Certification by the ABPNS is time-limited and for a duration of 10 years.
Thereafter, recertification will be required to maintain certification.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATION:

For Fellowship Trained Pediatric Neurosurgeons:

A. Candidates for INITIAL CERTIFICATION by the American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery must comply with the following standards:

1. Completion of a post-residency fellowship in Pediatric Neurological Surgery accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pediatric Neurosurgical Fellowships, Inc.
   
2. Certification by the American Board of Neurological Surgery or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
   
3. Submission of a complete surgical case log for the 12 months preceding application which demonstrates the following:
   
   
   1. A minimum of 85 operative cases, and
   2. That seventy-five percent of all operative cases were in patients under age 22 years or that 125 operative cases were in patients under age 13 years.
   3. The case log submitted must represent all locations of the practice of the applicant at the time certification is requested.
4. Provide evidence of an unencumbered state or provincial license to practice medicine.
   
5. Provide evidence that the candidate has unencumbered staff privileges in each hospital at which the candidate practices at the time of certification.
   
6. Pay a certification fee deemed appropriate by the ABPNS.
   
7. Attain a passing grade on a written examination given by the APBNS.

CERTIFICATION PROCESS:

First-time Applicants Fellowship trained:

Submission of Application:

1. Deadlines for submission of application documents are: October 1st for the written examination in June, and April 1st for the written examination at the Pediatric Section Meetings. Your application will be processed and presented to the Board at its meeting in November/December and June respectively. You will be notified by the board’s Chairman shortly thereafter as to your eligibility to sit for the exam
2. Download and Complete an ABPNS Application for Certification
   • Using the "Save As" or "Rename" function, please add your last name first initial in front of the file name.
3. Download and Complete an ABPNS First-time Case Log
   • Please follow the Instructions for Completing ABPNS First-time Case Log
   • Using the "Save As" or "Rename" function, please add your last name first initial in front of the file name.
4. E-mail the following supporting documents, in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) to the Chairman, Dr. TS Park.  His email is park@wustl.edu
• The application form
• A caselog covering the immediate 12 months prior to this application
• PDF Copy of American Board of Neurological Surgery Certification or Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPS(C))
• PDF Copy Certificate of Residency Training
• PDF Copy Certificate of Fellowship Training
  

NO Paper/Hard Copies or Original Documents will be accepted by the Credentials Committee.


5. Application fee - Mail you’re a check for $750 payable to American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery to the Board Chairman: before the examination.

   TS Park, MD.
   Department of Neurosurgery
   St. Louis Children's Hospital
   One Children's Place
   St. Louis, MO 63110

After Submission of Application:

1. Applications will be reviewed initially by the Credentials Committee and subsequently by the Board of Directors at the Board Meetings in June, and at the AANS/CNS Joint Section for Pediatric Neurosurgery winter meeting.
2. After the Board Meeting, candidates will be notified by the Board Secretary of eligibility to sit for the written examination at the next test date 5-6 months hence.
3. The written examination is held twice a year: 1) in June and 2) at the winter meeting of the AANS/CNS Joint Section for Pediatric Neurosurgery.
4. New certificates will be mailed by the Board Chairman to candidates who pass the Written Examination.

CERTIFICATION PROCESS:

via Alternate Pathway For Non-fellowship Trained Pediatric Neurosurgeons

The Board of Directors may, at its own discretion, offer certification to neurological surgeons who have been in practice ten years following the completion of their residency. They must fulfill the criteria for certification as outlined above in Section A, items 2 through 7. A surgical case log must be submitted for each of the last 5 years immediately prior to application, Their case log submission must demonstrate an emphasis in pediatric neurosurgery. For candidates attempting to qualify for alternate pathway certification on the premise that 75% of all operative cases in each of the last 5 years are in pediatric patients, the majority of operative cases meeting this criterion must be in patients under 22 years of age. For operative cases in patients 22 years of age or older to be counted as “pediatric type” for purposes of alternate pathway certification, initial surgery must have been performed under 22 years of age for hydrocephalus, Chiari malformation, craniosynostosis or spinal dysraphism (BY THE APPLICANT OR ANOTHER SURGEON) and repeat surgeries must be performed BY THE APPLICANT for the same conditions at a later age. All other conditions are not accepted.

Following a favorable review of the applicant’s credentials by the Credentials Committee and the Board of Directors, the prospective candidate will be invited to take the written examination given by the ABPNS. Any reexaminations, if necessary, will follow the protocol as established in item A-7 above.

Submission of Application:

1. Deadlines for submission of application documents are: April 1st for the written examination in June, and October 1st for the written examination at the Pediatric Section Meeting.
2. Download and Complete an ABPNS Application for Alternative Pathway Certification
   
   • Using the "Save As" or "Rename" function, please add your last name first initial in front of the file name.
3. Download and Complete an ABPNS Alternate Pathway Case Log
   • Please follow the Instructions for Completing ABPNS Alternate Pathway Case Log
   • Using the "Save As" or "Rename" function, please add your last name first initial in front of the file name.
4. E-mail the following supporting documents, in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF), to the Chairman, Dr TS Park. His email is park@wustl.edu:
   • The application form
   • A case log covering the immediate 60 months prior to this application
   • PDF Copy of American Board of Neurological Surgery Certification or Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPS(C))
   • PDF Copy Certificate of Residency Training
     

NO Paper/Hard Copies or Original Documents will be accepted by the Credentials Committee


5. Application fee - Mail you’re a check for $750 payable to American Board of Pediatric Neurological Surgery to the Board Chairman: before the examination.

TS Park, MD.
Department of Neurosurgery
St. Louis Children's Hospital
One Children's Place
St. Louis, MO 63110

After Submission of Application:

1. Applications will be reviewed initially by the Credentials Committee and subsequently by the Board of Directors at the Board Meetings in June, and November/December.
2. After the Board Meeting, candidates will be notified by the Board Chairman of eligibility to sit for the written examination at the next test date 5-6 months hence.
3. The written examination is held twice a year: 1) in June and 2) at the annual meeting of the AANS/CNS Joint Section for Pediatric Neurosurgery.
4. The Board Chairman will mail new certificates to candidates who pass the Written Examination.