American Board of Thoracic Surgery

What American Board of Thoracic Surgery does

The American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) is an independent nonprofit medical specialty certifying board founded in 1948 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It serves as the sole designated primary board for thoracic surgery certification in the United States, with membership in the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) since 1971. ABTS certifies surgeons across three subspecialties — adult cardiac, general thoracic, and congenital cardiac surgery — through a two-part initial certification process: a computer-based Part I Written Examination (250 multiple-choice questions) administered at Pearson VUE testing centers, followed by an in-person Part II Oral Examination held annually in Dallas, TX.

ABTS generates revenue through a tiered fee structure covering initial certification applications ($650), Part I Written exams ($1,750), Part II Oral exams ($2,500), annual diplomate dues, and Continuing Certification fees ($750 per 5-year cycle). Its customer base comprises individual thoracic surgeons at two life stages: (1) residents completing ACGME-accredited training programs seeking initial certification, and (2) certified diplomates maintaining credentials through the 5-year Continuing Certification program. Supporting products include the PULSE 360 professionalism assessment program (launched 2025, fully underwritten by ABTS) and the EPA Pilot Trial using the Firefly platform (rolling out to all programs in August-September 2026).

ABTS operates with a lean administrative footprint in Chicago and a distributed governance model: directors are nominated by four affiliate societies (AATS, CHSS, STS, TSDA) and serve without remuneration. Technology infrastructure consists of an internal member portal (abts.org/myaccount) for applications and profile management, integration with Pearson VUE for Written exam delivery, integration with the PULSE 360 Survey System for professionalism assessment, and integration with the ACCME PARS system for CME reporting (mandatory from January 1, 2028). Recent strategic priorities have focused on modernizing assessment methods (PULSE 360, EPAs, three-option exam format), aligning with new ABMS Continuing Certification Standards, and professionalizing the diplomate experience.

Name

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Legal name

The American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Inc.

Website

https://abts.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) is the sole US nonprofit certifying body for thoracic surgeons, administering initial certification, continuing certification, and subspecialty examinations to individual surgeons across adult cardiac, general thoracic, and congenital cardiac surgery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Specialty Certification

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Certifications (EDAAANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accreditation Coordination, Recognition & Meta-Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAH), Credentialing, Certification Prep & Exam Training (BPACANAJ)

Keywords

• Medical specialty certification
• Board certification examinations
• Thoracic surgery credentialing
• Continuing medical certification
• Physician competency assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Examination Fees: ABTS charges fees for Part I (Written) and Part II (Oral) certification examinations. Written exam: $1,750; Oral exam: $2,500. Late application fees of $400 apply for late submissions.
2. Certification Application Fees: Candidates pay application submission fees of $650 for initial certification. Late application submissions incur additional $400 late fees.
3. Annual Dues: Annual dues are required of all Diplomates except those who are Retired and/or Disabled. Dues support board operations and certification maintenance activities.
4. Continuing Certification Fees: Continuing Certification (CC) application fees of $750 for the former 10-Year MOC process and 5-Year Milestone. Additional $500 for late applications. Off-cycle fees of $500 per year for those completing milestones outside their cycle.
5. Alternate Pathway Application Fee: International Medical Graduate candidates applying through the Alternate Pathway pay a $1,500 application fee, with $850 refunded if not admitted into the certification process.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) is the U.S. primary certifying board for thoracic surgeons, administering Initial Certification through a Part I (Written) computer-based examination at Pearson Testing Centers and a Part II (Oral) in-person examination, plus a Congenital Cardiac Surgery Subspecialty Certification. The board also operates a Continuing Certification program (replacing the former MOC) with 5-year milestones, and accepts International Medical Graduates through an Alternate Pathway. The organization serves the public by setting and enforcing standards for education, training, examination, and ongoing competency in adult cardiac, general thoracic, and congenital cardiac surgery.

Product overview

The American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) is a medical specialty certifying board that administers certification and continuing certification processes for cardiothoracic surgeons. The organization offers a unified certification program consisting of Initial Certification (Part I Written and Part II Oral examinations), Continuing Certification (replacing the former MOC process with 5-year cycles), and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Subspecialty Certification. Supporting programs include the PULSE 360 Program for professionalism assessment and EPA Pilot Trial for competency-based trainee evaluation. All certifications are administered through the ABTS web portal with examinations delivered via Pearson Testing Centers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Initial Certification - Part I (Written) Examination Computer-based qualifying examination administered at Pearson Testing Centers covering all areas of thoracic surgery (general thoracic, adult cardiac, congenital cardiac, and cardiothoracic critical care). Consists of 250 multiple-choice questions delivered in two equal parts lasting 2 hours 45 minutes each. For thoracic surgery residents who have completed ACGME-accredited residency programs and seek board certification.
• Initial Certification - Part II (Oral) Examination In-person oral examination administered in Dallas, TX annually in June, testing knowledge, judgment, and ability to correlate information in management of clinical problems in general thoracic and cardiac surgery. Three 30-minute exam sessions covering 12 total case scenarios (6 cardiac, 6 general thoracic). For candidates who have passed the Part I Written examination.
• Continuing Certification (formerly Maintenance of Certification) Program ensuring certified physicians maintain high clinical standards throughout their careers. Issues 5-year certificates with milestones that must be completed every 5 years to remain Board certified. Includes online exams in specialty areas (Adult Cardiac, Cardiothoracic, Congenital Cardiac, or General Thoracic), 150 CME credits per 5-year cycle, and awards 60 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits upon successful completion. For ABTS-certified thoracic surgeons.
• Congenital Cardiac Surgery Subspecialty Certification Subspecialty certification for surgeons who complete ACGME-accredited congenital cardiac surgery fellowship training. Includes Written and Oral examinations specific to congenital heart surgery. Requires current primary ABTS certification. For congenital cardiac surgery fellows seeking subspecialty credentialing.
• Alternate Pathway to Certification Pathway for exceptional cardiothoracic surgeons who are International Medical Graduates (IMG) to achieve ABTS certification. Requires 14 specific criteria including 5+ years clinical experience as attending surgeon, current faculty appointment at Associate Professor level or higher, and 150 major cases over three years. Application fee of $1,500, with $850 refunded if not admitted.
• PULSE 360 Program Professionalism and communication skills assessment program using 360-degree feedback surveys via the PULSE 360 Survey System. Required for residents applying for board certification. Two surveys administered - one in Spring of penultimate year and one in Fall of chief resident year. Satisfies ACGME professionalism competency requirement. Cost is underwritten by ABTS. For thoracic surgery residents at Harvard-affiliated hospitals and other academic medical centers.
• Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA) Pilot Program Pilot program for competency-based assessment using EPAs to assess progressive responsibility, operative readiness, and trainee development across key domains of thoracic surgical practice. Uses the Firefly platform. ABTS will underwrite the cost of the program for the next 3 years. For thoracic surgery training programs and their residents.

