All 2025 ABS Continuous Certification Assessments are now available for completion. Diplomates should log in to their ABS surgeon portal and navigate to the Continuous Certification page to begin their assessment(s).
Continuous Certification Assessments
All Continuous Certification Assessments focus on the latest and most important developments in practice to assist diplomates in staying up to date. Diplomates demonstrate their surgical knowledge on a continual basis through this assessment process.
About the Assessment
One assessment required every two years for each certification
A biennial online assessment process has replaced the traditional ten-year recertification exam. Diplomates are not required to take their first Continuous Certification Assessment until the year their certificate expires. Once a diplomate registers for their first assessment, they are enrolled in the Continuous Certification Program.
Diplomates will have up to two weeks to complete the assessment once they begin, with the opportunity to save their progress and continue at a later time during this two-week period.
Important! Diplomates are prohibited from copying ABS examination items into any AI/LLM platform. While diplomates are allowed to use AI tools for understanding concepts from the Continuous Certification Assessment, do so with caution as these platforms are prone to hallucinations and misinformation.
- 40 questions total: mix of core and practice-specific
- Use personal computer to access
- Take it at a time and place of choosing
- Topic areas and reference materials are provided in advance
- Individual questions are not timed
- Given two weeks to complete the assessment once launched
- Save, stop, and re-launch to continue when convenient within two-week period
- Receive immediate feedback and results
- Final score of 80% required after two attempts
- 40% - 79% required on first attempt through the test to qualify for a second attempt on questions answered incorrectly
Assessment Content
All General surgery diplomates must complete a 20-question “Core” module and may select one additional 20-question module of their choosing from four practice-related areas:
- Abdomen
- Alimentary Tract
- Comprehensive General Surgery
- Breast Surgery
All 40 questions will be presented in random order.
Vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, surgical critical care, and complex general surgical oncology diplomates will be presented with 40 questions in random order that address important topics within their respective specialty area.
Assessment Registration and Completion
Once a diplomate registers for their first assessment, they are enrolled in the Continuous Certification Program
Registration for all Continuous Certification Assessments is available annually during the Continuous Certification Assessment window, from late-summer to mid-fall.
- To register for an assessment, diplomates must be meeting all requirements of the ABS Continuous Certification Program. This includes staying up to date with CME requirements and submitting reference forms every five years. Diplomates can check their status anytime by going to My Continuous Certification. Helpful Tips for Submitting your ABS Ongoing Certification Requirements
- When a diplomate registers for their first assessment, a fee will be required at the time of registration and every year thereafter.
- Diplomates who are currently certified but not meeting Continuous Certification requirements will need to re-enter Continuous Certification to register for the new assessment. Policy: Re-entry to Continuous Certification
- Diplomates will have up to two weeks to complete the assessment once it is launched, with the opportunity to save progress and continue at a later time during this two-week period.
A diplomate’s personal two-week time limit will start the moment they click the “Start Test” button within their ABS portal – diplomates should not click this button until they are absolutely sure that they are ready to begin the assessment.
How to Register for a Continuous Certification Assessment
To register for and complete a Continuous Certification Assessment, diplomates must be up to date on all ongoing program requirements. To complete registration:
- Log in to the ABS surgeon portal.
- Navigate to the Continuous Certification page using the left-side menu.
- Complete any ongoing certification requirements that are marked in yellow, including payment of the annual fee.
- Complete the program attestation.
- Registration is complete! Come back during the assessment window to complete this year’s assessment.
The $285 annual fee covers one assessment every other year, free access to all assessment reference materials, and general Continuous Certification Program participation.
This exam is for surgeons who either: (1) did not successfully complete the lapsed pathway; or (2) are not eligible to enter the lapsed pathway.
Certification Status Updates Following Assessment Completion
NEW for 2025! The ABS is pleased to offer rolling status updates throughout the 2025 Continuous Certification Assessment window. Within 24 business hours following the completion of an assessment, a completion letter will be posted to the diplomate’s ABS surgeon portal. Additionally, their certification status and reverification date will be updated in the ABS certification verification system. CME waivers will also be posted to their ABS CME repository within this time frame.
Final score reports with detailed feedback will be available in the ABS surgeon portal within four to six weeks after the close of the assessment window.
For diplomates in a grace year or participating in the Pathway for Lapsed Certificate Holders who do not successfully complete their assessment, a completion letter will be posted to their surgeon portal, however, their certification will expire on Dec. 31, and their status will be updated in the ABS certification verification system at that time.
- To access any 2024 reference articles that are not available open-source in the linked PDFs, please log in to your ABS surgeon portal and navigate to the Continuous Certification page.
Assessment References
Continuous Certification Assessments focus on the latest and most important developments in practice
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.
Complex General Surgical Oncology Continuous Certification Assessment: We have integrated CGSO diplomate feedback regarding the Continuous Certification Assessment and have updated the content to better match diplomate practices. Specifically, we have increased the hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) content, as this area of practice is most commonly reported among our diplomates.
