Individuals who received a CAST certification in neurocritical care can convert that credential to a Recognition of Focused Practice in Neurocritical Care. To do so, an application must be completed and submitted to the ABNS for review and approval. The opportunity to convert CAST certificate to RFP is available until 12/31/2023.

Click here for information on how to apply.

ABNS NEUROCRITICAL CARE RFP EXAM will be offered on Friday, May 19, 2023 in the morning.

Recognition of Focused Practice in Neurocritical Care

This RFP has been approved by the ABMS and has the goal of recognizing candidates who have successfully completed a standardized NCC training program or have met practice criteria, thereby elevating and advancing neurointensive patient care for the public good. The ABNS is the managing board and will certify neurosurgeons, but any ABMS member board can become a participant on behalf of its diplomates.

For someone to obtain the credential of Recognized  Focused Practice in Neurocritical Care he/she, by virtue of their training and/or experience, should be able to take responsibility for and manage ALL of the critical care issues that arise in patients in the intensive care unit with all types of neurological conditions.

Note that more specific training and/or experience is required beyond that of the core neurosurgical training curriculum.

Fellow Credentialing

Certification of fellows trained in CAST fellowships will be done by a committee termed NCAC (Neurocritical Care Advisory Committee) under the auspices of the ABNS.

The committee will:

1) determine educational and training criteria for NCC RFP certification

2) determine grandfathering pathway eligibility criteria

3) write a cognitive exam (ABNS will refer to this exam as the RFP NCC exam)

4) write an annual adaptive learning tool module to be given in conjunction with ABNS continuous certification activities

5) issue printed proof of credential upon satisfactory completion of ABNS RFP eligibility criteria

Post-Fellowship NCC RFP Credentialing Requirements

To proceed with RFP credentialing after completing a fellowship, candidates must take the following steps:

Submit a complete application to the ABNS, which must include but not limited to:

1) Certificate of successful completion of a CAST, UCNS or ACGME accredited NCC fellowship

2) Evidence of unencumbered license (s) to practice medicine

3) Evidence of unrestricted credentials to practice from CMO of current hospital(s) or department chair (s)

4) Successful completion of the NCC RFP (written) examination taken after fellowship completion

5) ABNS Board Certified; having passed the focus rotation of the oral exam in Trauma/Critical Care

Practice Track (no Fellowship completion) NCC RFP Credentialing Requirements

ABNS Board Certified

Pass the NCC written examination

Evidence of unencumbered license (s) to practice medicine

Evidence of unrestricted credentials to practice from CMO of current hospital or department chair

Practice attestation and proof of that you “practice complies with one of the following categories: (1) An average of at least 17% of my clinical practice time was spent in the practice of NCC (> 300h/y) for past 6y or, (2) 25% (> 450 h/y) for 4y or (3) 33% (> 600h/y) for 3y or (4) 50% (> 900h/y) for 2y”

Annual Continuing Certification Requirements for ABNS RFP in Neurocritical care, in addition to requirments to maintain ABNS primary board certification, are:

Completion of annual NCC learning tool /RFP specific module offered by ABNS (on-line)
Letter from COS or equivalent that a minimum 17% of the individual’s practice is NCC-focused

ABNS position on fellowships

Click here for information on the ABPN sub-specialty credential in Neurocritical care
Click here for committee membership and term limits
In order to register for the RFP examination, an application must be, at least, started.

To complete and submit an application please login at  https://abns.fluidreview.com/  If this is the first time visiting this site, follow the steps in the upper right corner to register.

Once registered follow the steps below to access the application:
Select “Applicant”
Click “Programs” in the black bar
Select “ABNS Recognition in Focused Practice Application: Neurocritical Care”

Click “More”
Select green “Apply” button