Standard Setting for the CGSO Qualifying Examination: A Structured Approach Setting a Meaningful Standard

Excerpt

In existence since 1937, the American Board of Surgery (ABS) provides board certification to individuals meeting defined standards of education, training, and knowledge in surgery. These generally include completion of training programs with associated requirements, and successful completion of the ABS examination process, which includes both a Qualifying (QE) and Certifying Examination (CE). ABS certification in Complex General Surgical Oncology (CGSO) is in a relatively nascent period of development. The first CGSO QE was administered in 2014, with the first certificates conferred in 2015. As with other surgery specialty boards, obtaining CGSO certification is a rigorous process. Candidates must have met the requirements for primary ABS certification in General Surgery, including the QE and CE in this specialty. Additionally, candidates must have completed an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited CGSO training program in the United States, or a general surgical oncology training program accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada. Recognizing the rigor required to obtain certification, there is a comprehensive and rigorous psychometric process applied to ensuring that the examination is fair and reflective of a safe standard. At present, there are nearly 500 ABS CGSO diplomates, and this number continues to increase.¹ …