ACVS is revising the ACVS residency training program definitions in the 2025–2026 ACVS Residency Training Standards and Requirements to include an option for single business multisite residency training programs. Providing an option for this business model will result in additional surgical training opportunities while maintaining ACVS training program standards and enhancing the quality of resident training by allowing residents exposure to higher and more diverse caseloads.
The revised program definitions and requirements will be published in the 2025–2026 ACVS Residency Training Standards and Requirements and be effective for the residency training year from July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026. Applications submitted this summer for initial registration or renewal for the 2025–2026 residency year will include these new options.
Summary of revised program definitions
Independent Single-Site (formerly called Traditional) Training Program
Independent single-site training programs (formerly called traditional) are those where the resident’s training occurs at one practice/institution that meets all ACVS requirements for personnel/equipment/facilities.
Independent Multisite Training Programs
Independent multisite training programs are those where the resident’s training occurs at more than one facility owned by a single business entity (including multisite regional practices) or academic institutions with an affiliated off-site clinic. To be considered an independent multisite program, the following requirements must be met:
- All the training sites or practices must be owned by the same business, and a primary training site must be designated. The primary training site must meet all ACVS requirements for personnel, facilities, and equipment.
- Supervised surgical weeks requirement: The residents must spend at least 65% (72 weeks) of the required supervised surgical weeks at the primary training site. Residents in independent single-business multisite programs can spend no more than 27-weeks of the Surgical Rotation Weeks supervised by an ACVS Diplomate at an associated or secondary training sites that does not meet all ACVS requirements.
- Distance requirement: The associated training site(s) of multisite programs must be in close distance (≤120 miles) from the primary training site so residents can easily travel between sites. However, if one of the associated or secondary training sites is >120 miles, the Residency Program Compliance Committee may review the application and decide whether to register the program based on the benefits that site may provide to the training program. The distance restriction is not enforced if the secondary or associated site meets all the ACVS requirements for personnel, facilities, and equipment.
- Program director location: The program director located at the primary training site will be responsible for managing the training program, ensuring compliance with ACVS requirements, and submitting the required registration application.
Residents in independent (single-site or multisite) residency training programs may complete no more than 11 weeks of External Surgical Rotations (10% of their surgical training) at another training site/facility not associated with the program as long as approved by the resident advisor. These 11 weeks do not include time spent on specialty service rotations in anesthesiology, diagnostic imaging, internal medicine/critical care, and pathology.
Collaborative Residency Training Programs
Collaborative residency training programs are those with two to three collaborative training sites not owned by the same business which meet one of the following criteria: (a) the resident’s training will occur at more than one practice/institution (including multisite regional practices that meet all the ACVS requirements) throughout the residency or (b) residents will need to be sent off-site to a practice/institution other than the primary training site for greater than 10% (11 weeks) of the resident’s supervised surgery weeks to enhance the quality of resident training. These 11 weeks do not include time spent on specialty service rotations in anesthesiology, diagnostic imaging, internal medicine/critical care, and pathology.
Single business multisite practices in which all training sites meet all the ACVS requirements may apply as collaborative programs to be exempt from the distance and resident supervised surgical week requirements at the primary training site (see requirements B and C for independent single business multisite programs).
Questions
Questions about training program registration changes can be directed to Sarah Donnelly, programs manager, at sdonnelly@acvs.org or (301) 916-0200 x120.
