In 1981 the APTA House of Delegates approved board certification in the area of orthopaedics. The first orthopaedics specialist certification examination was administered in 1989. As of June 2019, ABPTS has certified 15,596 orthopaedics specialists.

Initial Certification Deadlines

•  July 31: Application Deadline
• August 31: Reapplication Deadline
• November 30: Initial Certification Exam Fee Deadline
• Scheduling Permits will be issued in late December
    

Test Dates

February 29 - March 14, 2020: 2020 Exam Dates

Eligibility

• Minimum Eligibility Requirements (.pdf)

Application

• Candidate Guide (.pdf)

  All candidates are required to review the 2020 examination candidate guide prior to submission through the online application portal (portal link below).

• 2020 Online Application

  The 2020 exam online application portal is now open. Please allow up to 6 weeks for the initial application review following online submission.

• ABPTS Examination Deferment

  All certification candidates have the option of deferring their examination to the following year.

Status

• Check Your Application Status

Governance

• Specialty Council

Resources

• Descriptions of Specialty Practice
• Examination Outline: Orthopaedics
• Examination Preparation Materials
• Examination Tutorial
• What Activities Constitute Direct Patient Care?
• Presentation: Enhancing Professional Development Through Certification (.ppt)