Quantifiable outcome

• 79% pass rate on Written exam (December 2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PULSE 360 ProgramcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025ABTS requires residents to receive feedback from a formal 360-degree review via the PULSE 360 Survey System (pulse360program.com). The cost of the program is underwritten by ABTS.
• American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1948ABTS is a member board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), which encompasses 24 medical specialties. ABMS sets standards for specialty certification and Continuing Certification requirements that ABTS must implement.
• Pearson VUEcoreTechnology or IntegrationPearson VUE operates the computer-based testing centers where ABTS administers Part I (Written) examinations. Pearson provides the testing infrastructure, proctoring, and secure examination delivery.
• American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAATS is one of the four affiliate organizations that provide director nominations to the ABTS Board. Directors are elected from slates submitted by AATS, CHSS, STS, and TSDA.
• Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTS is one of the four affiliate organizations that provide director nominations to the ABTS Board. STS also contributes to examination content development and clinical practice guidelines.
• Thoracic Surgery Directors Association (TSDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTSDA is one of the four affiliate organizations providing director nominations. TSDA also works with ABTS on residency program requirements, ITE exams, and faculty engagement for EPA Pilot Trial.
• Congenital Heart Surgeons' Society (CHSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHSS is one of the four affiliate organizations that provide director nominations to the ABTS Board.
• American Board of Surgery (ABS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerABTS originated in affiliation with the American Board of Surgery in 1948. ABS still influences surgery residency start dates and maintains collaborative credentialing standards.
• Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACGME sets standards for thoracic surgery residency program accreditation. ABTS requires candidates to complete ACGME-approved residency programs for certification eligibility.
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCPSC accreditation is recognized for Pathway Two candidates who complete general surgery residency in Canada before ACGME-approved thoracic surgery residency in the US.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Board of Plastic Surgery: ABMS member board for plastic surgery certification with similar written/oral exam structure, Continuing Certification program, and subspecialty offerings. Closely comparable in scale, candidate volume, and surgical specialty focus.
• American Board of Surgery: ABTS originated in affiliation with the American Board of Surgery in 1948 and ABS still influences thoracic surgery residency start dates and collaborative credentialing standards. Both are ABMS member boards administering surgical specialty certification through written/oral exams and Maintenance of Certification / Continuing Certification cycles.
• American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery: Subspecialty surgical ABMS board that issues certifications to colorectal surgeons after primary surgical training — structurally analogous to ABTS's Congenital Cardiac Surgery Subspecialty Certification pathway, including synchronized certificate dates with the parent board.
• American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery: ABMS member board certifying orthopaedic surgeons through a parallel Written and Oral examination sequence plus a 10-year (transitioning) MOC/CC structure. Closely analogous in mission, fee structure, and surgical specialty scope.
• American Board of Neurological Surgery: ABMS member board certifying neurological surgeons, with a similar small-pool, high-stakes oral examination model and primary board authority over a surgical subspecialty. Directly comparable in scale and candidate volume to ABTS.

Broad incumbents

• American Board of Anesthesiology: ABMS member board certifying anesthesiologists through written and oral examinations (including an OSCE-style staged oral) with the same Continuing Certification paradigm. Highly comparable operating model to ABTS, though at larger scale.
• American Board of Internal Medicine: The largest ABMS member board, administering certification and MOC for internal medicine physicians and numerous subspecialties. Shares the ABMS Continuing Certification framework, written examination delivery, and annual dues structure, but at materially larger scale than ABTS.
• American Board of Pediatrics: ABMS member board certifying pediatricians with parallel General Pediatrics and subspecialty certification tracks plus a MOC/CC program. Operates the same ABMS-mandated Continuing Certification framework as ABTS but at significantly larger candidate volume.

Others

• American Board of Medical Specialties: Umbrella organization of 24 medical specialty boards including ABTS. Sets the Continuing Certification standards ABTS must implement, maintains the certification database ABTS reports into, and serves as the federation's policy-setting body.
• National Board of Medical Examiners: Foundational assessment body that develops the USMLE and supplies examination services to ABMS member boards. Operates adjacent in the physician credentialing ecosystem and partners with boards like ABTS for examination delivery and standard-setting expertise.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ABTSThoracic
• Facebookfacebook.com/abtsthoracic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-board-of-thoracic-surgery

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about American Board of Thoracic Surgery