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Hand Surgery Subspecialty Certification

Initial Certification

• The Hand Surgery Examination is a joint examination among the American Board of Plastic Surgery and Orthopaedic Surgery.
• Effective 2025, the American Board of Surgery is approved by the ABMS as a qualifying board under the American Board of Plastic Surgery – and, therefore, the ABPS issues subspecialty certificates to both ABPS and ABS diplomates.
• Representatives from the Joint Committee construct a fair examination covering various aspects of hand surgery. 
• Includes only those procedures performed on the upper extremity.

Recertification

• Hand Surgery Recertification has been replaced by the ABPS Continuous Certification Program. Diplomates who receive an initial Hand Sub-specialty certificate from the ABPS will automatically be entered into the ABPS Continuous Certification program.

• Hand sub-specialty Diplomates must complete the Hand Module of the Self-Assessment Activity to satisfy the Knowledge Assessment requirement of the Continuous Certification program.

• Successful completion of eight assessments within a 10-year cycle (or four assessments within a five-year cycle) will renew the certificates in both Hand Surgery and primary Plastic Surgery.

Registration Form Requirements (Initial Cert only)

• Must be Board Eligible with the ABPS or ABS for primary certification and remain eligible throughout the subspecialty certification process.
• Must currently be in/have completed an ACGME-accredited position in an ACGME-accredited 12-month hand fellowship.
• REQUIRED:
  • Online Registration Form with credit card payment
  • Preliminary Fellowship Program Director Recommendation to the HSE Certification process - online sign-off form required for access to the Hand Registration Form.
  • Photo ID 

Initial Hand Surgery Certification Application & Case List

• REQUIRED:
  • Be a diplomate of the ABPS or ABS
  • Be in active practice for at least 15 months by the time of certification following the completion of formal training
  • Commitment to practice of plastic surgery and/or hand surgery
  • Active, admitting hospital privileges in plastic surgery/hand surgery
  • Current, full and unrestricted medical license. Must not be current subject of any disciplinary action or sanctions
  • All accreditation certificates from non-hospital outpatient surgical facilities
  • 3 satisfactory Peer Evaluations
  • Completion of ACGME-accredited, 12-month hand surgery fellowship
• Case Lists are required for initial Hand certification only
  • Minimum requirements: 125 cases in 15-months. 
  • Specific anatomy and category classification requirements must also be met.
  • Refer to Hand Surgery Booklet of Information.

Hand Surgery Recertification Application/Registration

• REQUIRED
  • Received Hand certificate from the ABPS, ABOS or ABS
  • Diplomate of the ABPS and current on all Continuous Certification requirements. ABS diplomates not required to maintain primary certification in general surgery
  • Commitment to practice of plastic surgery and/or hand surgery
  • Active, admitting hospital privileges in plastic surgery/hand surgery
  • Current, full and unrestricted state medical licenses
  • All accreditation certificates from non-hospital outpatient surgical facilities
  • 3 satisfactory Peer Evaluations
• Case Lists are NOT required for Hand Recertification
• Refer to Hand Surgery Booklet of Information

Where is the Hand Examination administered?

Initial Certification

• Pearson Testing Centers in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada
• The Board does not provide a study guide for this examination

Recertification

• Administered via an internet-based platform
• May be taken anywhere with internet access
• Accessible the entire month of April