American Board of Surgery

What American Board of Surgery does

The American Board of Surgery is an independent, nonprofit certification body founded in 1937 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As one of the 24 member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), it holds the regulatory franchise to issue board certification in surgery specialties in the United States. ABS certifies approximately 34,000 surgeons across primary certifications in General Surgery and Vascular Surgery, secondary certifications in Pediatric Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, and Complex General Surgical Oncology, and two Focused Practice Designations in Metabolic/Bariatric Surgery and Adult Complex Thyroid/Parathyroid Surgery. It also provides primary-source verification of surgeon certification to patients and the public through its public website.

The operating platform is built around three digital surfaces: the ABS Surgeon Portal (for individual candidate and diplomate self-service), the ABS Program Portal (for ACGME- and RCPSC-accredited training programs), and the ABS EPA App, a mobile assessment platform powered by SIMPL for general surgery residents and Firefly for vascular, pediatric, oncology, and critical-care trainees. Computer-based examinations are delivered through Pearson VUE's network of testing centers, while oral certifying exams run in-person or virtually. ABS generates revenue primarily through one-time Qualifying and Certifying examination fees (ranging $1,525-$1,725 per exam depending on specialty), annual Continuous Certification Program fees of $285 per diplomate, per-trainee In-Training Examination fees (ABSITE $110, VSITE $230, PSITE $255), and administrative fees for certificates, withdrawals, and nontraditional-pathway applications. Two historical revenue lines (Hand Surgery and Hospice & Palliative Medicine) have been transitioned out to ABPS and ABIM respectively.

Go-to-market is direct-to-customer with no traditional sales motion: surgeons self-apply through the Surgeon Portal after completing accredited training, while programs interact through the Program Portal for trainee rosters, in-training exams, and EPA tracking. Distribution depends on the ABMS regulatory framework, ACGME training program alignment, and co-development partnerships with bodies such as ACGME, ACS, APDS, APDVS, ARAS, ASE, ASA, RCPSC, ABEM, ABIM, ABPS, and ABOHNS. ABS launched Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) at general surgery programs in July 2023 and extended them to all other specialties by September 2025, accumulating roughly 600,000 EPA assessments by the end of 2025; it co-developed a new ABMS-approved Disaster Medicine subspecialty certification with ABEM and ABPM in early 2026.

Name

American Board of Surgery

Legal name

American Board of Surgery, Inc.

Website

https://absurgery.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Board Certification Services

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Certifications (EDAAANAI)

Keywords

• Board certification
• Surgical specialty certification
• Physician credentialing
• Competency-based assessment
• Continuous certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Examination Fees: Candidates pay examination fees for initial certification exams including Qualifying Exams (written) and Certifying Exams (oral). Fees vary by specialty: General Surgery QE $1,525, Vascular Surgery QE $1,575, Surgical Critical Care CE $1,725. Late application fees of $750 also apply.
2. Continuous Certification Fees: Annual fee of $285 covers one assessment every other year, free access to assessment reference materials, and general Continuous Certification Program participation.
3. In-Training Examination Fees: Programs pay per-trainee fees for ABSITE ($110), VSITE ($230), and PSITE ($255). International program fees are slightly higher at $130 per trainee for ABSITE.
4. Application and Administrative Fees: Nontraditional pathway applicants pay fees for the Admissibility Exam phase. Replacement certificates cost $150. Examination withdrawal within 15 business days incurs a $400 processing fee.
5. Focused Practice Designation Fees: Examination fees for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery and Adult Complex Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Focused Practice Designations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The American Board of Surgery is an independent, nonprofit medical certification body that administers multi-phase board certification examinations (Qualifying written and Certifying oral exams) for surgeons across five specialties: General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, and Complex General Surgical Oncology. It also issues two Focused Practice Designations (Metabolic/Bariatric Surgery and Adult Complex Thyroid/Parathyroid Surgery), operates the Continuous Certification Program for ongoing diplomate maintenance, and delivers the ABS EPA competency-based assessment framework with the proprietary ABS EPA App to all ACGME-accredited U.S. surgical residency programs.

