Dr. Paul Collins and Dr. Kevin Huguet are board-certified surgeons. So what exactly does it mean to be "board certified"? What is the advantage of seeing a surgeon certified through the American Board of Surgery? How does a surgeon obtain this certification?

About the American Board of Surgery

The ABS is an independent, non-profit organization founded in 1937 by the leading U.S. surgical societies to evaluate, examine and certify individuals in the field of surgery. The ABS offers board certification in general surgery, vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, surgical critical care, surgery of the hand, and hospice and palliative medicine.

The ABS is one of the 24 member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Other ABMS member boards provide certification in other surgical specialties, such as plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, and thoracic (chest) surgery.

What Does It Mean to Be Board Certified?

Certification by the ABS is a voluntary process to recognize individuals who have met a defined standard of education, training and knowledge specifically in the field of surgery. Board certification is different from possessing a medical license, which is required by law for an individual to practice medicine. Board certification is specialty-specific, whereas medical licensure is not.

How Does an Individual Become Board Certified?

Initial board certification in general surgery or vascular surgery involves the following steps. First, applicants for certification must have graduated from an accredited medical school in the U.S. or Canada, or be certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates. Furthermore, he or she must also have completed a minimum of five years of progressive training in a residency program in the U.S. or Canada accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Upon completion of their residency training, surgeons may apply for certification by the ABS. As part of the application, the residency program director must attest to the applicant's surgical skills, ethics and professionalism. Applicants must hold a license to practice medicine in the U.S. or Canada before they can become certified.

From here, the surgeon must pass an examination. The first phase involves a written examination known as the Qualifying Examination, which assesses their surgical knowledge. The candidate then must take and pass an oral examination called the Certifying Examination, which tests surgical judgment and decision making. Candidates are interviewed by experienced surgeons who evaluate their ability to diagnose and treat diverse surgical problems. If successful on this examination, the surgeon is deemed ABS certified and becomes a "diplomate" of the ABS.

Choose Local Experts

You can find comfort in knowing our surgeons are board-certified. Please keep us in mind for your bariatric, breast, gallbladder, lap band, laparoscopic and vascular surgery needs.