Non-Standard Training
Non-Standard Subspecialty Disciplines
The member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) are viewed as the subject matter experts on educational developments within their respective medical specialties. The following list outlines those non-standard disciplines currently recognized by ABMS boards for the purpose of J-1 sponsorship.
All questions pertaining to board policies, procedures, and additional non-standard disciplines should be forwarded to the specific ABMS boards. See Web links below.
Anesthesiology
www.abanes.org
| Non-Standard Subspecialty Disciplines Recognized for Purpose of J‑1 Sponsorship | |
| Obstetric anesthesia | |
| Cardiothoracic anesthesia | |
| Neuroanesthesia | |
| Anesthesia for out-patient surgery | |
| Recovery room care | |
| Regional anesthesia | |
Dermatology
www.abderm.org
| Non-Standard Subspecialty Disciplines Recognized for Purpose of J‑1 Sponsorship | |
| Immunodermatology | |
| Cutaneous photobiology | |
| Cutaneous oncology | |
| Dermatologic surgery | |
| Mohs micrographic surgery | |
| Cosmetic dermatology | |
| Applications of laser to dermatology & cutaneous biology | |
| Epidemiology | |
| Dermatopharmacology | |
| Clinical educator in dermatology | |
| Research | |
Family Practice
www.abfp.org
| Non-Standard Subspecialty Disciplines Recognized for Purpose of J‑1 Sponsorship | |
| Obstetrics | |
| Women's health | |
| Rural health | |
| Hospital care | |
Internal Medicine
www.abim.org
The American Board of Internal Medicine will consider recognition of non-standard programs on a case-by-case basis.
Nuclear Medicine
www.abnm.org
For further information regarding non-standard training programs, please visit the ABNM website.
| Non-Standard Subspecialty Disciplines Recognized for Purpose of J‑1 Sponsorship | |
| PET | |
| Renal nuclear medicine | |
Obstetrics and Gynecology
www.abog.org
| Non-Standard Subspecialty Disciplines Recognized for Purpose of J‑1 Sponsorship | Length of Program |
| Family planning | 2 years |
| Gynecologic endoscopy | |
| Minimally invasive GYN surgery | |
| Pediatric adolescent gynecology | |
Ophthalmology
www.abop.org
| Non-Standard Subspecialty Disciplines Recognized for Purpose of J‑1 Sponsorship | |
| Glaucoma | |
| Retina/vitreous | |
| Cornea | |
| Pediatric/strabismus | |
| Oculoplastics | |
| Ophthalmic pathology | |
| Neuro-ophthalmology | |
| Uveitis | |
| Ocular oncology | |
Otolaryngology
www.aboto.org
| Non-Standard Subspecialty Disciplines Recognized for Purpose of J‑1 Sponsorship | |
| Craniomaxillofacial | |
| Facial plastic and reconstructive surgery | |
| Head and neck oncologic surgery | |
| Head and neck surgery | |
| Laryngology | |
| Microvascular surgery | |
| Rhinology | |
Pathology
www.abpath.org
The American Board of Pathology is willing to endorse a J-1 visa applicant for advanced study in the fields of Pathology listed below only if the J-1 visa candidate has completed the prerequisites for primary certification and has applied for certification or is a diplomate of The American Board of Pathology. Please contact the board if there are additional questions.
