American College of Surgeons

INFORMATION RELATING TO CATEGORIES OF AFFILIATION

The American College of Surgeons has three active categories of affiliation:
1) Candidate Group, 2) Associate Fellow, and 3) Fellow.

These three categories are delineated as follows:

Candidate Group

Participants in the Candidate Group are those who are (A) residents enrolled in an accredited training program in surgical specialties whose board is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada; or who are (B) engaged in a surgical research or surgical fellowship program which is acceptable to the American College of Surgeons.

Associate Fellow

Associate Fellows are those who have (A) completed an initial accredited surgical residency program and have entered an additional surgical residency, a research, or a fellowship program; or have (B) entered surgical practice and are awaiting the completion of a two-year practice time requirement for eligibility to apply for Fellowship.

Fellow

Fellows are those who have successfully completed the formal application process and have attained full affiliation with the American College of Surgeons.

Any request for applications may be directed to the Credentials Division of the Fellowship Department:

Applicants for Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons are required to have the following qualifications:

1. Graduation from a medical school acceptable to the American College of Surgeons.
2. Certification by an American Surgical Specialty Board which is a member of the American Board of Medical Specialties and which is appropriate to the applicant's specialty practice, or an appropriate specialty certification by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
3. A full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in their respective state or province.
4. Two years of uninterrupted surgical practice in one location after completion of all formal training. Additional practice time (usually one year) may be required if the practice situation changes. Exceptions may be granted by the Central Credentials Committee.
5. A current appointment on the surgical staff of a hospital with no reportable action pending which could adversely affect staff privileges at any hospital.
6. A current practice that establishes the applicant as a specialist in surgery. The degree to which a practice must be restricted to the specialty is to be determined by the responsible Credentials Committees. The limitation of an applicant's practice to the scope of the designated specialty is an important consideration.
7. Interest in pursuing professional excellence, both as an individual surgeon and a member of the surgical community. Such interest may be evidenced by membership in local, regional, and national surgical specialty societies; participation in teaching programs and on hospital committees; continuing medical education through attendance at professional meetings, courses and seminars.
8. Ethical fitness as well as professional proficiency as determined by an appropriate College Credentials Committee. This determination is based upon information obtained from Fellows who were consulted as references and from other sources.

The Board of Regents makes the final decision regarding the applicant's eligibility for Fellowship. The Board of Regents may, at any time, modify any portion of the requirements for Fellowship.

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10/30/98