreign Graduate Medical Education

Policy governing credit for foreign graduate training for board certification in general surgery