History & Statistics

The American Board of Surgical Assistants was founded 30 December 1987, in the State of Colorado, as a Non-Profit Organization.

On 01 October 1998 the American Board of Surgical Assistants was "Administratively Dissolved", by the Colorado Secretary of State's Office, after not receiving our mailed 1998 two year corporate report.

On 27 January 2000, the American Board of Surgical Assistants, after discovering being "Administratively Dissolved," was reincorporated, as a privately held corporation, under the name ABSA, Ltd.

On 24 September 2003, the American Board of Surgical Assistants, operating under the name ABSA, Ltd. was renamed American Board of Surgical Assistants, Inc.

The American Board of Surgical Assistants, Inc., Colorado Secretary of State ID Number 20001018434, is still operated as a privately held corporation, functioning as a national credentialing organization, for surgical assistants.

Our mission has not changed since our initial incorporation in 1987. We will continue to require formal training as a prerequisite for ABSA certification (as we have since January 2002) and require documented performance as a surgical assistant, in the clinical setting, as a requirement for recertification. Additionally we will continue to raise-the-bar on educational requirements, in-order to further promote safety and protection of the public, by mandating higher levels of knowledge, in the ever changing world of surgical medicine.

We acknowledge that the role and function of a surgical assistant is to assist the surgeon, in the performance of a surgical procedure. It is understood and acknowledged that certification as a surgical assistant through the ABSA (SA-C) does not allow for any independent performance of any medical or surgical procedures, within the United States of America or its territories.

2011: 188 Candidates, 173 passed, 15 failed, --- Pass Rate: 92.0%, Failure Rate: 8.0%

2010: 212 Candidates, 196 passed, 16 failed, --- Pass Rate: 92.5%, Failure Rate: 7.5%

2009: 243 Candidates, 225 passed, 18 failed, --- Pass Rate: 92.6%, Failure Rate: 7.4%

2008: 202 Candidates, 180 passed, 22 failed, --- Pass Rate: 89.1%, Failure Rate: 10.9%

(4 year pass/fail statistical averages; Pass Rate: 91.5%, Failure Rate: 8.5%)

Note: These pass/fail statistics are comparable to physician, medical / surgical specialty boards.

1469 Active Surgical Assistants - Certified (SA-C's)

*** 2797 candidates certified as SA-C's since 1987 ***