| Non-Standard Subspecialty Disciplines Recognized for Purpose of J‑1 Sponsorship | |
| Autopsy pathology | |
| Informatics | |
| Laboratory management | |
| Research | |
| Surgical pathology | |
| Clinical pathology: | |
| Informatics | |
| Laboratory management | |
| Research | |
Pediatrics
www.abp.org
| Non-Standard Subspecialty Disciplines Recognized for Purpose of J‑1 Sponsorship | Length of Program |
| Academic general pediatrics | 1-3 years |
| Cardiology: | |
| Adult/pediatric congenital heart disease | 1 year |
| Advanced cardiac imaging | 1 year |
| Cardiac critical care | 1-2 years |
| Echocardiography | 1 year |
| Electrophysiology | 1-2 years |
| Interventional cardiology | 1-2 years |
| Child abuse | 1-2 years |
| Community pediatrics | 1 year |
| ECMO | 1 year |
| Gastroenterology: | |
| Interventional endoscopy | 1 year |
| Motility | 1 year |
| Nutrition | 1 year |
| Transplant hepatology | 1 year |
| Health services fellowship | 1-2 years |
| Hematology - Oncology: | |
| Advanced training in coagulation | 1 year |
| Neuro-oncology | 1 year |
Hematopoietic stem cell reconstitution
(Bone marrow transplant) | 1 year |
| Sickle Cell disease | 1 year |
| Solid Tumor Oncology | 1 year |
| Infectious Diseases: | |
| HIV/AIDS | 1 year |
| Vaccinology & vaccine preventable diseases | 1 - 2 years |
| Pulmonology: | |
| Lung transplantation | 1 year |
| Sleep medicine | 1-2 years |
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
www.abpmr.org
The American Board of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation will consider recognition of non-standard programs on a case-by-case basis.
Plastic Surgery
www.abplsurg.org
| Non-Standard Subspecialty Disciplines Recognized for Purpose of J‑1 Sponsorship | Length of Program |
| Breast surgery | 1 year |
| Burn surgery | 1 year |
| Craniofacial and maxillofacial surgery | 1 year |
| Microvascular reconstructive surgery | 1 year |
| Pediatric craniofacial surgery | 1 year |
| Pediatric plastic surgery | 2 years |
| General reconstructive surgery | 2 years |
| Aesthetic surgery | 1 year |
| Burn reconstructive surgery | 1 year |
| Surgical research | 1 year |
| Laser and vascular malformation surgery | 1 year |
| Outcomes surgical research | 1 year |
Psychiatry & Neurology
www.abpn.com
| Non-Standard Subspecialty Disciplines Recognized for Purpose of J‑1 Sponsorship | Length of Program |
| Psychiatry: | |
| AIDS | 1-2 years |
| Community psychiatry | 1-2 years |
| Public psychiatry and public policy | 1-2 years |
| Neuropsychiatry | 1-2 years |
| Developmental disabilities | 1-2 years |
| Psychotherapy | 1-2 years |
| Sleep disorders | 1-2 years |
| Mood disorders | 1-2 years |
| Psychopharmacology | 1-2 years |
| Administrative psychiatry | 1-2 years |
| Psychosomatic medicine * | 1-2 years |
| Psychotic disorders | 1-2 years |
| Post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) | 1-2 years |
* The subspecialty has recently been accredited by the ACGME. ECFMG will continue to sponsor J-1 physicians while programs seek ACGME accreditation.
| Non-Standard Subspecialty Disciplines Recognized for Purpose of J‑1 Sponsorship | Length of Program |
| Neurology: | |
| AIDS | 1-2 years |
| Alzheimer's disease | 1-2 years |
| Dementia | 1-2 years |
| Geriatric neurology | 1-2 years |
| Behavorial neurology | 1-2 years |
| EEG | 1-2 years |
| EMG | 1-2 years |
| Epilepsy | 1-2 years |
| Headache | 1-2 years |
| Interventional neurology | 1-2 years |
| Movement disorders | 1-2 years |
| Neuroimmunology to include multiple sclerosis | 1-2 years |
| Neuroepidemiolgy | 1-2 years |
| Neurogenetics | 1-2 years |
| Neuroimaging | 1-2 years |
| Neurologic critical care | 1-2 years |
| Neuromuscular disorders | 1-2 years |
| Neuro-oncology | 1-2 years |
| Neuro-ophthalmology | 1-2 years |
| Neuro-otology | 1-2 years |
| Neuropathology | 1-2 years |
| Neuropharmacology | 1-2 years |
| Neurorehabilitation | 1-2 years |
| Neurovirology & other infections of the nervous system | 1-2 years |
| Peripheral nerve disorders | 1-2 years |
| Sleep disorders | 1-2 years |
| Vascular neurology ("stroke") * | 1-2 years |
* The subspecialty has recently been accredited by the ACGME. ECFMG will continue to sponsor J-1 physicians while programs seek ACGME accreditation.
Radiology
www.theabr.org
The American Board of Radiology will consider recognition of non-standard programs on a case-by-case basis.
Surgery
www.absurgery.org
| Non-Standard Subspecialty Disciplines Recognized for Purpose of J‑1 Sponsorship | Length of Program |
| Advanced GI surgery: | |
| Foregut surgery | 1 year |
| Hepatic surgery | 1 year |
| Hepatobiliary surgery | 1 year |
| Bariatric surgery | 1 year |
| Laparoscopic surgery: | |
| Advanced laparoscopic surgery | 1 year |
| Endoscopic surgery | 1 year |
| Laparoscopic surgery | 1 year |
| Minimally invasive surgery | 1 year |
| Videoendoscopic surgery | 1 year |
| Microsurgery | 1 year |
| Oncological fellowships: | |
| Breast oncology | 1 year |
| Endocrine oncology | 1 year |
| Head & neck surgical oncology | 1-2 years |
| Pediatric surgical oncology | 1 year |
| Surgical oncology | 1-2 years |
| Transplantation: | |
| Kidney transplant surgery | 1 year |
| Liver transplantation | 1 year |
| Pediatric transplantation | 1 year |
| Renal transplantation | 1 year |
| Transplantation surgery | 1-2 years |
| Trauma: | |
| Burn surgery | 1 year |
| Pediatric trauma surgery | 1 year |
| Trauma surgery | 1 year |
Thoracic Surgery
www.abts.org
| Non-Standard Subspecialty Disciplines Recognized for Purpose of J‑1 Sponsorship | Length of Program |
| General thoracic surgery | |
| Adult cardiac surgery | 1-2 years |
| Congenital cardiac surgery | 1-2 years |
| Cardiothoracic transplantation surgery | |
| Mechanical cardiac support & cardiac transplantation | 1-2 years |
| Cardiac valve surgery | 1 year |
| Thoracic oncology | 1-2 years |
| Minimally invasive C-T surgery | 1-2 years |
| Lung transplantation | 1-2 years |
Urology
www.abu.org
| Non-Standard Subspecialty Disciplines Recognized for Purpose of J‑1 Sponsorship | Length of Program |
| Endourology & laparoscopy | 1-2 years |
| Endourology | 1-2 years |
| Erectile dysfunction | 1-2 years |
| Erectile dysfunction & infertility (andrology) | 1-2 years |
| Female urology | 1-2 years |
| Female urology & pelvic reconstruction | 1-2 years |
| Female urology & urodynamics | 1-2 years |
| Calculus disease | 1-2 years |
| Infertility | 1-2 years |
| Laparoscopic urology | 1-2 years |
| Minimally invasive urologic surgery | 1-2 years |
| Neurourology & urodynamics | 1-2 years |
| Pediatric urology | 1-2 years |
| Urologic trauma | 1-2 years |
| Reconstructive genital surgery | 1-2 years |
| Renal transplantation | 1-2 years |
| Basic research - urology | 1-2 years |
| Urologic oncology | 1-2 years |
| Geriatric urology | 1-2 years |
To date, no specific guidelines or list of non-standard disciplines have been provided by the following boards. Contact the boards directly with any questions regarding non-standard programs.
| Allergy & Immunology | www.abai.org |
| Colon & Rectal Surgery | www.abcrs.org |
| Emergency Medicine | www.abem.org |
| Medical Genetics | www.abmg.org |
| Neurological Surgery | www.abns.org |
| Orthopaedic Surgery | www.abos.org |
| Preventive Medicine | www.abprevmed.org |
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Summary of Discussions on J-1 Sponsorship Issues Regarding Non-Standard Programs
The following document summarizes the criteria that have been agreed upon for sponsorship in non-standard programs, effective July 1, 2003.
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Application Materials
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