ABPS Orthopedic Surgery

Candidates must pass a written exam and an oral exam. The written component comes first; only after passing it may a candidate sit for the oral component. Both must be passed to earn initial board certification in orthopedic surgery.

Certification is good for eight years, expiring on December 31 of the eighth year. After that, Diplomates pursue recertification, which has its own requirements and application criteria. Maintaining certification also requires ongoing education.

Applicants must first meet general ABPS requirements: graduation from a recognized U.S., Canadian, or international allopathic or osteopathic college of medicine and a valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States, its territories, or Canada. BCOS additionally requires completion of both an accredited internship and an orthopedic surgery residency.

Yes. ABPS states that for candidates who trained outside the United States and Canada, there is an academic pathway to board certification. Review the eligibility requirements published by ABPS to confirm how that pathway applies to your training record before submitting an application.

Work backward from the written exam: build a broad knowledge-and-skills review first, since you cannot reach the oral component without passing it. Shift to oral-style case practice only once your written preparation is solid, and rehearse articulating evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment decisions aloud.

ABPS publishes an examination description listing the subject areas covered. Use that outline as your study blueprint rather than guessing at content. No question count, time limit, or passing score is stated on the pages reviewed here, so confirm those details directly with ABPS.

Experienced surgeons often know the right answer but present it poorly. The oral format rewards organized, concise reasoning: state the diagnosis, justify it with findings, then outline treatment and alternatives. Practicing aloud with a colleague exposes gaps that silent reading does not.

Studying without reference to the published examination description, and delaying oral practice until after written results arrive. Because the written exam must be passed first, candidates who begin oral-style rehearsal early enter that component with far less catch-up pressure.

Those details are not stated in the source material reviewed. ABPS publishes exam process, dates, and fees, plus general policies, on its orthopedic surgery pages. Confirm current fees, scheduling, and any retake provisions directly with ABPS before you plan.

ABPS publishes annual examination schedule information for the coming years on its website. Because schedules are updated periodically, check the current posting for your testing year rather than relying on a schedule you saw earlier.