General Requirements

Subspecialty certification in congenital heart surgery by the ABTS may be achieved for surgeons who successfully completed thoracic surgery residency training and congenital heart surgery training prior to July 1, 2008, by fulfillment of these requirements. The candidate must:

1.  Apply for and be approved to take written examination. 
   
   
2.  Have achieved a current, valid primary thoracic surgery certification by the ABTS. Physicians who have not achieved primary thoracic surgery certification by the ABTS are not considered Board eligible for Congenital Cardiac Surgery certification.
   
   
3.  Be in good standing with the ABTS, including current with Continuing Certification, annual dues, and all fees.  
   
   
4. Hold a currently registered, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine granted by a state or other United States jurisdiction. The license must be valid at the time of application for admission to examination and maintained until the Subspecialty Certificate is granted by the ABTS. A temporary and/or limited license such as an educational, institutional, or house staff permit is not acceptable to the Board.
   
   
5. Hold full and unrestricted inpatient hospital admitting, inpatient care, and consultative privileges in congenital heart surgery at an institution accredited by the JCAHO or other organization judged acceptable by the ABTS.
   
   
6. Meet the operative case volume and distribution during congenital cardiac surgery fellowship training described in the Congenital Cardiac Surgery Booklet of Information.
   
   
7. Provide evidence of participation in continuing certification current with continuing certification requirements.
   
   
8. Possess ethical standing in the profession and a moral status in the community that are acceptable to the Board.
   
   
9. Pass a closed-book, secure, written examination.