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Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Focused Practice Designation (MBS FPD) Exam Preparation

The Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Focused Practice Designation, developed by the American Board of Surgery with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, is examined as a single written paper of roughly 150 questions across two 120-minute sessions. Sixty per cent of the paper sits in preoperative assessment and postoperative management — the two areas where candidates most often lose marks. Practise with questions mapped to that published content outline.

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Exam format

Format
Single written examination of approximately 150 multiple-choice questions
Duration
~4.5 h, delivered as two 120-minute sessions
Frequency
Once per year, in the spring
Pass rate
Not published by the board
Exam fee
See the American Board of Surgery (absurgery.org)

Eligibility requirements

  • Current certification by the American Board of Surgery or the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery, in compliance with continuous certification
  • Sustained metabolic and bariatric surgery practice, with the case volume and stapling-case requirements set by the board
  • Practice at an accredited metabolic and bariatric surgery centre
  • A maximum of three attempts within five years

Syllabus breakdown

Preoperative Assessment and Management of the Bariatric Patient30%
Postoperative Assessment and Management, Complications, Weight Regain and Recurrence30%
Operations and Interventions for Obesity and Metabolic Disease25%
Science of Obesity, Metabolic Disease and Bariatric Metabolic Interventions7.5%
Special Populations — age-specific groups, comorbidities and pregnancy7.5%

Preparation tips

  • Focus your first weeks on the highest-weight syllabus areas — they account for over half the marks and offer the fastest return on study time.
  • Use active recall with timed question sessions rather than passive re-reading. The MBS FPD written component rewards speed and precision under pressure.
  • Cross-reference every question explanation with the cited guideline section. Over a 3–6 month preparation cycle, this builds the mental index examiners expect in the oral component.

Frequently asked questions

What is the format of the MBS Focused Practice Designation examination?

It is a single written examination of approximately 150 multiple-choice questions lasting about four and a half hours, delivered as two 120-minute sessions. It is offered once a year in the spring, and candidates have a maximum of three attempts within five years.

What does the MBS FPD examination cover?

The published content outline weights preoperative assessment and management at 30 per cent, postoperative assessment and management including complications, weight regain and recurrence at 30 per cent, operations and interventions at 25 per cent, the science of obesity and metabolic disease at 7.5 per cent, and special populations including age-specific groups, comorbidities and pregnancy at 7.5 per cent.

Who is eligible for the MBS Focused Practice Designation?

Surgeons currently certified by the American Board of Surgery or the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery and compliant with continuous certification, with a sustained metabolic and bariatric practice meeting the board case-volume and stapling requirements, practising at an accredited metabolic and bariatric surgery centre.

How many MBS FPD practice questions are available?

SurgBoardsQ&A provides 987 metabolic and bariatric surgery practice questions covering selection, operative technique, postoperative complications, revisional surgery and metabolic physiology, each with a guideline-referenced explanation.

Is there a free MBS FPD question bank?

Yes — a free account includes 50 practice questions with no credit card required.

Start practising for MBS FPD

50 questions free, no credit card required. Filter by board, topic, or difficulty. Explanations cite current ESMO and NCCN guidelines.

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