Deadline: December 31, 2022.
Transplant Accreditation & Certification Council (TACC) Fellowship Certification Pathway 2023
The Fellowship Certification Pathway is available for fellows that have successfully completed a TACC Accredited Abdominal Transplant Surgery Fellowship Training Program in 2019 and beyond.
The Transplant Accreditation & Certification Council (TACC) serves the public, healthcare community, and transplant surgeons by promoting excellence and professionalism through education, accreditation, and certification.
Purpose
The Transplant Accreditation & Certification Council was formed for the following purpose:
• To improve the safety and quality of transplant care.
• To develop and maintain high standards of excellence by rigorous evaluation and accreditation of training programs.
• To establish professional standards through setting training benchmarks, examination, and certification of transplant surgeons.
Fellowship Certification Pathway
The Transplant Accreditation & Certification, LLC was founded by the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) in January 2017 to oversee the accreditation of fellowship training programs and implement a certification pathway for transplant surgeons. Currently, the TACC offers a certificate of completion for fellows who successfully complete a TACC Accredited Abdominal Transplant Surgery Fellowship Training Program. Below are the steps candidates will take to become Certified Abdominal Transplant Surgeons. This certification process is available for fellows that have successfully completed an Accredited Abdominal Transplant Surgery Fellowship Training Program in 2019 and beyond.
Eligibility
Candidates who successfully complete a TACC Accredited Fellowship Training Program are eligible to enter into the Fellowship Certification Pathway. Successful completion includes completing all requirements during the 24-month accredited fellowship program, as outlined in the Fellow Requirements. This includes meeting the minimum volume requirements, successfully completing the Knowledge Assessment written exam requirements, and the candidate must receive a TACC Certificate of Completion.
In-Practice Requirement
Candidates are required to be in practice for a minimum of one year and a maximum of five years. Candidates must also have an active (non-expired) license to practice. During the in-practice period of one to five years, candidates should maintain a surgical log which will be required to be uploaded in the ASTS Surgical Log format for the application process.
Certification Application
Individuals who believe they meet the requirements for certification may submit a certification application. The application requires candidates to provide their license and certification information, educational background, and hospital appointments. Candidates will also need to upload two reference letters. One reference letter must be from the Division Chief or Fellowship Training Program Director where the candidate trained, and one reference letter must be from a current Department Chair or Chief of Staff the candidate is working with now. The candidate must upload post-fellowship organ transplant, donors, hepatobiliary, and hepatopancreatobiliary surgery surgical case logs from the past two calendar years prior to application (maximum of 100 cases). The case logs must be uploaded in the ASTS Surgical Log format. nonrefundable an application fee of $250. Completed applications will be reviewed by the Transplant Accreditation & Certification Council.
Oral Exam
If the candidate’s certification application is approved and they meet all requirements to sit for the oral exam, the candidate will receive written notice and will be asked to register for the oral exam. The fee for the oral exam is $1,500. Within the exam registration, candidates will submit five cases from post fellowship. The first certifying oral exam will be held in Fall 2022. The oral exam will consist of two sessions which will include general transplant knowledge, organ specific topics, and cases submitted by the examinee. The candidate will be assessed by two examiners during each session of the exam. The scoring rubric from the four oral examiners will be reviewed by the Transplant Accreditation & Certification Council.
Certification
Upon successful completion of all certification components, the Transplant Accreditation & Certification Council will approve the candidate to become a Certified Abdominal Transplant Surgeon. The candidate will receive a letter and certificate from the TACC. A formal recognition ceremony will be held each year at the ASTS Winter Symposium. A registry of certified diplomates will be available on the TACC website. If the candidate fails to meet the requirements and is denied certification, an appeals process will be provided.