Product overview

The American Board of Surgery is a certification body offering a portfolio of board certifications, subspecialty certifications, and assessment products for surgeons. The core offerings include primary board certification in General Surgery and Vascular Surgery, secondary certifications in Pediatric Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, and Complex General Surgical Oncology, and two Focused Practice Designations in Metabolic/Bariatric Surgery and Adult Complex Thyroid/Parathyroid Surgery. Supporting products include in-training examinations (ABSITE, VSITE, PSITE) for residency programs, the ABS EPA App mobile platform for competency-based trainee assessment, and the Continuous Certification Program for ongoing diplomate maintenance. Hand Surgery and Hospice & Palliative Medicine certifications have transitioned to the American Board of Plastic Surgery and American Board of Internal Medicine respectively.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ABS EPA App: Mobile application for assessment of surgical trainees using Entrustable Professional Activities. Powered by SIMPL for general surgery residents and Firefly for vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, complex general surgical oncology, and surgical critical care programs.
• ABSITE
• VSITE
• PSITE

Products and services

• General Surgery Certification Primary board certification in general surgery requiring completion of at least five years of ACGME-accredited residency training, passing the General Surgery Qualifying Examination (GSQE, $1,525), and passing the General Surgery Certifying Examination (GSCE). For practicing surgeons and those completing general surgery residency.
• Vascular Surgery Certification Primary board certification in vascular surgery covering the diagnosis and comprehensive management of arterial, venous, and lymphatic disorders; requires passing the Vascular Surgery Qualifying Examination (VSQE, $1,575) and the Vascular Surgery Certifying Examination (VSCE, $1,700). For practicing vascular surgeons.
• Pediatric Surgery Certification Subspecialty certification for the diagnostic, operative, and postoperative surgical care of children with congenital and acquired anomalies. Requires general surgery certification first plus passing the Pediatric Surgery Qualifying Exam (PSQE) and Certifying Exam (PSCE). For pediatric surgeons.
• Surgical Critical Care Certification Subspecialty certification in the care of patients with acute, life-threatening surgical conditions. Requires primary surgery certification and passing the Surgical Critical Care Certifying Exam ($1,725). For critical care surgeons.
• Complex General Surgical Oncology Certification Advanced subspecialty certification in the surgical treatment and multidisciplinary care of rare, complex, or uncommon cancers. Requires general surgery certification plus passing the CGSO Qualifying Exam and Certifying Exam. For surgical oncologists.
• Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Focused Practice Designation Focused Practice Designation recognizing surgeons who have focused their practice on metabolic and bariatric surgery. Developed in conjunction with ASMBS.
• Adult Complex Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Focused Practice Designation Focused Practice Designation recognizing surgeons specializing in adult complex thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Developed in conjunction with ABOHNS.
• ABS In-Training Examination (ABSITE) Annual formative evaluation instrument of approximately 250 multiple-choice questions administered to general surgery residents. Programs pay $110 per trainee ($130 for international programs). Results released only to program directors.
• Vascular Surgery In-Training Examination (VSITE) Annual in-training examination for vascular surgery residents comprising approximately 200 multiple-choice questions covering core surgery and vascular surgery content. Programs pay $230 per trainee.
• Pediatric Surgery In-Training Examination (PSITE) Annual web-based examination for pediatric surgery residents comprising approximately 200 multiple-choice questions administered in two 2.5-hour blocks. Programs pay $255. Next administration February 12-13, 2027.
• Continuous Certification Program Ongoing certification maintenance program requiring diplomates to participate in Continuous Certification Assessments, earn CME credits, complete Practice Improvement activities, and pay annual fees ($285/year) to maintain their ABS certification. Covers one assessment every other year and free access to assessment reference materials.
• ABS EPA App Mobile applications developed to support trainee assessment as part of the ABS EPA Project. The SIMPL-powered version supports general surgery residents; the Firefly-powered version supports vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, complex general surgical oncology, and surgical critical care programs. Both versions are provided free of charge to training programs and streamline microassessments for trainees and faculty.
• Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) Framework Competency-based assessment framework consisting of 18 core EPAs for general surgery, 15 for vascular surgery, 20 for pediatric surgery, 12 for complex general surgical oncology, and 9 core plus 4 optional for surgical critical care. Implemented at all U.S. ACGME-accredited surgical residency programs.
• Certification Verification Tool Online primary-source verification system for checking a surgeon's ABS certification status. The website is updated in real time and serves as the official verification tool for surgeon credentials, used by patients, hospitals, and credentialing organizations.
• Disaster Medicine Subspecialty Certification Subspecialty certification covering all phases of disaster care, offered to physicians from 14 different specialties. Developed jointly with ABEM and ABPM and approved by ABMS.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 34,000 surgeons currently board certified by the ABS
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• American Board of Preventive MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026Collaborated with ABEM and ABS to develop the new Disaster Medicine subspecialty certification approved by the ABMS. The certification will be offered to physicians from 14 different specialties.
• FireflycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 August 2025Provides the mobile platform for EPA assessments for vascular surgery, pediatric surgery, complex general surgical oncology, and surgical critical care programs.
• American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ASMBS collaborated with the ABS to define standards, practice requirements, and knowledge criteria for the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Focused Practice Designation.
• American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (ABOHNS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ABOHNS collaborated with the ABS to develop the Adult Complex Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Focused Practice Designation.
• American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The ABS received approval to offer a pathway for ABEM diplomates to obtain certification in surgical critical care. ABEM diplomates must complete a preliminary year of general surgery or vascular surgery training prior to entering an SCC fellowship.
• American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024As of 2024, ABS diplomates seeking hand surgery certification complete the application through ABPS, which manages all hand surgery applications, reviews, assessments, and certificates. ABS transitioned from co-sponsoring to qualifying board.
• Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023ACGME is a key partner in the EPA initiative. Their Residency Review Committee (RRC) for various surgical specialties is involved in developing competency-based assessment standards. The ABS works with ACGME on international rotation approvals and non-standard training recognition.
• Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023APDS representatives participate in EPA Writing Groups and provide input on EPA development and implementation. They collaborate on best practices for EPA adoption in surgical residency programs.
• American College of Surgeons (ACS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023ACS is engaged in EPA development and implementation. The ABS supports ACS statements on workplace support for pregnant trainees and practicing surgeons.
• American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023ABMS is the parent organization of the ABS. The ABS works with ABMS on Disaster Medicine subspecialty certification development alongside ABEM and ABPM. ABMS member boards collaborate on non-standard training recognition.
• Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery (APDVS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023APDVS representatives participate in EPA Writing Groups and implementation for vascular surgery programs.
• Association of Residency Administrators in Surgery (ARAS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023ARAS collaborates on EPA implementation and receives annual 'Need to Know' presentations at Surgical Education Week covering EPA updates, examination information, and ABS program portal changes.
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023RCPSC accreditation is recognized alongside ACGME for surgical training. RCPSC representatives participate in EPA Writing Groups and development processes.
• Society of Surgical ChairscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Participates in EPA development and implementation, providing leadership perspective on surgical education reform.
• Association for Surgical Education (ASE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023ASE participates in EPA development and implementation for surgical residency programs.
• American Surgical Association (ASA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023ASA participates in EPA development and provides strategic input on surgical education reform.
• Fellowship Council (FC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2023Participates in EPA development and implementation, providing perspective on fellowship-level surgical training.
• SIMPL CollaborativecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 September 2022Selected in September 2022 to provide the mobile platform for the ABS EPA Project for general surgery residents. The ABS provides this tool free of charge to all training programs.
• American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022ABS diplomates seeking hospice and palliative medicine certification now complete the application and registration process through ABIM. As of 2022, ABS diplomates certified in HPM moved to ABIM for continuing certification.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Board of Family Medicine: One of the largest ABMS member boards by diplomate count, operating a near-identical certification and continuous certification model that informs ABS's own program design benchmarks.
• American Board of Pediatrics: Large ABMS member board with a substantially larger diplomate base and analogous certification business model, serving as a benchmark for scale and revenue diversification across ABMS boards.

