Case Review Appeal Process

ABFAS provides a formal Appeal process for candidates who did not pass the 2026 Case Review examination and wish to request an additional review of their results. The following outlines the procedures applicable to the 2026 Case Review Appeal. Click here to review the Case Review Appeal Policy.

All Case Review results undergo an internal audit prior to release as part of ABFAS’s standard scoring and quality assurance procedures to ensure reliability and consistency. In addition, candidates whose scores fall near the decision point are automatically subjected to a second independent review. As a result of these multiple layers of review, outcome changes through the Appeal process are infrequent. 

This Appeal process applies only to the Case Review examination. Results from the Didactic examinations and the Computer-Based Patient Simulation (CBPS) examinations are final and are not subject to appeal.  

What Happens During an Appeal 

• The first step is for you to submit an Initial Online Appeal Form/Comments through ABFAS’s Case Review appeals website. 
• After initiating an appeal request, ABFAS’s Chief Medical Officer will schedule a phone call with you. During the call, the Director of Medical Affairs will provide insight into the appeal process, scoring methodology, and the reliability safeguards built into the examination, and will answer procedural questions to help you determine whether you wish to proceed with a formal appeal. 
• Following that discussion, you may choose to submit a formal Appeal. Submission of a formal appeal requires payment of the $4,000 appeal fee. 
• If you proceed with a formal Appeal, all eight of your originally submitted cases will be evaluated as part of the appeal review. 
• The same evaluation standards and scoring criteria used in the original Case Review will be applied. 
• No additional cases, documentation, or supplemental materials may be submitted as part of the appeal. 

Final Determination 

• Your final score will be calculated in accordance with ABFAS’s approved scoring methodology, incorporating the results of all completed reviews. 
• The outcome of the Appeal Review is final. 

Independence and Oversight 

• Appeal reviews are conducted by independent reviewer(s) who did not participate in your original Case Review evaluation. 
• Appeal reviewer(s) are blinded to prior scores, reviewer comments, and outcome determinations. 
• ABFAS’s psychometrician oversees the appeal process to ensure fairness, consistency, and adherence to approved scoring standards.

Appeal Fees 

• A $4,000 fee is required for each formal Appeal submitted. 
• Appeal fees are assessed per examination. Candidates appealing both the Foot Surgery and RRA Surgery Case Review examinations must submit a separate $4,000 fee for each examination. 
• If your appeal results in a change from a failing to a passing outcome, your appeal fee for that examination will be fully refunded. 
• Appeal fees are non-refundable if the original outcome is upheld. 

To start your appeal, please log into the ABFAS Case Review Appeals website.