ABFAS Announces Case Review Changes For 2026

The ABFAS Board of Directors is proud to introduce important updates to the Case Review process that better reflect the realities of day-to-day foot and ankle surgical practice and potentially allow candidates to achieve Board Certification in Foot Surgery sooner after residency. These changes are part of our ongoing commitment to improving processes, making them more relevant to the profession, and ensuring that our standards remain strong and meaningful.

Revised Case Review Eligibility Criteria

Here are a few factors that highlight how eligibility has been updated:

• Fewer restrictions. A broader range of procedure types now count toward eligibility.
• Earlier eligibility. Candidates may reach Case Review eligibility sooner after residency based on an expanded list of procedures. 
• Aligned with practice. The updated criteria reflect the types and frequency of procedures most often performed by foot and ankle surgeons and are based on a recent practice analysis.

More information on the changes can be found in the Board Certification Document and the Case Review Eligibility page. A detailed list of eligible procedures for Case Review can be found on the Procedures Category Table.

Registration for 2026 ABFAS Case Review will open on November 3, 2025. We encourage candidates to continue logging in PLS all cases performed after completing residency to determine if they will be eligible for Case Review. 

While we continue to innovate and adapt, our mission and values remain constant: safeguarding public health by certifying and assessing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of foot and ankle surgeons to ensure excellence in surgical care. Guided by our values of Excellence, Integrity, Quality, and Service, ABFAS has been dedicated to serving the public and the profession for over 50 years. These changes further strengthen that tradition.