Laser Surgery Certifying Board - The American Board of Laser Surgery

Background:The Board was incorporated in 1984 by nineteen recognized experts in clinical applications of lasers, laser research and development, and basic laser science and safety. Leading-edge study materials and certifying examinations were developed. The Board administered its first certifying examination at Tulane University in New Orleans in 1985. Currently the Board has certified over 500 Diplomates around the world. The Board's Diplomate Certificate is highly valued by practitioners, their patients, insurers, credentialing committees, health-care institutions, and colleagues.
(ABLS En Español)

Take Our Short Trial Examination and Test Your Knowledge: The Board has developed a short, 10-question trial examination to help you assess your current knowledge. Questions are drawn from actual examinations and include laser tissue interaction, biophysics, safety, and cosmetic applications (for those practitioners). Use the link below to take the trial examination and then email us at lasers1060@aol.com. We will email you the results. 80% or better demonstrates solid knowledge. The examination takes just several minutes.

Test Your Knowledge Now

New Visitors: Please View Brief Introduction about the Board

The Board Now Offers Two Certification Programs:

The Board's traditional certification in laser surgery and medicine: for all specialties, other than cosmetics and dermatology, and which has been offered since 1985.
The new certification which includes cosmetic laser and light procedures: this covers the fundamental laser science, biophysics, light-tissue interaction, and laser safety of the traditional certification AND also includes a substantial body of materials related to cosmetic laser and light procedures. The Board has introduced this recognizing the rapid growth in cosmetic procedures and the needs of our candidates. Major areas of cosmetic procedures include ablative skin resurfacing, vascular lesions, leg veins, pigmented lesions and tattoos, scars, hair removal, non-ablative resurfacing, and photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Our Certification: Beneficial to Have and Convenient to Earn: Earning the certification from the American Board of Laser Surgery provides a valuable learning experience, and promotes efficacy of treatment, patient safety and helps attract new patients. We are the only medical specialty board worldwide devoted to the use of lasers in surgery and medicine. We recognize that today's competitive market provides challenges for many laser practitioners.

We offer a pay-as-you-go option for preparing for and taking the Written Examination. Candidates may either take the written examination in one sitting OR complete the written examination through a series of four steps that accommodates busy schedules, and provides for fees that are phased to each step. The Oral Specialty Examination follows successful completion of the written examination. Our Application Fee is very reasonable and our fee structure avoids the large upfront costs that most boards require. Please see our Certifications page for complete details.

How the Certification Process Works
Submit an Application

Join the ABLS Email List Serve! It's Free!

A unique opportunity to connect with other laser practitioners. Exchange information on the latest equipment and techniques, and other topics of value to your practice.

Officers
Directors of Education & Membership
Founding Members
Officer/Director Bios

Edward M. Zimmerman, MD President and Acting Treasurer	Marilyn L. Zimmerman, CLT Secretary
Dianne Quibell, MD Vice President	Warren B. Seiler III, MD Executive Director

Pranav Pancholi, MD, Africa	Masahiro Seki, D.V.M., Japan
Jin Wang Kim, MD, PhD, Asia	Philippe C. Cadic, MD, Europe
Herbert M. Wagner, MD, South America	Hanan A. Alokaily, MD, Middle East
John Flynn, MD, MBBS, Australia

Aronoff, Billie L., MD	Fisher, John C., ScD	Mirhoseini, Mahmood, MD
Cayton, Mary M., RN	Friedman, Eugene, MD	Sacknoff, Eric J., MD
Cerullo, Leonard, MD	Jako, Geza, MD	Shapshay, Stanley M., MD
Choy, Daniel S.J., MD	L'Esperance, Francis A., MD	Stellar, Stanley, MD
David, Lawrence M., MD	LeJeune, Francis E., MD	Whipple, Terry L., MD
Dwyer, Richard M., MD	Lobraico, Rocco, MD	Wright, V. Cecil, MD
	McLaughlin, David S., MD

Contact ABLS

E-Mail: lasers1060@aol.com

Edward M. Zimmerman, MD, President
American Board of Laser Surgery, Inc.
Administrative Office
55 Corporate Drive, 3rd Floor
Trumbull, CT 06611
Phone: 203-332-2507

Click here to view our Privacy Policy, Disclaimer and Use of Name & Logo (PDF).

If you need to contact us by telephone, you may leave a message at our Administrative Office number and we will contact you — please leave your phone number and email address; if you need to speak to a Board Officer as soon as possible, please call Dr. Ed Zimmerman at 702-360-6686 at his Las Vegas office.

The American Board of Laser Surgery was founded to promote the safe and efficacious use of lasers in medicine and surgery by establishing standards of acceptable levels of knowledge and competence through certifying examinations for medical professionals.

The American Board of Laser Surgery
was founded to promote the safe and efficacious use of
lasers in medicine and surgery by establishing standards of acceptable levels of knowledge and competence through certifying examinations for medical professionals.