Board certification isn’t just a status obtained by taking a test, it’s a testament to having achieved a certain level of training, experience, and expertise in the specialty of cosmetic surgery. Those who are board certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery have completed, at minimum, a 12-month cosmetic surgery fellowship training in all aspects of cosmetic surgery in addition to surgical residency in a related medical speciality. Moreover, the ABCS only certifies cosmetic surgeons who perform surgical procedures in fully accredited, state-licensed surgical facilities.