Eligibility
Diplomates who are eligible for the 2024 Continuing Certification Milestone have Primary Thoracic Surgery certificates ending in 2024, 2025, 2029 and 2030. 

Diplomates who hold current certificates that expire in 2026, 2027, or 2028, but who did not complete the former 5-year MOC Milestone can complete the Continuing Certification process in 2024.

All eligible Diplomates will be notified by regular mail and email regarding the application process.  It is important that Diplomates maintain their current mail and email address on file with the Board.

Exam Dates and Fees

Application deadlines and Examination Dates along with fees are listed below:

Continuing Certification application will not be accepted after October 2, 2024.     

Application Process for Clinically Active Diplomates

The application process for eligible Diplomates will go live on their ABTS Portal in mid-June. The ABTS will send an email when it is available.

The application will be online through the Board's web portal. Diplomates can access the portal by clicking the "Sign in" button in the ABTS Portal section of the Board's home page.  If this is your first time signing into the portal, please contact the Board office for assistance with your username and password.  Once you are on your portal page, you should first update your contact information on the Profile Tab. You can also personalize your portal page by adding an optional photo.  

The Continuing Certification application can be accessed by clicking the Application Button found on the left-side of your portal page.  Before you start the application process, it is highly recommended that you have the following documents and/or information ready when you complete the application:

1. National Practitioner Identifier Number


2. The name, title, and email address of your Chief of Staff, or VP of Medical Affairs or equivalent position who can provide an electronic letter of reference/evaluation. The ABTS will electronically contact this individual, so it is no longer necessary for to seek a paper letter of reference/evaluation. 


3. The name, title, and email address of a responsible member on staff, who can provide an electronic letter of reference/evaluation. The ABTS will electronically contact this individual, so it is no longer necessary for you to seek a paper letter of reference/evaluation. 


4. A practice profile. Provide the percentage of time spent in surgical and non-surgical activities listed in the application;


5. Diplomates must submit a log of all major cases performed during any twelve consecutive months of the two-year period immediately preceding the Continuing Certification application. To maintain active certification status, Diplomates are required to provide evidence of having performed or directly supervised an ACGME congenital program resident/fellow in at least 50 congenital cardiac surgeries in patients 18 years of age or younger, or re-operation of prior congenital cardiac surgery on patients of any age during the reporting period. Up to a maximum of 25 specified STAT category 4 or 5 cases in which the applicant has participated in the critical portion of the case with another congenital cardiac surgeon may be counted toward the requirement. Click HERE for approved STAT Category 4 and 5 cases.


6. The name and a brief description (to include the following information: what needed to be improved, what measures were taken to make the improvement and what were the results after the measures were implemented) of a Practice Quality Improvement (PQI) project performed in the last two years. PQI project must have a start date of April 1, 2022 or later;


7. The name of the Patient Safety course completed in the last 24 months (April 1, 2022 or later). Click here for additional information regarding the Patient Safety course. Serving on a Patient Safety committee does not meet the requirement for Patient Safety.  A patient safety course or a meeting covering the additional topics listed on the Board's website will be accepted.


8. Submit 150 AMA Category 1 CME hours since January 1, 2020, half (75 hours) of which need to be in the broad category of thoracic surgery. It is no longer necessary to have "congenital-specific" CMEs.  If you completed your 5-Year MOC process in 2020, or 2021, or 2022, or 2023, please be aware CME credits submitted on the 5-Year MOC application to meet the CME requirements for the 5-Year MOC process cannot be used to meet the CME requirements for the 2024 Continuing Certification process.

If selected for random audit, Diplomates will be expected to submit copies of the third-party CME certificates (PDF format). If you are randomly selected for a CME audit, you will receive an email requesting the third-party CME certificates.

A confirmation email will be sent to Diplomates when the application is submitted. Another email will be sent when the application has been approved.  

Application Process for Clinically Inactive Diplomates

The application will be online through the Board's web portal. Diplomates can access the portal by clicking the "Sign in" button in the ABTS Portal section of the Board's home page.  If this is your first time signing into the portal, please contact the Board office for assistance with your username and password.  Once you are on your portal page, you should first update your contact information on the Profile Tab. You can also personalize your portal page by adding an optional photo.  

If selected for random audit, Diplomates will be expected to submit copies of the third-party CME certificates (PDF format). If you are randomly selected for a CME audit, you will receive an email requesting the third-party CME certificates.

A confirmation email will be sent to Diplomates when the application is submitted. Another email will be sent when the application has been approved.