AOBS updates: New subspecialty certification in neurocritical care available; AOBS expands certification eligibility

The American Osteopathic Board of Surgery (AOBS) has been hard at work modernizing and improving its exams and offerings. Below, read news about two exciting updates: a new subspecialty certification and expansion of ABOS certification eligibility.

New neurocritical care board certification supports physicians’ lifelong learning

The American Osteopathic Board of Surgery (AOBS) has recently started offering a new subspecialty certification in neurocritical care. In order to be accepted to take the subspecialty exam, applicants must already hold certification under AOBS in neurological surgery, or general surgery holding a surgical critical care subspecialty. The exam will be offered annually via a remote proctoring platform, with applications opening six months prior to each exam. A full timeline of the exam process can be found on AOBS’ site.

The DO talked with David Dellinger, DO, AOBS chair and chair of plastic and reconstructive surgery, Dan Miulli, DO, AOBS chair of neurological surgery, and Susan Murray, MS, certification director at AOBS, for more information on how this exam came about and how applicants can best prepare for it.

Why are we offering this examination?

There are a number of qualified individuals, both DO and MD, who meet the requirements for subspecialty certification in neurocritical care. However, the current examination offered by the American Board of Neurosurgery (ABNS) excludes many of these qualified individuals based on ABNS criteria. We have developed this examination in order to provide these candidates with the opportunity to obtain certification through our equivalent examination.

What will the exam entail?

The proctored exam is offered remotely at the convenience of the candidate. Once approved and registered, candidates can select the testing time and date of their choice at their convenience during the dates the exam is offered.

We recommend that candidates take the exam away from any distractions—usually a personal or home office on their day off or weekend.

Candidates will have three hours to complete the 150 multiple-choice question exam with a total testing time of 3.5 hours (including breaks). All questions are multiple choice and based off of the official Table of Specifications (TOS) developed by our subject matter experts who have a vested interest and are excited to provide this opportunity to AOBS diplomates. Information on the exam content is available here.

The exam tests the candidate’s knowledge and understanding of basic science and clinical knowledge, skills and principles related to the practice of neurocritical care. The exam evaluates academic knowledge in the following areas of neurosciences: Circulatory, endocrine, gastrointestinal, hematologic and coagulation disorders, infectious disease, monitoring/bioengineering, neocritical care, neurological, nutrition, radiological, renal and respiratory.

Who is eligible?

Applicants must already hold certification under AOBS in neurological surgery or general surgery with a surgical critical care subspecialty.

Certification/continuous certification: Applicants must be currently certified by AOBS (with the qualifications stated above), and in compliance with the AOBS’ OCC components.

Eligibility is based on the following:

• Certification/continuous certification: Applicants must be currently certified by AOBS (with the qualifications stated above) and in compliance with the AOBS’ OCC components.
  • Component 1: Active licensure
  • Component 2: Lifelong learning/continuing medical education (CME)
  • Component 3: Cognitive assessment
  • Component 4: Practice performance assessment and improvement
• Medical license: Applicants must have a currently registered full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a state or jurisdiction in the U.S. or Canada. They are required to immediately inform AOBS of any conditions or restrictions currently enforced on any active medical license they hold.
• Professional activity: Applicants must be actively engaged in the practice of neurocritical care for at least 36 months, have completed 12 months of an enfolded neurocritical care fellowship or have completed a 12 month neurocritical care fellowship.
• Applicants must demonstrate clinical competence as documented in an attestation letter from the director or chair of the ICU or neuroscience departments, including their procedural skills, as well as moral and ethical behavior in neurocritical care in the ICU clinical setting during the 12 months of enfolded neurocritical care fellowship, 12 month neurocritical care fellowship, or 36 months of clinical neurocritical care practice.
• Applicants must provide support letters/references from two physicians who are familiar with the applicant’s neurocritical care practice time submitted in the application.

AOBS strongly believes that this subspecialty is warranted and will indicate a diplomate’s advanced experience, medical knowledge and professionalism by demonstrating excellence in neurocritical care. We hope to be able to expand eligibility to internal medicine, neurology and anesthesiology as our next steps—approval from the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists will be sought based upon demand. Other specialties are also being considered.

What is the best way for a candidate to prepare for the exam?

In addition to reviewing the TOS, a few suggested other options for review materials would include:

• Greenberg’s Handbook of Neurosurgery, 10^th Edition
• ATLS Advanced Trauma Life Support, 10^th Edition Student Course Manual
• Guidelines for the Management of Service Traumatic Brain Injury, 4^th Edition
• Neurosurgical Intensive Care, 2^nd Edition

What you need to know

It is important to know that the above letters of support/reference need to be separate from the letter for clinical competence. In other words, the three letters in support for the candidate need to be from three separate individuals. We also recommend that the reference include confirmation that the applicant has been engaged in the practice of neurocritical care and for how long, as well as the reference’s relationship with the candidate and any words of support to confirm that the candidate should be allowed to take the exam to support their knowledge and clinical practice in neurocritical care.

Eventually, Osteopathic Continuous Certification will be a part of this subspecialty; however, the criteria are still under development.

The first exam offering took place Dec. 4-6, 2025, and the exam will again be offered in December 2026. The application will be open in June 2026. Please do not hesitate to contact AOBS directly for any questions about eligibility at [email protected] or 312-202-8078.

We hope that the word continues to spread about this great opportunity for our diplomates. We also would like to thank the volunteer subject matter experts representing neurological surgery and surgical critical care for their dedication to getting this exam developed under the leadership of our AOBS Board, specifically David Dellinger, DO, Dan Miulli, DO, and Lauren Donatelli, DO.

AOBS expands eligibility for its certification to ABS diplomates

Surgeons who have passed a written qualifying exam administered by the American Boards of Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Neurological Surgery or Urology are now eligible to apply for AOBS certification at the oral exam step. Below, AOBS’ letter to diplomates has more details about the expansion.

Letter to diplomates

Dear AOBS Diplomates,

We are pleased to announce an expansion of eligibility for the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery (AOBS) certification process. Surgeons who have passed a written qualifying exam administered by the American Boards of Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Neurological Surgery, General Vascular Surgery  or Urology are now eligible to apply for AOBS certification at the oral exam step.

This update reflects continued growth within AOBS and strengthens alignment across surgical boards.

AOBS certification is a two‑step process consisting of a written qualifying exam followed by an oral qualifying exam. With approval from the Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists (BOS), AOBS will now recognize the following exams as meeting the written exam requirement for AOBS oral exam application:

• Cardiothoracic Surgery: American Board of Thoracic Surgery—Witten Examination
• General Surgery: American Board of Surgery—Written General Surgery Qualifying Examination (GSQE)
• General Vascular Surgery: American Board of Surgery—Written Vascular Surgery Qualifying Exam (VSQE)
• Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery: American Board of Plastic Surgery—Written Examination
• Urological Surgery: American Board of Urology—Qualifying Part 1 Examination
• Neurological Surgery: American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS)—Qualifying Exam

We encourage you to share this update with colleagues who may be seeking board certification. Registration for the AOBS Fall Oral Exam is now open! Learn more and apply.

Sincerely, 

David Dellinger, DO, FACOS

Chair, American Osteopathic Board of Surgery

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