ABFAS Response to the ABPM CAQ
Know the Difference Between ABFAS Board Certification and ABPM’s CAQ
ABFAS is the only surgical certifying board for foot and ankle surgery in the U.S. recognized by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education (CPME). Over 10,000 podiatrists have earned ABFAS Board Certification by demonstrating
specialized competency and skill in foot and ankle surgery.
It is important for patients, providers and the podiatric community to understand the differences between ABFAS Board Certification and ABPM’s unrecognized CAQ in podiatric
surgery. The two are not comparable credentials.
ABFAS opposes the ABPM CAQ in Podiatric Surgery, which presents a risk to patients and podiatry.
The ABPM CAQ:
Lowers the bar.
ABPM is intentionally creating a path to certification in podiatric surgery that accepts a lower level of competency. Unlike the rigorous ABFAS Board Certification process, the ABPM surgical certificate program lacks any case review of newer podiatrists' actual surgical experience.
Risks confusing patients and the medical community.
APMA noted in its December 11, 2025 statement, “In recent years, Certificates of Added Qualification (CAQs) have been a topic of concern within the profession as they relate to board certification and hospital privileging and credentialing… CAQs are not equivalent to board certification or subspecialty certification, nor can they lead to certification or subspecialty certification in any specific content area.”
In its October 2025 statement, CPME states that it “does not recognize, accredit, or approve any Certificates of Added Qualifications (CAQs)” and that “CAQs are not equivalent to board or subspecialty certification.” When a CAQ in podiatric surgery is introduced outside the established framework, it can be mistaken for recognized surgical certifications, leading to confusion among patients and the medical community.
Threatens trust in the profession.
By offering its new surgical certification without recognition by any accrediting body, ABPM risks harming public health and the reputation of ABFAS Board Certified podiatrists nationwide.
Recent ABFAS pass rate data clearly show that ABFAS is doing its job of certifying highly knowledgeable podiatrists for surgery. Neither the public nor the profession are served by lowering standards.
If you share our concerns, here is a text of a letter you can personalize and send to your hospital credentialing committee.