Accessing Full-text Articles
In this video, learn how to access the reference articles for the ABS Continuous Certification Assessment via the ABS surgeon portal.
If you are struggling to access the full-text articles, please consider trying one or more of these troubleshooting tips:
- Use a different browser (e.g., Chrome if you are currently using Safari)
- Clear cache and browsing history (instructions here)
- Temporarily enable pop-ups, particularly for accessing reference PDFs (Chrome instructions) (Safari instructions)
Continuous Certification Knowledge Gaps Reports
Assessment performance feedback representing an opportunity for diplomates to expand their knowledge
The purpose of the Continuous Certification Knowledge Gaps Report is to provide a summary of specialty-specific knowledge gaps identified through diplomate performance on the American Board of Surgery Continuous Certification Assessment (CCA). The figures included present data on first-attempt exam performance over the last three years, including average percent correct values and keywords for items with lower diplomate performance.
2024 General Surgery Continuous Certification Knowledge Gaps Report
2024 Vascular Surgery Continuous Certification Knowledge Gaps Report
2024 Pediatric Surgery Continuous Certification Knowledge Gaps Report
2024 Complex General Surgical Oncology Continuous Certification Knowledge Gaps Report
2024 Surgical Critical Care Continuous Certification Knowledge Gaps Report
Testing Notes and Strategies
Tips for navigating the assessment
Please keep the following in mind during the assessment:
- No matter the specialty, the 40 questions on the assessment will be delivered in a random order.
- One question is displayed at a time, which must be answered to proceed. It is not possible to navigate backwards to previously answered questions
- Due to the forward-only navigation, it is recommended that the rationale be read in full before moving on to the next question.
- Every time an answer is submitted for scoring, progress is saved. If the assessment is continued on a different computer or technical difficulties are experienced, previous work will not be lost.
- Diplomates should independently track the number of correct and incorrect answers. Diplomates must get at least 16 questions correct on the first attempt in order to be given access to the questions for a second attempt. If a participant is not on track to get 16 correct, it would be worthwhile to change the approach proactively.
- Correctly answering 80% (32 questions) is required to pass, with two chances to answer. A score of at least 40% (16 questions) must be achieved on the first attempt to qualify for a second attempt in the same testing administration. Participants are encouraged to do their best on all assessment attempts.
- If presented with a difficult question, reviewing the references that the ABS has provided for that topic can facilitate a focused literature review. It may not be necessary to use the specific references cited to determine the correct answer.
Scoring
Diplomates receive a preliminary score report immediately after assessment completion
The preliminary score report that appears in a diplomate’s ABS portal immediately after completing a Continuous Certification Assessment is provided as confirmation of completion until the assessment window closes for all candidates. Once the window closes, ABS psychometricians will review all results and validate all assessments.
Final score reports with detailed feedback will be provided to diplomates in their portal within four to six weeks after the close of the assessment window. Diplomate certification status, which reflects the final results of the assessment, will be available on the ABS website in January of the following year.
Certification Status
Certification status is contingent on meeting all program requirements
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. Failing an assessment in the year it is due will not immediately affect certification status. Diplomates in good standing will be able to retake the assessment the following year if necessary (grace year).
Issuance of Certificates
New certificates do not include an expiration date
Upon passing their first Continuous Certification Assessment, diplomates will be issued a new certificate without an expiration date, typically within three to six months following the close of the assessment window in a given year. A diplomate’s current certification status can be verified at any time using the Check a Certification tool on the ABS website.
Grace Year
Grace years are provided to diplomates who do not pass an assessment when it is due or if they are unsuccessful in their assessment attempt
The ABS encourages diplomates to do their best on all assessment attempts. However, in the event that a diplomate does not pass an assessment in the year that it is due, they may be eligible to receive a grace year:
- If a diplomate fails to attain 40% on their first attempt or the passing score of 80% by their second attempt, a grace year may be provided in the year following the assessment.
- To receive the grace year, diplomates must be current with their annual fee payment and all additional Continuous Certification Program requirements.
- If eligible to receive a grace year, the diplomate will remain certified through the end of the following year with the opportunity to maintain that certificate by passing the assessment in the grace year.
- Diplomates who are currently in a grace year and do not pass the assessment will lose their certification on Dec. 31 of that year.
- Diplomates who do not remit payment for their annual fee in the year that they are due to complete an assessment will not automatically receive a grace year in the following year and will lose their certification on Dec. 31 of that year.
- Diplomates participating in the lapsed pathway are not eligible to receive a grace year.
Additional Information
There are multiple components that make up the Continuous Certification Program
Diplomates must remain up to date with all ongoing requirements of the ABS Continuous Certification Program in order to register for an assessment in a given year. This includes meeting CME requirements, completing practice improvement activities, and timely payment of the annual fee.
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 the Continuous Certification Program manager.