Certification of surgery specialists in Chile by the autonomous corporation for certification of medical specialties

Since 1984, 12.294 different medical specialists have been certified in Chile by the Autonomous Corporation for Certification of Medical Specialties (whose Spanish acronym is CONACEM). General Surgery certification started in 1984, approving 1.088 candidates thus far. Certification can be obtained in three ways. Seventy-two percent of applicants were approved by a reputable university specialization program. Twenty-three percent of applicants fulfilled the requirements of a five years practical training program and 5% were approved in a training program from another country which was validated in Chile. There are 13 university training programs for surgery specialty, lasting three years each. These programs can receive a total of 223 students per year. Thirty-one percent of these programs are not carried out in Santiago. Applicants, who have not completed a certified university training program, must go through a five days practical examination. Since 2002 a written test was added, whose approval is a requisite to gain access to the practical examination. Eighty-nine percent of applicants have approved the theoretical test. Certifications last 10 years initially and seven years, thereafter. When certifications expire, a recertification mechanism is required, whose requirements are informed. According to the current legislation, certifications must be done by recognized accrediting agencies. CONACEM has been accepted by the authority and its definitive legal recognition should be a reality soon.