Groups Announce Change to Surgical Subspecialty Examinations

In one of his final official acts as American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) president, Dean C. Taylor announced a new initiative to allow surgeons to take their Subspecialty Certification exams earlier in their careers, thereby easing the process of obtaining Subspecialty Certification. The changes will take effect with the 2025 exams, offered on Aug. 5, 2025.

The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) and American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) jointly offer the Surgery of the Hand Subspecialty Certification. In addition, the ABOS offers the Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Subspecialty Certification.

Currently, surgeons must be either ABOS or ABPS Board certified before they can apply for a Subspecialty exam. With the change, candidates can take their Subspecialty exam after successfully completing an ACGME-accredited fellowship. This allows them to be assessed when their knowledge is at its peak and their practice demands are at their lowest.

“At the ABOS, we develop programs that are relevant to orthopedic surgeons. We also work to lessen the burdens that those programs place on orthopedic surgeons,” ABOS Executive Director David F. Martin, M.D., said. “This new initiative will make it easier for those hand surgeons and sports medicine surgeons who want to obtain Subspecialty Certification.”

Surgery of the Hand Subspecialty Certification was established in 1989. Subspecialty Certification is available for those surgeons who have successfully completed an ACGME-accredited hand fellowship, have met the requirements for volume and diversity of surgical cases in hand surgery, and have made significant contributions to their field as shown through their letters of recommendation.

Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Subspecialty Certification began in 2007. Surgeons must successfully complete an ACGME accredited Sports Medicine fellowship. Once in practice they must submit a case list that demonstrates sufficient diversity and volume of cases. The certification process also requires contributions to the field of sports medicine and peer review.

“Earning Subspecialty Certification is important to many hand surgeons, and we believe this new initiative will help more of them receive that designation,” ABPS Executive Director Keith E. Brandt, M.D., stated.

The changes have the full support of the relevant societies, including the American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS), the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH). These organizations believe that earning Subspecialty Certification is important to the profession and allows these surgeons to distinguish themselves from their peers.

ABOS Subspecialty Certification requirements can be found here and ABPS Hand Surgery Examination requirements are available here. More information will be forthcoming from each board.

AOSSM originally grew out of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Committee on Sports Medicine. Organized in 1964, the Society aims to be the premier global, sports medicine organization for orthopedic surgeons and other professionals who provide comprehensive health services for the care of athletes and active people of all ages and abilities. Rosemont, Ill.-based AOSSM cultivates evidence-based knowledge, provides extensive educational programming, and promotes emerging research that advances the science and practice of sports medicine.