History & Statistics

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

On October 01, 1998, the American Board of Surgical Assistants was “Administratively Dissolved”, by the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office due to non-receipt of our mailed two-year corporate report.

On January 27, 2000 the American Board of Surgical Assistants was reincorporated as a privately held corporation under the name ABSA, Ltd.

On September 24, 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 surgical assistant credentialing organization.

Our mission has not changed since our initial incorporation in 1987. We will continue to require formal training as a surgical assistant, 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 the 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.

5 Year ABSA SA-C Exam Pass – Fail Statistics

2024: 174 Candidates, 143 Passed, 31 Failed, --- Pass Rate: 82.18%, Failure Rate: 17.82%
2023: 707 Candidates, 663 Passed, 44 Failed, --- Pass Rate: 93.7%, Failure Rate: 6.22%
2022: 717 Candidates, 690 Passed, 27 Failed, --- Pass Rate: 96.2%, Failure Rate: 3.77%
2021: 680 Candidates, 675 Passed, 5 Failed, --- Pass Rate: 99.2%, Failure Rate: 0.74%
2020: 404 Candidates, 394 Passed, 10 Failed, --- Pass Rate: 97.5%, Failure Rate: 2.48%

Current and past 5-year pass/fail statistical averages.
New Candidates: 2682, Pass Rate: 95.64%, Failure Rate: 4.36%

Note: These pass/fail statistics are continuously updated throughout the year. They are comparable to physician, medical/surgical specialty boards.

There are currently 4536 Active Surgical Assistants - Certified (SA-C's)

*** 9713 candidates certified as a SA-C since 1987 ***