Focused Practice Designation (FPD)

FPD Exam Information

The American Board of Surgery (ABS) is offering a Focused Practice Designation (FPD) for surgeons in the United States who are engaged in the field of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (MBS). The new FPD is available to surgeons practicing MBS who can demonstrate their clinical expertise and ongoing commitment to continuing education, accreditation, and obtaining comprehensive knowledge in the field.

ABS has worked in conjunction with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) to define the standards of practice, participation, and knowledge that are required to be identified as a surgeon who focuses their practice on MBS. The MBS FPD can be achieved through a combination of fellowship training and/or clinical practice that is dedicated to treatment of the obese patient population.

For more information, visit Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Focused Practice Designation

Application Deadline: February 28, 2025

Next Exam: March 24-April 14, 2025

Metabolic Bariatric Surgery Focused Practice (MBS FPD) Diplomates:

We are pleased to confirm that diplomates who pass their initial MBS FPD examination are able to apply, if they choose to do so, to the American Medical Association (AMA) to receive 50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.

Please follow these steps:

  1. Visit the AMA Applications Page.
  2. On that webpage, scroll down to to the “Direct Credit” box on the left hand side of the site and click on the “Claim Direct Credit” button;
  3. You will be prompted to sign in with your AMA account credentials, or to create a new free account;
  4. You will then be able to create a direct application, and when choosing the activity, select “ABMS Member Board Certification and MOC”;
  5. On the application, from the dropdowns, select “Focused Practice Designation” and “American Board of Surgery” and “Metabolic Bariatric Surgery – Focused Practice Designation” to be able to complete and submit the application for CME credits to the AMA.

Questions regarding the application can be submitted to the AMA directly via their website, or by calling the AMA Monday-Friday 8:00AM-5:00PM Central at 1-800-621-8335.

Values of the Focused Practice Designation

The purpose of the MBS FPD is to provide transparent information to those patients with obesity who seek to undergo bariatric surgery or bariatric endoscopy for the treatment of obesity and metabolic diseases, by recognizing surgeons who have additional surgical expertise and dedicate a significant percentage of their practice to the comprehensive care of these patients including primary and revisional bariatric surgery, management of bariatric complications and endoscopy.

This is a long-awaited recognition of our achievements in the field. For the first time, the American Board of Surgery has validated a focused practice in Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

This designation will set our specialty apart from General Surgery, potentially leading to distinct hospital call schedules, greater recognition from colleagues, and a stronger position in sub-specialty job negotiations.

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