ACS FSC Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach out to the ACS FSC staff at fundamentalsofsurgery@facs.org  or by calling 312-202-5171.

ACS FSC for the curriculum year ending on March 31 the following year, for each of their subscribed PGY-1 residents. Additionally, programs are provided with complimentary administrative subscription. Users can access all 109 scenarios and references, including textbook chapters from Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, charts, graphs, tables and radiologic images that are embedded within the scenarios. These references are also available separately for review as a learning tool. All residents enrolled in ACS FSC receive complimentary resident membership of ACS.

View resident membership benefits 

View a sample scenario

The ACS ERRA is a psychometrically rigorous, formative assessment of PGY-1 preparedness, focusing on 20 clinical topics that entering surgical residents are likely to encounter. Results of the three-hour, online assessment administered during the first weeks of residency are used to formulate individual learning plans (ILPs) between residents and their program director.

The ACS Fundamentals of Surgery Curriculum® (ACS FSC) is a highly interactive, case-based online curriculum that addresses the essential content areas that all surgical residents need to master in the early years of training. ACS FSC is a self-paced learning resource that includes over 109 cases that can be completed by individuals and used for study purposes across many months.

ACS ERRA and ACS FSC are independent and complementary; the ACS ERRA score reports list corresponding ACS FSC modules that can be used as learning resources for independent study.

ACS FSC is purchased by residency programs for residents in their surgical residency programs. A program director or administrator can access the enrollment form. Individual subscriptions are not available at this time.

Enrollment is completed using the online enrollment form. Program officials can access the form using their ACS username and password. If you do not know your username and password, please contact the ACS FSC staff.

Changes occur during an academic year, especially in the beginning. If you need to make a change after the enrollment form has been submitted, please contact Stephanie Hermes at ACS Headquarters during normal business hours, M-F, at shermes@facs.org or 312-202-5171.

At this time subscriptions are offered only to training programs, including residency programs of all surgical specialties, physician assistant residency programs and training programs for other members of the surgical team. Surgeons (or other healthcare professionals) cannot subscribe individually.

Access the curriculum. Logins and instructions to access the scenarios will be sent to program administrators within 7 days of receipt of payment. Residents will receive their username and password from their residency administrator. 

Administrators needing assistance with resident questions, logging in, or using the site should please contact Stephanie Hermes at ACS Headquarters during normal business hours, M-F, at shermes@facs.org or 312-202-5171.

The program administrator will manage the program’s roster of usernames and passwords. Residents are highly encouraged to change their passwords upon their first login. If a resident forgets their password they can contact Stephanie Hermes at ACS Headquarters during normal business hours, M-F, at shermes@facs.org or 312-202-5171 to reset the password.