Frequently Asked Questions

The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) is an independent, voluntary, nonprofit organization which is charged with reviewing an Orthopaedic Surgeon’s educational background and training. We test their core knowledge base, do a thorough review of their cases and overall practice, and ensure that they are meeting our high and rigorous benchmarks for serving patients.

No. Not all Orthopaedic Surgeons have demonstrated a commitment to their patients and profession by undergoing or maintaining the process of ABOS Board Certification. By law, an orthopedic surgeon must have a proper medical license in order to perform surgeries. ABOS Board Certification goes beyond an MD title and certifies that an Orthopaedic Surgeon has attained and/or maintained, the highest level of competence, skill, knowledge base, and achievement for orthopaedic surgery.

When you see an ABOS Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon, you can be confident not only in the quality of care you receive, but also in the competence and skillset of the Orthopaedic Surgeon from whom you are receiving care.
While Board Certification does not guarantee a 100% safe outcome, it is yet one more assurance for patients and their families — before and after surgery. Studies point to better outcomes, decreased infection rates and reduced time away from home when surgery is performed by a Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon.

You are well within your rights as a patient to simply ask your Orthopaedic Surgeon directly or query a member of his or her medical staff. Another simple verification method is to visit the
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery at www.abos.org. Click on ‘Verify Certification’ to see if an Orthopaedic Surgeon in your area is Board Certified.

American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

400 Silver Cedar Court, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Phone: (919) 929-7103 Fax: (919) 942-8988