Fellow Membership in the Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiovascular Surgery (FAPACVS) is reserved for active members of the Association who have distinguished themselves as competent and proficient in the practice of cardiovascular and/or thoracic surgery. This successful program was established in 2006 and has since been emulated by other PA societies. The Fellow member concept has been endorsed by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Fellows are elected by a 10 member committee consisting of eight CVPA's and two Cardiovascular Surgeons who review applications on a monthly basis. The primary requirement for this level of achievement is the competency attestation by the CVPA's Supervising Physician. The CVPA must also submit documentation of their patient encounter's (minimum of 200), and have been working in the field for at least two years full time. If a PA has successfully completed a post graduate residency in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, then one year of full time clinical experience is accepted.
One elected as a Fellow, the member is entitled to utilize the FAPACVS designation for as long as they remain in the clinical practice of cardiovascular and/or thoracic surgery as an active member of the Association.