Congenital Cardiac Surgery Subspecialty

Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Dates
10-year MOC Application:  March 20 - May 14
10-year MOC Late Application:  May 15 to May 31

5-year MOC Application:  May 30 - July 16
5-year MOC Late Application :  July 17 - July 31

Initial Certification Examination Dates
Candidates who took the 2022 Congenital Written Exam may look for
their result letters in the mail at the end of February/early March.

Congenital Part II (Oral) Exam: June 8, 2023 in Dallas, TX (in-person)

Initial application period for ABTS Congenital Heart Surgery (CHS)
subspecialty certification will open June 19 to August 15, 2023

Congenital Part I (Written) Exam: December 4 - 8, 2023

Refer to the CHS Initial Booklet of Information
for details regarding the application requirements.  

Certification
Pathway I

Congenital Certification
for Residents
Learn More »

Congenital
MOC

Maintaining Congenital
Subspecialty Certification
Learn More »

Certification
Pathway II

Congenital Certification
for Practicing Surgeons
Learn More »

Synchronization
of Certificates

Primary Thoracic and
Congenital Certification
Learn More »

CHS News

2-year Congenital Residency Program Change - NEW
Beginning in 2023, all candidates for congenital cardiac surgery subspecialty certification will be required to complete 2 consecutive years of ACGME training in a single program and complete 150 major cases, with a minimum of 50 major cases in the first year of training. These requirements will be effective for congenital residents who started their training on or after July 1, 2023. Click here for more information.

Congenital Certification
Refer to Pathway I and Pathway II for Congenital Heart Surgery Subspecialty certification.
There is no alternate pathway for the Congenital Heart Surgery Subspecialty certification.

Leave of Absence Policy
Effective October 3, 2020, the ABTS adopted a Leave of Absence Policy that effects all congenital cardiac surgery residents, including those in 1-year or 2-year programs. To read more about the new policy, click here.

Synchronization of Certification Dates
The Board approved plans to synchronize the certificate dates of the congenital certificate with the primary thoracic surgery certificate. Read More

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