The ABS is pleased to announce the implementation of rolling updates to diplomate certification statuses throughout the 2025 Continuous Certification Assessment window. Within 24 business hours following completion of a Continuous Certification Assessment, a completion letter will be posted to the diplomate’s ABS surgeon portal indicating that they have either passed or failed the assessment. Also within this time frame, their certification status and reverification date will be updated in the ABS certification verification system and any applicable CME waivers will be posted to their ABS CME repository.
Diplomates who are currently in a grace year or participating in the Pathway for Lapsed Certificate Holders and do not successfully complete their assessment will receive a completion letter, and their expired certification status will be updated in the ABS certification verification system on Dec. 31.
Final score reports with detailed feedback will be available for all diplomates in the ABS surgeon portal within four to six weeks after the close of the assessment window.
About the Continuous Certification Assessment
The 2025 ABS Continuous Certification Assessment is available for all specialties from Aug. 26-Nov. 4, 2025. Diplomates have up to two weeks to complete their assessment once they begin, with the opportunity to save their progress and continue at a later time during this two-week period.
All assessments are developed using references from an ABS partner journal or open-access articles that are selected by question authors each year. Assessments primarily focus on important, evidence-based updates to surgical practice. Reference lists are published each year ahead of the assessment administration window, and full-text articles are available to diplomates in their ABS portal should they choose to utilize them while completing their assessment.
Once a diplomate registers for their first assessment, they are enrolled in the Continuous Certification Program. Once participating in the Continuous Certification Program, a diplomate’s certification status will be contingent on passing the assessment every other year, as well as meeting the other program requirements.