The American Board of Surgery (ABS) and the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (ABOHNS) are committed to the highest standards of care for patients needing thyroid and parathyroid surgery.
Focused Practice Designation (FPD) in Adult Complex Thyroid/Parathyroid Surgery (ACTPS) recognizes those ABS and ABOHNS diplomates who concentrate their surgical practice on patients with thyroid and parathyroid disease, including benign or malignant and functional or non-functional tumors of the thyroid and parathyroid glands. Attaining the ACTPS FPD requires meeting case requirements both in quantity and complexity, demonstrating participation in multidisciplinary care, passing a summative knowledge assessment, and reverifying requirements through continuing certification activities.
The ABS has worked in conjunction with the ABOHNS to define the standards of practice, participation, and knowledge that are required to be identified as a surgeon who focuses their practice in complex thyroid/parathyroid surgery. This new FPD can be achieved through a combination of fellowship training and/or clinical practice that is dedicated to the treatment of the patient population defined above.
The first ACTPS FPD Examination will be administered April 7-9, 2025, with applications for the exam opening up in the fall. In the meantime, please visit the following links for more information regarding FPD: