Quick Tips: Oral Exam
Case Collection:
- Candidates admissible to the Oral Examination will have access to the Clinical Case Log.
- Contact the Board Office at oral@abplasticsurgery.org for log in assistance.
- Online data collection of cases performed within a 9-month period, beginning July 1st.
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Required for case list submission:
- 1 original case list with signed & notarized affidavits from each institution.
- 1 Candidate Affidavit.
- 1 copy of the Statistical Summary Report from the Clinical Case Log.
- A letter from one hospital confirming privileges in plastic surgery which corresponds to the start of clinical surgical practice. Must be dated in the year of the examination or include privilege start and end dates throughout the case collection and examination period.
- Certificates or currently dated letters from accrediting organization documenting accreditation of ALL non-hospital surgical facilities (if applicable)
- 1 copy of ALL required advertising material.
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Preparation of Case Reports:
- Case lists are reviewed upon submission and cases are selected for examination preparation (Case Report Session). Some case lists may be denied. Notification is provided in July.
- Online case report preparation instructions will be provided. Detailed e-mails will be sent to candidates regarding case report documents.
Incomplete case reports and request for additional cases:
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Patient consent, pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative photos (≥ 3 months after the procedure) are required for each selected case. Candidates lacking three-month post-operative photos are encouraged to locate the patient and attempt to obtain the necessary photos/documentation prior to contacting the Board Office about a deficiency. Three additional cases will automatically be assigned to candidates who notify the Board Office of incomplete case report documentation. This assignment is FINAL - the three additional cases will not be removed, even if the documentation or photos are obtained at a later date completing the original case(s).
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Registration Form:
- After case lists are accepted and approved, the Registration Form will become available in July.
- An Announcement Letter and the Selected Cases for each candidate will be posted at this time.
- Registration Forms are due July 31st.
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Where is the Oral Examination administered?
- For 10+ years, the examination has been held at the Pointe Hilton at Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix, AZ.
- In 2020 and 2021, the examination was held virtually via the Zoom meeting platform.
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What is the Board's Advertising Policy?
- Effective January 1, 2017, the Board approved that candidates may advertise board eligible while in the ABPS examination process after receiving an ABPS application approval letter. The term board eligible may be used until admissibility to the ABPS examination process expires.
- Use of the Board's logo is prohibited
- Refer to the Advertising Policy
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What is the Board's Admissibility Policy?
- Candidates are advised to utilize every opportunity to complete the certification examinations.
- Candidates must successfully complete both the Written and Oral Examinations required to achieve certification within 8 years after completion of plastic surgery residency training.
- Reapplication requirements must be fulfilled at the end of the first 5 years of admissibility (application approval).
- Refer to the Admissibility Policy.