In order to achieve "accredited" status, a craniofacial fellowship program must comply with a set of requirements that are listed in detail within the ASCFS Fellowship Committee: Bylaws for Fellowship Programs. An abbreviated list is included below:

①  At least 2 surgical faculty members (both of which must have completed either an ASCFS-recognized Craniofacial or a pediatric plastic surgery fellowship)

②  Active affiliation with an ACGME-accredited plastic surgery residency program 

③  A formal site evaluation (virtual or in person) every 5 years or with any major change in program leadership.

④  Hold scheduled didactic sessions (lectures, morbid & mortality, etc.).

⑤  Meet the minimum craniofacial surgical case thresholds in three categories (transcranial, maxillofacial, and cleft surgery) and total number of cases

⑥  Fellow expectations for didactic and teaching conferences

⑦  A craniofacial fellowship program must be committed to participate in the designated match process and abide by the rules and guidelines as stated through the match process and the ASCFS*

*An option exists for a program to “opt-out” of the match process for a given year if prior notification is given. This opt-out is limited to programs that do not wish to participate in the match and will not offer a fellowship position outside of the match process. This can also be used for programs that wish to offer a fellowship position to residents within their program. The “opt-out” can be for only one year and two, non-consecutive within a five-year period.