The ABOS to Offer Alternate Oral Examination Date

The Board of Directors of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS), after significant deliberation and in keeping with its mission, values, and strategic plan, announced today that it plans to add an alternate oral examination date in 2023. The alternate date is meant to provide an option to those examinees dealing with specific life events that make attendance at the July examination dates not possible.

“The ABOS serves the best interest of the public, our patients, and the profession of orthopaedic surgery; therefore, the Board is committed to an in-person oral examination as part of the ABOS Board Certification process. However, every year we have examinees who are unable to sit for the examination due to extenuating life events such as a military deployment, childbirth and pregnancy, medical issues, or family tragedy,” according to April D. Armstrong, MD, ABOS Board President. “Moving forward, the ABOS will offer these individuals an alternate date for taking the oral examination. We have listened to our stakeholders and made what we feel is the best decision for our examinees while being true to our primary mission of protecting the public.”

The ABOS expects to offer the alternate date in the fall of 2023. More specifics will be available within the next 30 days as the details of the alternate examination date and location are finalized. Updates, including criteria for qualifying life events, will be available on the ABOS website.