Direct peers

• American Board of Internal Medicine: The largest ABMS member board, operating an identical business model of physician certification, qualifying/certifying examinations, and continuous certification program. ABS and ABIM recently formalized co-administration of Hospice & Palliative Medicine continuing certification.
• American Board of Anesthesiology: ABMS member board operating a similar business model of physician specialty certification, qualifying examinations, and continuous certification — directly comparable in operating structure.
• American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery: ABMS member board certifying orthopaedic surgeons, with a comparable portfolio of qualifying exams, in-training examinations (OITE), and continuous certification — directly analogous to ABS for musculoskeletal surgery.
• American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery: ABMS member board that partnered with ABS to develop the Adult Complex Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery Focused Practice Designation, reflecting parallel surgical certification business models.
• American Board of Plastic Surgery: Sister surgical ABMS board that absorbed Hand Surgery certificate administration from ABS in 2024 — a directly comparable competitor for surgical subspecialty scope.
• American Board of Emergency Medicine: ABMS member board that partners with ABS on the Surgical Critical Care pathway for ABEM diplomates and co-developed the new Disaster Medicine subspecialty certification.
• American Board of Neurological Surgery: Surgical ABMS member board for neurological surgery, sharing ABS's narrow specialty focus, oral certifying exam format, and small-staff operating model for an analogous surgical subspecialty.
• American Board of Preventive Medicine: ABMS member board collaborating with ABS on the Disaster Medicine subspecialty certification, operating an analogous physician certification, examination, and continuous certification model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ambdsurg
• Facebookfacebook.com/americanboardofsurgery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-board-of-surgery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Board of Surgery