General Surgery Qualifying Examination (QE)


1) Can a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) be certified by the American Board of Surgery?


2) I am in a fellowship and only have a limited license. Can I take the QE without having a full and unrestricted license?


3) The person who was the program director for my residency has since left the position. Can the new program director sign the signature form for my application?


4) For the operative experience requirement, how many cases do I need?


5) I received a letter stating that I did not list surgical critical care or multiple organ traumas where an operation was not required. We did not have to track these categories. What do I need to do?


6) My application for the QE was approved last year but I failed/did not take the exam. Do I need to submit a new application this year?


7) Is it possible to take the QE outside of the United States/Canada?
 

FAQs - General Surgery Qualifying Examination (QE)


1) Q. Can a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) be certified by the American Board of Surgery?

A. Yes, a D.O. can apply for certification by the ABS providing they have completed a five-year general Surgery residency program accredited by the ACGME or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

2) Q. I am in a fellowship and only have a limited license. Can I take the QE without having a full and unrestricted license?

A. The ABS requires a full and unrestricted license for the QE only if you are taking the exam more than six months after completion of residency. However, once you have passed the QE, you must have a full and unrestricted license to take the Certifying Examination regardless of when it is taken. Temporary, limited, educational or institutional medical licenses will not be accepted.

3) Q. The person who was the program director for my residency has since left the position. Can the new program director sign the signature form for my application?

A. No. The individual who was your program director during your residency must sign your signature form, even if he or she no longer holds that position.

4) Q. For the operative experience requirement, how many cases do I need?

A. The ABS' minimum requirements as of July 1, 2008 are 750 procedures in five years and 150 in the chief senior year, with an overall balanced distribution of cases. Residents may count up to 50 cases as teaching assistant toward the 750 total; however these cases may not be counted toward the 150 chief year cases. The ABS does not require a specific number of procedures within a content area.

5) Q. I received a letter stating that I did not list surgical critical care or multiple organ traumas where an operation was not required. We did not have to track these categories. What do I need to do?

A. You or your program director can write a letter documenting your surgical critical care and/or nonoperative trauma experience during your residency. This information must be provided for your application to be approved.

6) Q. My application for the QE was approved last year but I failed/did not take the exam. Do I need to submit a new application this year?

A. No. Once your application is approved, you are admissible to the QE for five opportunities in a five-year period; however, you must take the exam for the first time in the year your application was approved or the following year to maintain your admissibility. You will automatically be sent each year registration information for that year's upcoming exam. To confirm your participation in that year's QE, you must complete the online registration form and make payment of the examination fee.

7) Q. Is it possible to take the QE outside of the United States/Canada?

A. For active duty military personnel stationed overseas, the ABS will make arrangements on a case-by-case basis. Please call the ABS office at 215-568-4000 or send an e-mail to the examination coordinator.