To become a member of the ASPS, a surgeon must be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Canadian surgeons must be Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). 97% of all board-certified surgeons are members of the ASPS. Members of the ASPS are qualified to perform both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.
To qualify for ASPS membership:
- While in plastic surgery residency, physicians are sponsored for membership into the Society. They cannot apply for membership until they are sponsored by a current member (Active/Life member). Once sponsored, physicians send in their application.
- When a physician who has applied for membership is eligible to take the ABPS board exams, ASPS considers them a candidate for membership. During their candidacy, physicians compile published articles, honors received, positions of distinction achieved, international recognitions achieved, or other contributions that have furthered the science and practice of plastic surgery. Also during this time, they are completing the two years of post-residency practice mandated by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).
- Once a surgeon has passed both the written and oral ABPS exams (or Canadian Board requirements), he/she is voted into Active membership by the membership at large during the Annual Scientific Meeting. Only then can plastic surgeons call themselves ASPS members, and use the ASPS Symbol of Excellence (logo).
The mission of the ASPS is to advance quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery. The society advocates for patient safety, and as encouraging its members to operate in surgical facilities that have passed rigorous external review of equipment and staffing.
Members of the ASPS must be certified by the ABPS (American Board of Plastic Surgery), and reviewed by their peers.
97 percent of all ABPS board-certified surgeons are members of the ASPS.
Information courtesy of the ASPS
