New subspecialty certification in Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology (ACA)

In June of 2021, we shared that the ABA would begin offering a new subspecialty certification in Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology (ACA). We are pleased to announce that registration for the ACA certification exam will open in 2023, and the first examination will be administered on Dec. 2, 2023.

Adult cardiac anesthesiology has experienced significant growth in recent years, along with the need for physicians with expertise in treating patients with advanced cardiac disease. The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, which advocated for the new subspecialty, has documented a decade-long rise in the need for specialized cardiac anesthesiology care in the U.S. Additionally, applications to ACGME-accredited ACA fellowship programs are up more than 30 percent in the last five years, driving the interest in certification in this subspecialty.

Physicians with an ACA subspecialty certification will be acknowledged as experts in the imaging, diagnosis, physiology, pharmacology and management of care for adults whose cardiac disease requires leading-edge techniques, interventions and the latest treatment technology.

You can now find the content outline and eligibility requirements here. We will continue to share updates, including registration details in the coming months.