The Pathway to Certification

ABPS certification ensures that board-certified surgeons have completed appropriate training, successfully performed a diverse range of podiatric surgical procedures, and passed our extensive written and oral examinations. The importance of board certification is reflected in trends by hospitals, surgicenters, managed care organizations, and insurance carriers to require specialty board certification. The following pages detail the necessary steps to become certified.

Helpful Information

Prepare to Apply!

Reading through ABPS documents will make your application process easier. The documents contain the specific requirements and step-by-step instructions to apply for an examination.

Quick Links

1: Education

The first step toward certification is completion of a four-year doctoral training program at a podiatric medical college accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME). There are currently eight colleges of podiatric medicine.

Colleges

The American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine (AACPM) is a national educational organization that represents the eight U.S. colleges of podiatric medicine as well as over 200 hospitals and organizations that conduct graduate training in podiatric medicine. The Association serves as a national forum for the exchange of ideas, issues information and concerns relating to podiatric medical education.

CPME

The Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME) is an autonomous accrediting agency for podiatric medical education. Deriving its authority from the House of Delegates of the American Podiatric Medical Association, the Council is empowered to develop and adopt standards and policies as necessary for the implementation of all aspects of its accreditation, approval, and recognition purview.

  • The accreditation of colleges of podiatric medicine, the approval of residency programs and sponsors of continuing education.
  • The recognition of specialty certifying boards for podiatric medical practice.

Quick Links

2: Training

Upon completion of a four-year doctoral training program, residency training is required to qualify for ABPS certification. Candidates must complete a minimum of two years of residency training in a program approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME). One of the two years of training must be in a CPME-approved podiatric surgical residency.

Candidates who attend a 24-month podiatric medicine and surgery (PM&S) program are eligible only for Certification in Foot Surgery. Candidates who attend a 36-month PM&S program are eligible for both Certification in Foot Surgery and Certification in Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery.

Helpful Information

PRR

Podiatry Residency Resource (PRR) is an on-line clinical logging and residency management system established in 2000 by ABPS and the American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine (ABPOPPM). Residents applying to ABPS or ABPOPPM are required to submit their residency logs in the PRR format.

COTH

The Council of Teaching Hospitals (COTH) of the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine is made up of over 200 institutions dedicated to excellence in post-graduate medical education through its podiatric residency programs. Institutional membership is renewed annually. All podiatric faculty affiliated with a COTH member institution are eligible for the benefits of membership.

Quick Links

3: Clinical Experience

Candidates for board certification are required to demonstrate a diversity of surgical experience in foot surgery and if eligible, for reconstructive rearfoot/ankle surgery. Four years of post-DPM degree clinical experience must be completed before taking the certification examination.

Helpful Information

PRR

For detailed explanation of content of procedures to be logged and the administrative requirements for logging them, please see ABPS Document 110, ABPS Document 220, and ABPS Document 210.

PRR

Podiatry Residency Resource was organized to document the residents’ clinical experiences in a clear, consistent manner. Residents must meet activity and surgical procedure volumes and diversity requirements as a prerequisite to obtaining ABPS board qualified status.

Quick Links

4: Qualification

To become Board Qualified in Foot Surgery, a candidate must pass the Written Examination in Foot Surgery. Passing the Written Examination in Foot Surgery is required before a candidate to become Board Certified. Board Qualified status lasts for seven years.

Once board qualified in Foot Surgery, a candidate who has completed a minimum of two years of podiatric surgical training in a CPME-approved residency program can become board qualified in Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery. Passing the Written Examination in Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery is required to become Board Certified in Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery. This board qualified status also lasts for seven years.

Helpful Information

You can take both

The Written Examinations in Foot Surgery and Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery examinations can be taken in the same year. However, you must pass the Foot Surgery examination for the results of the RRA examination to be valid.

Status vs. Membership

Board Qualified status indicates that you are in process of becoming a member of ABPS. You must complete the certification process to become a member. Only board-certified DPMs can legally advertise their status.

Quick Links

5: Certification

After passing the Written Examination in Foot Surgery, candidates can become Board Certified by passing the oral Certification Examination in Foot Surgery. Certification indicates that a podiatrist has demonstrated a cognitive knowledge of podiatric surgery, including the diagnosis of general medical problems and surgical management of foot diseases, deformities, and/or trauma, and those structures which affect the foot and ankle.

Similarly, once a candidate has passed the Written Examination in Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery, they can become Board Certified by passing the oral Certification Examination in Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery. This certification indicates that a podiatrist has demonstrated a cognitive knowledge of podiatric surgery, including the diagnosis of general medical problems and surgical management of foot diseases, deformities, and/or trauma, and those structures that affect the foot, ankle, and leg.

Helpful Information

Membership

Once you are board certified you become a member of ABPS.

CBPS

Certification examinations include computerized patient simulations as well as standard oral examinations.

ACFAS

If you are board certified, you may join the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). Members of ACFAS are referred to as “Fellows”.

Quick Links

6: Maintenence of Comp

The abilities of ABPS members are assessed every ten years using a written examination. Members must also demonstrate current active surgical practice by submitting proof from a hospital or surgery center of active surgical privileges.

To give members adequate opportunity to recertify before their certification expires, they have a three year window in which to pass the examination. The examination may be taken in the eighth, ninth, or tenth year following the initial certification and, similarly, every ten years.

Members certified in both Foot Surgery and Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle (R/RA) Surgery must take both recertification examinations.

Helpful Information

Self-Assessment

If you were certified prior to 1991, you are required to take the Self-Assessment Examination.

Status Conversion

Members certified prior to 1991 may convert their “Foot and Ankle Surgery” status to “Foot Surgery” and “Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery” status by passing the recertification examinations in each category and meeting the credentialing requirements.

Quick Links