3. Integrated 

Recently, the ACGME approved a 5-year integrated vascular surgery training pathway that accepts trainees directly after completion of an MD or DO degree from an institution accredited by the Liaison Committee of Medical Education (LCME) or by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). During the 5-year curriculum, trainees are exposed to 2 years of core general surgery and 2 years of vascular surgery training, integrated over the first 4 years, plus a final fifth year of chief residency devoted exclusively to vascular surgery. Such trainees are only eligible for board certification in vascular surgery.

4. Independent 

This paradigm involves 3 years of training in core general surgery, followed by 3 years of concentrated training in vascular surgery, after which trainees are eligible for board certification in vascular surgery only. All training should be performed in the same ACGME-accredited institution. A transitional year may not be used to fulfill any part of the 3 years of designated preliminary surgery requirement. The last year of the program must comprise chief resident responsibility on the vascular surgery service at an integrated institution

next note that if you are practicing vascular surgery as a CT surgeon that you will need to maintain ABS certification (as opposed to those "vascular certified":

Requirements for hospital privileges (note part about cardiac surgeons)

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All new applicants for hospital privileges in vascular surgery should have completed an ACGME-accredited vascular surgery residency and should obtain ABS board certification within 3 years of completion of their training.

The renewal of privileges for surgeons currently privileged to perform vascular surgery should be granted on the basis of an analysis of their outcomes in comparison with local and regional standards. The SVS strongly endorses outcome analysis and voluntary participation in registries that allows regional benchmarking. Because of different referral patterns, it is important that outcome comparisons be risk-adjusted as best as possible. General and cardiothoracic surgeons with current vascular privileges who do not have ABS certification in vascular surgery should maintain a valid and current ABS certificate in general surgery. In addition to passing the ABS recertification examination in general surgery, the other requirements for MOC must be fulfilled. Proof of CME in the specific field of vascular surgery is also required as recommended by the ABS for MOC. This consists of 30 hours of category 1 CME and a total of 50 category 1 and 2 CME credits in vascular surgery each year


please email me at slevin@iasisheathcare.com if you wish to once and for all establish our own guidelines to protect what we have been doing.  I am begging those of you who do vascular not to let what happened to us by the cardiologists happen to us by vascular surgeons. 

THose of us who have been trying to "re-invent" ourselves (isn't that the popular buzz-word?), now may have even that threatened.  Oh, by the way, did you notice that vacular certified surgeons can do TEVAR without prior credentialing in open thoraco-abdominal procedures:

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair and carotid artery stenting credentialing guidelines for recent vascular surgery graduates entering practice 

Recent guidelines have been published for thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).4 Requirements include full basic endovascular privileges with an experience of at least 25 EVARs, with 12 as primary operator.4 The term “full basic endovascular privileges” means that the operator is fully qualified as defined by either American Heart Association guidelines2 or multispecialty guidelines.3 Upon completion of their training, vascular residents performing TEVAR should be familiar with the perioperative management of aortic surgical patients and are expected to have experience in performing adjunctive procedures for TEVARs, including iliac conduits, femoral artery exposures and repairs, and carotid–subclavian bypasses. The surgeon does not have to have pre-existing open thoracoabdominal privileges.4