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Asian Board of Thoracic Surgery

The Asian Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) seeks to establish a high standard of practice through the ABTS certification process including qualifications for examinations, procedure for certification and the maintenance of certification. The goals of ABTS are to enable surgeons in countries which do not have national certifying boards for thoracic surgery, and not excluding surgeons who seek for the opportunity to acquire knowledge and clinical skills and to meet the required level of operative competency in thoracic surgery

Certification by the Asian Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) may be achieved by completing the ABTS Curriculum and fulfilment of certifying requirements. Successful candidate shall be conferred the title, Fellow, Asian Board of Thoracic Surgery or FABTS.

Eligible candidates accepted into the ABTS Certification Program will be enrolled in the Asian Thoracic Academy (ATA) and granted access to online lectures through the ATA Learning Management System.

Eligibility to enrol for ABTS Certification Program

The applicant is required to fulfill the following requirements to commence on the Certification Program. Upon verification by the ABTS Committee, applicant shall be notified on the status of eligibility.

To qualify for the ABTS Certification Program, candidates must meet the following criteria and submit certified true copy of documents:

Hold a valid license to practice medicine or surgery in their country of residence and practice
Possess an academic qualification in medical education
Have completed a minimum of three (3) years of training and practice in thoracic or cardiothoracic surgery
Provide a certificate of training issued by a recognized national thoracic surgery organization
Submit certificates of attendance or participation in accredited national board programs, conferences, workshops, or symposiums relevant to thoracic surgery (within the last two years)
Present documentation (printed or electronic) of surgical experience over the past three years, demonstrating a caseload of at least 100 procedures—both VATS and open thoracotomy—performed as the primary surgeon or first assistant
Provide a list of research work presented or published in recognized forums or journals
Successfully complete the ABTS Program as outlined by the Asian Thoracic Academy

Submission of Recommendation Letters. Applicants are required to submit the following:

A mandatory letter of confirmation or recommendation from the Director or an authorized Officer of the Thoracic/Cardiothoracic Surgery Training Program where the applicant received their training.

In addition, at least one (1) of the following recommendation letters must be provided:

From the President, Secretary General, or Secretariat Officer of the national thoracic or cardiothoracic surgical association of which the applicant is a current member
From a current Board Member of the Asian Thoracic Academy (ATA)

Pathways to attain the ABTS Certification

Online Lectures

Candidate is required to complete a series of assessment progressively in each of the lectures. This is self-directed learning, where the candidate is required to complete the Online Lectures within 6 months.

Program Duration: July 2025 to December 2025

Written Examination

Passing the Written Examination, which includes Multiple Choice Questions or case scenario questions, is a prerequisite to taking the Oral Examinations.

Written Examination is scheduled to be conducted in Mumbai, India on 1st March 2026

Oral Examination

The Oral Examination shall be conducted online by a panel of examiners. The candidate is required to submit a copy of a video recording which showcases his/her demonstration of operative skills.

Oral Examination shall be conducted online in March 2026. Schedule shall be advised.

How To Apply

Step 1

Fill out the form https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/XVVb4zE3zy

Step 2

The ABTS Office will contact the applicant to receive the required documents which should be encrypted with password for the ABTS Committee to evaluate the application for eligibility.

Step 3

If the applicant’s eligibility is approved to commence and upon receipt of payment of the Online Lectures fee, the applicant will be provided password access to the Online Lectures to commence his/her self-directed learning to be completed within 6 months.

Step 4

Upon successful completion of the Online Lectures, the applicant will be notified of his/her eligibility to sit for the Written Examination. Upon receipt of payment of the written examination fee, the applicant shall be provided with the designated schedule of the Written Examination.

Step 5

Upon successful completion of the Written Examination, the applicant will be notified of his/her eligibility to sit for the Oral Examination. Upon receipt of payment of the Oral Examination fee, the applicant shall be provided with the schedule of the Oral Examination.

ABTS Certification Program Fees

The following fees are required to complete the ABTS Certification Program. Payments are to be made at each stage upon approval by the ABTS Committee:

Program Enrolment Fee – USD 500
Payable upon approval for enrolment into the ABTS Certification Program.
Written Examination Fee – USD 200
Payable upon successful completion of the program and approval to sit for the Written Examination.
Oral Examination Fee – USD 300
Payable upon successful completion of the Written Examination and approval to proceed to the Oral Examination.
Discount Structure Based on Country Income Classification.
Candidates currently registered and practicing in the following country income groups are eligible for tiered discounts on program fees:
Low-Income Economies – 60% discount
Lower-Middle-Income Economies – 40% discount
Upper-Middle-Income Economies – 20% discount
High-Income Economies – Not eligible for discount
Country classifications are based on the latest World Bank income group listings

Fill out the form: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/XVVb4zE3zy

Asian Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) Certification Program

Certification by the Asian Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) may be achieved by completing the ABTS Curriculum and fulfilment of certifying requirements. Successful candidate shall be conferred the title, Fellow, Asian Board of Thoracic Surgery or FABTS.

Eligible candidates accepted into the ABTS Certification Program will be enrolled in the Asian Thoracic Academy (ATA) and granted access to online lectures of the following courses via the ATA Learning Management System.

SECTION A

1 - Fundamentals of Thoracic Surgery
2 - Thoracic Physiology
3 - Radiology / Imaging
4 - Bronchoscopy Fiberoptic
5 - Enhanced Recovery
6 - Assessment of Operability / Resectability and Risk Stratification
7 - Thoracic Anesthesia
8 - Prevention/ Management of Post Op Complications
9 - Equipment/ Instruments and Energy Devices

SECTION B: PULMONARY DISEASES

10 - Lung Cancer Screening
11 - Lung Cancer Staging / Classification
12 - Management of Nodules and GGOs
13 - Early-Stage Lung Cancer
14 - Lung Cancer with N2 disease
15 - Locally Advanced Lung Cancer
16 - Difficult Intra-operative Scenarios
17 - Oligometastatic Lung Cancer
18 - Neuroendocrine / Small Cell Lung Cancer / Rare Carcinomas
19 - Oncology Management
20 - Pulmonary Mets
21 - Benign Lung Tumors
22 - Infective Lung Diseases
23 - Pneumothorax / Bullous Lung Disease / Emphysema
24 - Interstitial Lung Disease
25 - Congenital Lung Disease

SECTION C: PLEURAL DISEASE

26 - Pleural Effusions / Infections
27 - Pleural Tumors

SECTION D: CHEST WALL

28 - Chest Wall Deformities
29 - Tumors

SECTION E: AIRWAY DISEASE

30 - Tracheal Bronchial Diseases

SECTION F: OESOPHAGEUS

31 - Physiology and Investigations
32 - Reflux and Motility Disorders
33 - Tumor and its Management

SECTION G: DIAPHRAGM

34 - Diaphragm

SECTION H: MEDIASTINUM

35 - Anterior Mediastinum
36 - Middle Mediastinum
37 - Posterior Mediastinum

SECTION I: TRAUMA

38 - Trauma Management

SECTION J: LUNG FAILURE

39 - Device Support
40 - Lung Transplantation

SECTION K: ADVANCE TECHNOLOGIES

41 - Robots
42 - Ablative Technologies

SECTION L: VIRTUAL REALITY ENVIRONMENT

43 - Right Upper Lobe
44 - Right Middle Lobe
45 - Right Lower Lobe
46 - Left Upper Lobe
47 - Left Lower Lobe
48 - Right S1 to S3
49 - Right S4 & S5
50 - Right S6 to S10
51 - Left S1 to S5
52 - Left S6, S8 – S10