The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is the only board certification recognized by the American Board of medical specialties (ABMS) to certify a surgeon in plastic surgery of the face and entire body. Board certification in plastic surgery requires:

• Graduation from an accredited medical school
• Completion of a minimum of 5 years of surgical residency following medical school with a minimum of 2 years in an accredited plastic surgery residency program specifically devoted to formal certified training in both cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.
• Successful completion of comprehensive written and oral exams covering both cosmetic and reconstructive surgical procedures.

In summary, board certification in plastic surgery requires successful completion of highly rigorous training; the process is among the most extensive of any medical or surgical specialty.