The American College of Surgeons admits to its Fellowship only those surgeons whose professional activity is devoted to surgical practice and who agree without compromise to practice by the professional and ethical standards of the College. The standards of practice established and demanded by the American College of Surgeons are contained in the Fellowship Pledge and the Statements on Principles. All Fellows of the College and applicants for Fellowship are expected to adhere to these standards.
Surgeons request and voluntarily submit applications for Fellowship.
In so doing, they are inviting an evaluation of their practice by their peers. In evaluating the eligibility of applicants for Fellowship, the College investigates each applicant's entire surgical practice. Applicants for Fellowship are required to provide to the appointed committees of the College all information deemed necessary for the investigation and evaluation of their surgical practice. Attainment of certification in the appropriate surgical specialty does not, of itself, entitle a surgeon to Fellowship. The College has designated the 15th of September of each year as the final date for acceptance of applications.