Candidates for ABOS Board Certification must successfully complete a 5-year comprehensive orthopaedic residency education program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The Rules and Procedures describe the educational requirements for ABOS Board Certification. Residency Programs use ABOS’ online Record of Residency Assignment (RRA) to indicate whether residents are meeting the ABOS’ educational requirements.
Reminders for Program Coordinators
- Indicate the total number of weeks each resident completed on each rotation for the PGY ending June 30
- Forms must be completed by June 1 and electronically signed by the Program Director by June 15
- The Program Director signs a total report for Form 1A/2A, as well as each individual Form 3
- Residents will not be able to take the ABOS Part I Examination if their program does not submit all forms indicating they have met the educational requirements.
- Review any red flags, as they indicate a resident who may be deficient in the requirements.
- Do not complete forms until rotations are complete or will be completed by the end of the academic year. Please do not complete RRA forms if there is a question about the resident completing their rotations by the end of the academic year.
- Do not adjust anyone’s PGY level. Contact ABOS if a PGY is incorrect.
- Do not enter interns or other residents in the RRA system—only use ACGME ADS.
- Complete the intern’s Education History page when you update their profile information. Please check all residents to ensure each has a completed Education History page.
RRA Forms
- Form 1a: To be completed for current interns (PGY 1)
- 6 months of non-orthopaedic education
- 6 months orthopaedic education
- Form 2a: To be completed each year for all PGY 2-5 residents
- Adult, Fracture/Trauma/Pediatric, Basic/Clinical
- Form 3: To be reviewed to show accurate rotations, and education was completed for each resident who graduates or leaves the program
Transfers
- Inform the ABOS of any change in the residency roster. Please notify the ABOS by letter from the Program Director of resident resignations, terminations, incoming off-cycle residents, or late graduates.
- When a resident leaves a program prematurely, the Program Director must notify the ABOS office in writing within 30 days. The letter must record a brief reason for leaving.
- If a resident enters an orthopaedic surgery residency program off-cycle, the Program Director must send the ABOS a letter of introduction for the new resident, including the start date and PGY level, along with details regarding the rotations your program plans to give them credit for, if any, from another program. If the resident needs additional education, please include a remediation plan to help them complete it. The letter should accompany the first-line verification from the other program’s GME office or Program Director, detailing the resident’s completed rotations and dates attended. The ABOS will then provide a response letter for your files.
If you have any questions about the RRA, please contact Brittain Cheek.
