Primary Certification in Orthopedic Surgery

Written Exam

1. In order to take the Orthopedic Surgery Written Exam, applicants must have completed, or be in their fifth year of, an AOA or ACGME-approved training program in orthopedic surgery.

2. The Orthopedic Surgery Written Exam is offered once per year, generally every May. The application period opens in October, and applications are due in January.

Clinical Exam

3. The Orthopedic Surgery Clinical Exam takes place in two cycles every year, in winter and summer. Applications for the summer clinicals are due in February, and applications for the winter clinicals are due in August.

4. Starting with the 2019-20 winter clinical cycle, those who took Part I of the Written Exam in May 2018 or after will take a new format of the Clinical Exam, which will include a case defense component. Candidates who successfully completed the Part II Oral exam will be able to finish their certification process via the Historical Format Clinical exam.

Become Board Certified

5. Upon successful completion of all exam components, the AOBOS will recommend osteopathic board certification to the AOA.

6. You will receive a letter from the AOA via email once certification has been approved.

7. You are now board certified. You will receive your certification in the mail within 90 days.

8. Your primary certification in Orthopedic Surgery will remain active for 10 years following date of issue provided you successfully complete Osteopathic Continuous Certification requirements.

Osteopathic Continuous Certification

9. Maintain active licensure.

10. Participate in lifelong learning and continuing medical education.

11. Complete the cognitive assessment.

12. Complete the practice performance assessment.