Certified-Active – includes individuals who have successfully passed both Part I and II exams and who are actively practicing cardiothoracic surgery. It also includes those Diplomates who are involved in direct or supervised cardiothoracic patient care, but whose practice does not include operative thoracic surgery (e.g., critical care, clinic or office practice, clinical research involving direct patient contact). Diplomates in this category are required to participate in all parts of Continuing Certification (i.e., Parts I-IV). Diplomates who are Certified-Active are expected to pay the annual dues.
- Diplomates who are clinically active and who are participating in Continuing Certification will be considered "Certified-Active and Participating in Continuing Certification".
- Diplomates who are clinically active and who are not participating in Continuing Certification will be considered "Certified-Active and Not Participating in Continuing Certification".
Certified-Inactive – includes individuals who have applied and been accepted for inactive status. This category includes Diplomates who have temporarily interrupted their clinical practice due to illness/injury, administrative positions, graduate studies, elected/appointed political office, etc. This category would include Diplomates who have direct or supervise patient care in a field other than thoracic surgery. Diplomates in this category are required to participate in all parts of Continuing Certification except Part IV (evaluation of performance in practice). For additional information please refer to the Board’s Inactive Status Policy. Diplomates who are Certified-Inactive are expected to pay the annual dues. For example, if you are only doing veins in an office setting, you can go through Continuing Certification as Certified-Inactive.
- Diplomates who are clinically inactive and who are participating in Continuing Certification will be considered "Certified-Inactive and Participating in Continuing Certification".
- Diplomates who are clinically inactive and who are not participating in Continuing Certification will be considered "Certified-Inactive and Not Participating in Continuing Certification".
Retired and/or Disabled – includes individuals who are certified, but who have notified the Board of their retirement and/or disability and for whom return to active practice or
inactive practice is unlikely. Retired and/or Disabled Diplomates are not required to participate in Continuing Certification. However, Diplomates in this category who anticipate return to medical practice should consider changing their status to Certified-Inactive and participate in Continuing Certification. Diplomates who are Retired and/or Disabled do not need to pay the annual dues.
Not Certified – includes Diplomates who have allowed their certificates to lapse and/or those whose certificates have been suspended or revoked. Diplomates with lapsed, suspended or revoked certificates will be referred to as “not certified” without further clarification. Diplomates who are no longer certified are not allowed to participate in the Continuing Certification process. Diplomates who hold lapsed certificates can only renew their certificate by retaking and passing the Qualifying (Part I) and Certifying (Part II) examinations.
This category also includes all individuals who have not taken and passed both Part I and II certification exams. Individuals who have applied and been accepted for examination, but who have not yet taken and passed both Part I and II will be referred to as “in the certification process” without further clarification.