Superior Court of California Grants American Board of Cosmetic Surgery Application for Certification as a Specialty Board

CHICAGO -- The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) announces that a California judge has ruled against a decision by the California Medical Board, thereby granting equivalency status to those practitioners board-certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery (ABCS) in the state of California. This decision will allow practitioners board-certified in cosmetic surgery to advertise their certification by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, just as those who practice specialties recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. The Court determined that the ABCS's certification requirements meet or exceed the training requirements maintained by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).

ABCS president and academy fellow, Robert Jackson, MD applauded the court's decision: "This board has spent several years and taken every step to assure its certification requirements meet or exceed the requirements maintained by the American Board of Medical Specialties. The court was apparently the first to actually review and consider ABCS's certification requirements. The California Medical Board certainly did not. I believe, and hope, this decision, and the recognition that ABCS's certification requirements meet or exceed those of other ABMS boards, will raise the bar for cosmetic surgeons. This can only lead to higher quality healthcare and greater patient safety."

Source: American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery