The bodies below are the ones named in the directory's program records. The summaries are general and non-binding; confirm every rule on the body's own site and with the program.
What fellowship accreditation means in OB-GYN
Training in obstetrics and gynecology is accredited by national colleges, boards and commissions, and by specialty societies. The terms differ: accredited, recognised, approved, authorised, host site. Each program page in this directory keeps the wording of its source, and the sections below explain what the most common bodies do.
ACGME: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
Where: United States. Listings in the directory naming it: 414.
The U.S. body that accredits residency and fellowship programs. In OB-GYN it accredits fellowships in gynecologic oncology, maternal-fetal medicine, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (urogynecology); completing one is the usual route to the matching American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology subspecialty certification. Complex family planning, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and pediatric and adolescent gynecology fellowships are commonly run by societies or institutions outside ACGME accreditation.
How people apply: Many ACGME-accredited fellowships recruit through ERAS and the NRMP match; the program page states its own route and cycle.
RANZCOG: Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Where: Australia and New Zealand. Listings in the directory naming it: 71.
The college accredits the units that deliver its subspecialty certificates (for example gynaecological oncology, maternal-fetal medicine, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, urogynaecology and ultrasound). Trainees are normally FRANZCOG specialists, and selection is run centrally by the college rather than by each hospital.
How people apply: Check the college's selection pages for the current round; dates for the next intake are often published late.
ESGO: European Society of Gynaecological Oncology
Where: Europe. Listings in the directory naming it: 117.
The society accredits training centres in gynaecological oncology. Accreditation attaches to the centre and its programme, not to a vacancy: it does not mean the centre has a post open or will accept a particular applicant.
How people apply: According to ESGO's fellowship-training information, society members arrange a placement with an accredited centre and register through the society's eLogbook; contact the centre first.
NBEMS: National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences
Where: India. Listings in the directory naming it: 60.
India's national board runs DrNB super-specialty programs and FNB fellowships in accredited hospitals. A listing as an NBEMS centre means seats exist under the board's rules; entry is normally through national entrance tests and counselling (such as NEET-SS) rather than a hospital's own application.
How people apply: Read the current NBEMS bulletin for eligibility, seats and counselling dates; the hospital page may add nothing.
NVOG: Nederlandse Vereniging voor Obstetrie en Gynaecologie
Where: Netherlands. Listings in the directory naming it: 32.
The Dutch society publishes the list of centres recognised for post-specialty fellowships. Fellowships follow completed gynaecology training, and recruitment is run by each recognised centre.
How people apply: Contact the named supervisor or centre; the society list identifies centres but is not an application portal.
SIWF / ISFM: Swiss Institute for Postgraduate and Continuing Medical Education
Where: Switzerland. Listings in the directory naming it: 46.
The institute recognises clinics as training sites for advanced training (Schwerpunkt) in obstetrics and gynaecology. The recognised-site register states the category and level of recognition; language and Swiss experience requirements are set by each clinic.
How people apply: Apply to the clinic. The register is the evidence of recognition, and some register pages are not publicly viewable.
RCOG: Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Where: United Kingdom. Listings in the directory naming it: 52.
The college sets the subspecialty and special-interest training curricula used in the UK. Older programmes may still use the term advanced training skills module (ATSM); the current curriculum uses special interest training modules (SITM).
How people apply: Entry follows the college's and the deanery's recruitment process; non-UK applicants should also check GMC registration rules.
Royal College (Canada): Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Where: Canada. Listings in the directory naming it: 20.
The Royal College accredits Canadian residency programs, including the OB-GYN subspecialty residencies. Some Canadian fellowships are university-run and are not Royal College accredited; the listing wording says which.
How people apply: Most Canadian programs use provincial or national matching or university portals; international applicants may need provincial registration.
AAGL: American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists
Where: International (programs mostly in North America). Listings in the directory naming it: 41.
The society publishes descriptions for its minimally invasive gynecologic surgery fellowships and runs a common application route. These fellowships are not ACGME-accredited.
How people apply: Applications usually go through the society's fellowship process; each program page gives the cycle.
AGES: Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy and Surgery Society
Where: Australia and New Zealand. Listings in the directory naming it: 29.
The society runs accredited advanced training in gynaecological endoscopy at designated units. Programs are clinical, typically two years, and confer no university degree.
How people apply: Applications open centrally for the society's intake; see the society page for the year.
ESGE / GESEA: European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy
Where: Europe. Listings in the directory naming it: 40.
The society runs the GESEA training and certification programme and lists host centres for short-term visits and clinical attachments. These are short placements, not accredited fellowships.
How people apply: Apply through the society's programme page; fees, duration and host places differ by centre.
IUGA / APUGA: International Urogynecological Association and Asia-Pacific Urogynecology Association
Where: International. Listings in the directory naming it: 29.
IUGA publishes a directory of host sites that offer fellowships or observerships in urogynecology; APUGA lists training centres in the Asia-Pacific. A site's presence in the directory is a society listing, not a national accreditation.
How people apply: Contact the host site directly; the directory states whether the site accepts fellows, observers or both.
SCFHS: Saudi Commission for Health Specialties
Where: Saudi Arabia. Listings in the directory naming it: 20.
The national commission sets curricula and accredits training programs for the Saudi Fellowship, including OB-GYN subspecialties.
How people apply: Entry follows the commission's matching and its eligibility rules; read the current curriculum and admission notice.
AGOI: Association of Gynaecological Oncologists of India
Where: India. Listings in the directory naming it: 11.
The association lists authorised centres for gynaecological oncology fellowships. The centre list does not usually publish centre-level contacts, eligibility or deadlines.
How people apply: Contact the centre's department; use the association's guidelines for duration.
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Frequently asked questions
Does accreditation mean a program has an open position?
No. Accreditation or recognition says that a program or centre meets a body's standards. Whether it has funded places, accepts international applicants or is recruiting this year is set by the program.
Is a program listed by a society the same as an accredited program?
Not always. Some societies accredit training programs, others only list host sites or approved centres. The program page repeats the wording used by the source.
Does an accredited fellowship guarantee a licence or visa?
No. Medical registration, work permission and language requirements are set by the country and the employer, and they are separate from accreditation.
Why do some OB-GYN fellowships have no accreditor?
Several subspecialties, and many institution-run fellowships, have no national accreditation system. Check the training format and verify outcomes such as certification eligibility with the program.