The Subspecialty Certificate in Orthopaedic Surgery of the Hand, established in 1989, is for Board-Certified orthopaedic surgeons who have demonstrated qualifications in hand surgery beyond those expected of other orthopaedic surgeons by virtue of additional training and a practice characterized by volume and diversity of cases in hand surgery or have made significant contributions to this field.
The examination is developed and administered by the Joint Committee on Surgery of the Hand of the American Boards of Orthopaedic Surgery and Plastic Surgery.
Applicants must have completed a one year ACGME accredited fellowship in surgery of the hand to qualify. In addition, a one year case list must be submitted which meets the required number of cases in 5 of 9 categories.
Applications are available online each September and the examination is given the following August by computer at Pearson Vue Test Centers nationwide. This is a four hour examination consisting of 175 multiple-choice questions designed to evaluate the candidate’s cognitive knowledge relevant to surgery of the hand.
The ABOS has announced a new initiative to allow surgeons to take their Subspecialty Certification Examinations earlier in their careers, making the process of obtaining Subspecialty Certification less burdensome. The changes will be effective for the 2025 Examinations, offered on August 5, 2025.
Currently, surgeons must be ABOS Board Certified before they are eligible to apply for a Subspecialty Examination. With the change, Candidates are eligible to take their Subspecialty Examination after successfully completing an ACGME-accredited fellowship. This allows them to be assessed when their knowledge is at its peak and their practice demands are at their lowest.
Passing the Examination is just one step in the process of obtaining Subspecialty Certification. The requirements for earning Subspecialty Certification will not change, just the order. Candidates must achieve primary Board Certification by the ABOS before they can submit an Application, Case List, and Letters of Recommendation as part of the certification process.
To view a blueprint of the examination, click on this link.
Candidates who have met all the requirements and have passed the examination will receive a Subspecialty Certificate in Surgery of the Hand issued by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. This Subspecialty Certificate will be valid through the expiration of the Diplomate’s General Certificate. After receiving the Subspecialty Certificate, it is highly recommended that Diplomates take a combined examination when the Certificates expire, so they will be recertifying both Certificates with one examination.
Examination Overview
Examinees are provided with 15 total minutes of break time which can be used between any examination sections. The tutorial can be completed at home prior to the examination resulting in extra break time. Candidates WILL NOT be penalized for any break taken outside of the normal scheduled breaks EXCEPT that unscheduled breaks will reduce the time a Candidate has on his/her examination.
