Overview
Announcement: Changes to Timing of Hand Surgery Examination
The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) and the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) announced a new initiative to allow surgeons to take their Subspecialty Certification Examinations earlier in their careers, making the process of obtaining Subspecialty Certification less burdensome. The changes will be effective for the 2025 Examinations, offered on August 5, 2025.
The ABOS and the ABPS jointly offer the Surgery of the Hand Subspecialty Certification. Currently, surgeons must be either ABOS or ABPS Board Certified before they are eligible to apply for a Subspecialty Examination. With the change, Candidates are eligible to take their Subspecialty Examination 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.
Passing the Examination is just one step in the process of obtaining Subspecialty Certification. The requirements for earning Subspecialty Certification will not change, just the order. Candidates must achieve primary Board Certification by the ABPS before they can submit an Application and Case List as part of the certification process.
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.
For those physicians completing a Hand Surgery fellowship from 2025-2026, they should request information from the ABPS after September 2025 by emailing hand@abplasticsurgery.org. If recommended by the program director, candidates will receive access to the Registration form in January 2026.
For physicians completing a Hand Surgery fellowship in 2025, the deadline to register for the 2025 HSE has now passed. Please request information for the 2026 HSE between September and December 2025 by emailing hand@abplasticsurgery.org.
REFERENCES:
2025 HSE Booklet of Information for Initial Certification
2025 HSE Cover Letter for Certification
Hand Surgery Exam Content