A neurosurgeon who has been certified by the AMERICAN BOARD OF NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY (ABNS) has completed an approved educational training program and an evaluation process, including written and oral examinations, designed to asses the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to provide quality patient care in neurological surgery. Neurosurgeons who successfully participate in the ABNS Maintenance of Certification program take steps following their primary certification to preserve and enhance their knowledge and skills. However, certification is not a measure or guarantee of competence, nor does it necessarily indicate compatibility with a particular patient. Patients, therefore, should consider certification as only one factor in selecting a neurological surgeon.