Since last year, more than 400 orthopaedic surgeons who had recently completed a fellowship in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine have taken the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Subspecialty Examination. Prior to 2025, only orthopaedic surgeons who had earned ABOS Board Certification were eligible to sit for the Subspeciality Examination in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine.
With the encouragement and support of AOSSM, ABOS made the change to allow orthopaedic surgeons to complete the examination immediately following their fellowship education as their orthopaedic sports medicine knowledge is peaking and before the demands of beginning surgical practice intensify.
The requirements to earn ABOS Subspecialty Certification have not changed, only the order in which Candidates may complete them. Candidates still must pass the ABOS Part II Examination and complete a Subspecialty Application and Case List, both of which are reviewed by the ABOS Credentials Committee. Once all parts are complete, Candidates will earn ABOS Subspecialty Certification.
Fewer than 3,000 orthopaedic surgeons have ABOS Subspecialty Certification in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. Current ABOS Diplomates will continue to use the previous process of registering for the examination, submitting an Application and Case List, and taking the examination.
More specifically, ABOS Subspecialty Certification Candidates need to:
- Have completed an ACGME-accredited orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship.
- Register for and pass the ABOS Subspecialty Certification Examination.
- Complete the Subspecialty Certification Application, which includes uploading letters of recommendation.
- Submit a 12-month Case List of all operative orthopaedic sports medicine cases, meeting specific category requirements—125 minimum cases, of which at least 75 must include arthroscopy and 10 patients treated nonoperatively.
These steps ensure that those who hold ABOS Subspecialty Certification can demonstrate that they have received accredited training, that they have an appropriate level of knowledge, and that their colleagues believe they demonstrate the skills of an orthopaedic sports medicine surgeon.
If you are considering taking the examination, you should know what to expect before going to the testing center. The examination consists of 175 multiple-choice questions administered over four hours, designed to evaluate a Candidate’s cognitive knowledge relevant to orthopaedic sports medicine. On the ABOS website, there is a pdf of the Examination Blueprint which shows the topics covered on the examination and the approximate percentage of questions on each topic.
In addition to reviewing the blueprint, I always tell examinees to review the examination tutorial prior to going to the testing center. In addition to seeing exactly how the user interface will look, completing it at home will give you an extra 15 minutes of breaktime.
For patients, hospitals, and colleagues, ABOS Subspecialty Certification demonstrates an orthopaedic surgeon’s commitment to orthopaedic sports medicine through fellowship training, experience, case review, and assessment. Subspecialty Certification is not simply another examination; it reflects knowledge, surgical experience, and professionalism in the field.
Earning Subspecialty Certification was an important career achievement for me. When the ABOS first offered it in 2007, I had already been a team physician at Wake Forest University for more than a decade. However, it was important to show the student-athletes that I cared for that an independent organization had assessed my knowledge and skills in orthopaedic sports medicine. Had the new option been available when I was in fellowship, I would have participated and taken the examination immediately following my fellowship year.
The examination will next be administered August 5, 2027, at Pearson Testing Centers across the country. The registration form will be available soon on the ABOS Dashboards of all prospective applicants. February 15, 2027, is the registration deadline for fellows interested in taking the 2027 ABOS Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Subspecialty Certification Examination. Registration includes a brief online form for the fellows to complete AND a very brief online form for the fellowship director. Because the fellowship director must complete the form by February 15, 2027, fellows should not wait until the deadline to begin the registration process. ABOS Diplomates have until February 1, 2027, to register and submit their Application and Case List, with a late deadline of February 15, 2027.
After earning ABOS Subspecialty Certification in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, there are three ways to recertify both your General and your Sports Certificate:
- ABOS Web-Based Longitudinal Assessment Pathway (ABOS WLA)—Select at least five Knowledge Sources each year in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine.
- ABOS Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Combined Computer Examination—Similar to the Subspecialty Certification Examination.
- ABOS Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Combined Oral Examination—Similar to the ABOS Part II Examination.
If you have any questions about ABOS Subspecialty Certification, do not hesitate to contact us. You have a Certification Specialist assigned to you. If you call during business hours, you will talk to a real person, not a phone tree. If your assigned Certification Specialist is not available, another Certification Specialist can assist you. I am also happy to speak with you.
