Information on Board Certification
Following residency training, neurosurgeons may seek certification in the practice of neurosurgery through the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS).

This credential signals a special level of commitment to, and expertise in, the neurosurgical specialty. Certification by the ABNS is based upon approval of an applicant's educational and training qualifications, a review of the physician's professional practice- including opinions of his or her colleagues, and the passage of written and oral examinations that covers the diagnosis and management of surgical and medical diseases of the nervous system. The certification process includes a thorough assessment of the neurosurgeon's skill, judgment and depth of knowledge. The successful completion of this process will result in board certification.

Certification by the ABNS-the only board authorized by the American Board of Medical Specialties to certify surgeons in neurosurgery-is considered the "gold standard" in the field. By choosing a neurosurgeon who is board certified by the ABNS or one who is tracking toward ABNS board certification, a patient can be assured that his or her doctor has a high level of commitment to, and expertise in, the neurosurgical specialty.

Active members may also be certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCS) or the Mexican Council of Neurosurgical Surgery (MCNS). International members are certified by the certifying board in their country.