What it means to be an ASCFS-accredited fellowship program: 

①  If accredited by ASCFS, a fellowship program will be listed with an "Accredited" designation. This is an important distinction when prospective fellows are reviewing the directory of active craniofacial fellowships.

②  Fellows will have the opportunity to earn a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ)

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 surgical case thresholds in 4 categories (transcranial, maxillofacial, cleft surgery, & pediatric plastic surgery) and total number of cases.

⑥  Setforth 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.

ASCFS-sponsored Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in Craniofacial, Cleft, & Pediatric Plastic Surgery*

• Official qualification awarded solely through the ASCFS (independent of the ABMS)
• Reflects the knowledge-base and surgical experience acquired from the fellowship year
• Fellow eligibility requirements include completion of an ASCFS-accredited Craniofacial, Cleft, and Pediatric Plastic Surgery fellowship

*Tri-society endorsement: