Frequently Asked Questions about SESAP 18 and SESAP 18 Advanced

The most appropriate SESAP 18 package for you depends on several factors. The first is whether you are eligible for continuing medical education (CME) credit and if you will need the CME credit before October 16, 2025. Individuals who are not CME-eligible may only purchase Non-CME packages.

The second is whether you would like to purchase all nine categories or purchase by category. If you would like to receive a print version of the program, you must purchase all nine categories.

Visit the Order SESAP 18 and SESAP 18 Advanced webpage for more information and a complete list of packages and pricing.

SESAP 18 consists of 665 newly constructed, case-based, multiple-choice questions with expanded critiques and supporting references. The questions address nine major content areas of general surgery: abdomen, alimentary tract, breast, emergency general surgery, endocrine, legal/ethics, perioperative care, surgical critical care, and trauma. Visit the SESAP 18 content webpage for a description of each category.

SESAP 18 Advanced was launched in 2023 and features additional in-depth content for surgeons seeking further knowledge in specific areas. Modules in abdomen; alimentary tract; breast; emergency general surgery and trauma; endocrine; melanoma, skin, sarcoma; surgical critical care; and trauma and emergency general surgery will address clinical problems and areas that are complex and may be ambiguous or still evolving. Visit the SESAP 18 Advanced content webpage for a description of each module.

Visit the Order SESAP 18 and SESAP 18 Advanced webpage for pricing information and to order modules.

SESAP 18 Advanced modules have as prerequisites the corresponding SESAP 18 categories. For example, the surgical critical care category of SESAP 18 is required to purchase the surgical critical care module of SESAP 18 Advanced. The prerequisite SESAP 18 category or categories and corresponding SESAP 18 Advanced module may be completed in any order.

Please note: Both the trauma and emergency general surgery categories of SESAP 18 are required to purchase the combined trauma and emergency general surgery module of SESAP 18 Advanced.

Subscribers who purchase all 9 categories of SESAP 18 will fulfill all prerequisites for SESAP 18 Advanced.

If you purchase SESAP 18 by category, you may return later to purchase additional categories. 

You may return at any time to purchase SESAP 18 Advanced modules. If you have not purchased prerequisite categories of SESAP 18, you will have an opportunity to do so.

Purchases will be allowed through October 2025. Add categories or modules online.

If you purchase all nine categories of SESAP 18 at once, you may return later to order a print copy. 

Add a print 

If you purchase SESAP 18 by category, you must purchase all categories before ordering a print copy. Please e-mail sesap@facs.org or call 312-202-5419 for assistance with this request. 

Note: SESAP 18 Advanced is an online program only, and no print copy is available.

CME print copies of SESAP 18 are available to individuals who purchase all nine categories and select the CME with Print package. You must complete the online program before receiving the CME print. Once you claim all 168 CME credits, your print copy of SESAP 18 will automatically ship.

If you ordered the CME with Print package and do not plan on claiming all 168 CME credits, but wish to receive the print copy, please contact us at sesap@facs.org.

For NonCME packages, the print is shipped once all nine categories are purchased.

Residents can purchase a NonCME package of SESAP 18 and SESAP 18 Advanced. CME credits are not available to residents through SESAP 18 and SESAP 18 Advanced, and residents should purchase a NonCME package. Resident members of the American College of Surgeons may generate and email a Resident Report from the web program to document progress for Program Directors.

Membership in the American College of Surgeons is $20 annually for Resident Members and provides a substantial discount on SESAP 18 and SESAP 18 Advanced, along with other generous member benefits. To explore resident membership before purchasing, please visit the Resident Member webpage.

Nonmember residents in a surgical residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or equivalent program may also purchase SESAP 18 and SESAP 18 Advanced but must first submit a letter of verification from a program director or administrator. Nonmember residents may not order online. Please call 312-202-5419 for more information on the process for nonmember residents.

Visit the Order SESAP 18 and SESAP 18 Advanced webpage for pricing and ordering information.

SESAP is designed for individual use only. Institutions may not purchase SESAP 18 or SESAP 18 Advanced for shared use, and multiple individuals may not use the same account.

Your receipt for a SESAP 18 or SESAP 18 Advanced order will be sent to you by email, with the subject line “ACS Order Confirmation.” You may also access the receipt by logging in to facs.org with your ACS credentials and navigating to My Purchase History. Click the “Order Details” link for the order to view the invoice and print or email a copy. There is one receipt per order. For example, if you ordered SESAP 18 and returned on a later date to order additional categories or SESAP 18 Advanced, you will have two receipts.

You can retrieve your username and reset your password here.

If you are an ACS member, your SESAP 18 login information is the same as your ACS member login and password.

Once you have purchased SESAP18 and SESAP 18 Advanced, you may access the web program at sesap18.facs.org.

The web programs of SESAP 18 and SESAP 18 Advanced are optimized for use on tablets and smartphones and includes the same content and features available for desktop computers.

SESAP 18 and SESAP 18 Advanced are compatible with Mac and PC desktop computers, as well as Apple and Android mobile devices. Please visit the SESAP Technical Requirements webpage for a complete list of technical specifications.

All CME credit for SESAP 18 and SESAP 18 Advanced must be claimed by October 16, 2025. Web access will be discontinued on December 31, 2025, when the editions are retired.

Internet access is required to earn CME credits for SESAP 18 and SESAP 18 Advanced. A print copy can be ordered for SESAP 18, and, for CME packages, the print will be shipped after all CME credits have been claimed. For NonCME packages, the print is shipped once all nine categories are purchased.

Note: SESAP 18 Advanced is an online program only, and no print copy is available.

Participants can earn up to 168 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ from SESAP 18, and up to 112 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ from SESAP 18 Advanced, all of which can be used for self-assessment purposes.

To earn CME credits for SESAP 18 and SESAP 18 Advanced, participants must purchase a CME Web version and complete the programs online. Participants will be asked to read each question, select an answer, and review the corresponding critique and preferred answer. Participants will test their mastery of the content by answering the same questions in a scrambled fashion and must achieve a cumulative score of 80 percent within three attempts. If the score is less than 80 percent, the participant will be asked to review the questions answered incorrectly and answer those questions again until 80 percent is achieved. If a score of 80 percent is not achieved after the third attempt, the participant will be asked to start the section over again. For further information, visit About SESAP 18 CME and About SESAP 18 Advanced CME.

All CME credit for SESAP 18 and SESAP 18 Advanced must be claimed by October 16, 2025.

Once you have successfully earned CME credits for a whole SESAP 18 category, a “Claim” button will appear next to the category on your CME Credits dashboard. Clicking this button will initiate the CME claiming process and change the button to read “Claimed.” You must complete an evaluation form for each category to claim CME credits.

Claiming CME credits in the SESAP web-based program does not automatically transmit the credits to the American Board of Surgery (ABS). For instructions on how to transmit CME credits to ABS, please see the FAQ below.

All subscribers can access SESAP 18 and SESAP 18 Advanced CME certificates in the following ways:

• After claiming CME credits, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. Open the e-mail and click on the CME certificate link.
• While in the SESAP 18 program, go to the account menu and choose “CME Credits” or click “Print Certificate” from the CME Credits dashboard.

To ensure your SESAP 18 CME data are transmitted appropriately from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) to the American Board of Surgery (ABS), please use the ACS MyCME Portal. You will need your ACS ID log-in. This will be your membership number or the ACS ID you received when you created your ACS account. If you need assistance with the ACS ID contact Log-in Help.  

Step-by-Step Instructions to Access MyCME and Transmit Your CME Data 

1. Log into MyCME.   
2. Once logged in, you will see your name at the top right of the page. 
3. Select Claim Credit 
4. Select the “Send CME Data” tab. 
5. Select the “Specialty Board” option.  
6. From the recipient drop-menu, select American Board of Surgery. 
7. Select “I Agree.” 
8. Enter your ABS ID. 
9. Enter your month and day of birth. 
10. Confirm that your email address is correct. 
11. Enter the desired start and end dates for your CME data range and click “Get Select Dates.” 
12. Review the transcript data to confirm it is correct. 
13. Once satisfied with the “Send to ABS” criteria, click the “Yes” button.   

After your CME credits are sent, you will see a confirmation page. After 24 hours, you can log into your ABS account to confirm the credits are in your ABS CME Repository.

For questions about the MyCME portal, contact mycme@facs.org. For questions regarding the ABS requirements, please contact ABS at cc@absurgery.org.

SESAP18 and SESAP 18 Advanced may help fulfill your state’s CME special regulatory requirements. Please visit CME State Requirements for a list of requirements by state.

Education Credits of Excellence are entirely optional and are designed to encourage further learning and to challenge surgeons who want to pursue a higher level of achievement. For each SESAP 18 category and SESAP 18 Advanced module, surgeons who achieve a score of 100% on the first attempt of the CME Test will be recognized with Education Credits of Excellence for that category or module.

Surgeons are able and encouraged to study the items in the self-assessment portion as much as they wish prior to taking the CME Test. Those surgeons who achieve 100% on the first attempt of the CME Test for a category or module (including each part for categories and modules with multiple parts) will receive a certificate for Education Credits of Excellence for that category or module. Education Credits of Excellence are being offered by the ACS Division of Education as supported by the ACS Board of Regents. Certificates for Education Credits of Excellence may be accessed in the SESAP 18 web program.