Cosmetic Surgeons

Certification or Licensing

All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories require physicians be licensed to practice. Certification by one of the 24 certifying boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties is not a legal requirement. Many physicians choose to become certified in their field because certification enables the public to identify practitioners who have met a standard of training and experience beyond the level required for licensure. As consumers become more informed and health care becomes more market driven, physicians who are board certified are expected to be more in demand. Many patient advocate groups and patient information sources urge patients to choose physicians who are board certified.

In order to receive certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a candidate must have successfully completed the approved residency program in plastic surgery. The plastic and reconstructive surgeon then applies to the ABPS and, once the application is approved, takes the qualifying written examination. After passing the written examination, the applicant must then pass the oral examination. To become certified, the plastic and reconstructive surgeon must also practice the specialty of plastic surgery for three years. The candidate can take the written examination any time during the three years of practice, but the oral examination cannot be taken before the candidate has finished the three-year practice requirement.

The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery also offers board certification. According to its Web site, candidates must:

• first must furnish proof of prior board certification by: (i) one of the following boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists of the American Osteopathic Association, or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in one of the following surgical specialties: general surgery, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, obstetrics and gynecology, thoracic surgery, neurological surgery, orthopaedic surgery orology, ophthalmology (with completion of an American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery-approved oculoplastic fellowship), OR (ii) The American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, with an M.D. degree
• spend a full year training (i.e., fellowship) exclusively and comprehensively in cosmetic surgery
• perform a minimum of 300 individual cosmetic surgery procedures of the face, breast, and body
• receive additional in-depth training in non-surgical cosmetic procedures, including Botox and fillers, laser resurfacing, and skin care
• perform and document an additional minimum set of cosmetic procedures following completion of a one-year fellowship
• pass a comprehensive, rigorous two-day oral and written exam covering all aspects of cosmetic surgery