Candidates must fulfill all residency requirements of the Board in force at the time their applications are received.
Candidates for certification must complete a minimum of 24 months of residency training in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in a program accredited by the RRC-TS. This must include 12 months of continuous senior responsibility. The director of the thoracic training program is required to approve the application form by signature, certifying that the candidate has satisfactorily completed the residency in thoracic surgery as described above. Once an application is received, it is considered the official and only record. The Board assumes that the appropriate signatures authenticate the accuracy of the case lists and all other information submitted on the application.
Education and adequate operative experience in both general thoracic surgery and cardiovascular surgery are essential parts of any approved thoracic surgery residency program, irrespective of the area of thoracic surgery in which a candidate may choose to practice.