CNS Oral Board Prep
Oral Board
exam preparation.
Every CNS resource to prepare you for the ABNS Oral Board Certification Examination: Case-based, verbal, and high-stakes. The oral board demands a different kind of preparation. Master indications, decisions, and complication management.
ABNS Oral Exam At-a-glance
Prerequisite
Must pass ABNS Primary Examination. Most candidates sit for the oral board within 3–4 years of program completion.
Format
Case-based verbal examination
Structure
Examiner presents clinical scenarios
Focus
Indications, decision-making, complications
Frequency
Offered biannually
Your Oral Board Prep Pathway
A structured approach from enrollment to exam day.
1
Months Before
- Confirm Primary Board eligibility requirement
- Register for Oral Board Review Course
- Download CNS+ App, activate SANS Indications
- Identify your subspecialty webinar track
2
Weeks Before
- Complete all SANS Indications questions (~150)
- Watch your subspecialty webinar series
- Study key guidelines offline in CNS+ App
- Practice systematic case presentation
3
Exam Month
- SANS gap analysis: your lowest-scoring areas
- Review complication management scenarios
- Quick-reference guidelines via CNS+ App
- Case presentation strategy rehearsal
CNS Oral Board Review Course Includes
Case-Based Exam
ABNS oral exam format
10.75 CME
Written Board Review Course
Spring + Fall
Virtual course dates
~150 Questions
SANS Indications
6+ Subspecialty
Webinar tracks
Three essential products, each targeting a different dimension of oral board readiness.
Oral Board Review Course
Case-based prep for the ABNS Oral Certification Exam
$1,900
For Members
Non-Member
$2,200
10.75 AMA PRA Category 1
Virtual | Spring + Fall sessions
- All 7 subspecialty modules
- 700 total questions
- Track progress across topics
- 70 CME credits
SANS: Indications
$225
For Members
Self-paced | 1-year access
- ~150 clinical indication questions
- Operative vs. non-operative decision focus
- Covers all neurosurgical subspecialties
- Immediate feedback + detailed critiques
- Available offline in CNS+ App
Subspecialty Webinar Series
6+ expert-led tracks, available on demand
$75
/ Track
For Members / Residents
Non-Member
$125 per track
CME included per track
On-demand | Expert faculty
- 6 tracks: Functional, Spine, Tumor, Vascular, Pediatric, Trauma/TBI
- Expert faculty from leading programs
- Subspecialty-specific case scenarios
- Available in CNS+ App
Nexus Case Study Tool
This exclusive member benefit is a comprehensive, case-based repository of neurosurgical operative techniques and approaches enhanced with intraoperative images, medical illustrations, and operative videos. Nexus gives you access to hundreds of cases across 27 different approaches!
More Study Resources
Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery is the official publication of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. Neurosurgery provides multimedia, prompt publication of scientific articles on clinical or experimental surgery topics important for the brain, spine, and peripheral nerves, reviews, and other information of interest to readers across the world!
- Included with CNS membership | Full-text access
- Browse current issue
Clinical Practice Guidelines
Developed through rigorous reviews of the medical literature, these evidence-based recommendations help neurosurgeons make informed decisions across a wide range of clinical scenarios. Reviewing relevant guidelines can enhance your ability to articulate evidence-based management strategies during the Oral Board Examination.
- View Guidelines
Subspecialty Webinar Tracks
Functional & Pain
DBS · Epilepsy · Pain surgery · Neuromodulation
Member: $75 | Non-member: $125
- Watch now
Spine
Degenerative · Deformity · Tumor · Trauma
Member: $75 | Non-member: $125
- Watch now
Tumor
Glioma · Meningioma · Skull base · Metastases
Member: $75 | Non-member: $125
- Watch now
Cerebrovascular
Aneurysm · AVM · Carotid · Bypass
Member: $75 | Non-member: $125
- Watch now
Pediatric
Hydrocephalus · Craniosynostosis · Pediatric tumor
Member: $75 | Non-member: $125
- Watch now
Trauma
TBI · EDH/SDH · Decompressive craniectomy · ICP
Member: $75 | Non-member: $125
- Watch now
Peripheral Nerve
Entrapment · Brachial plexus · Nerve sheath tumors
Member: $75 | Non-member: $125
- Watch now
Study Strategies from Course Faculty
Four high-yield principles from physicians who have designed and delivered the Oral Board Review Course.
1
Master Case Presentation
Develop a systematic, reproducible approach to presenting any case scenario. Examiners reward structure and clarity, not just clinical.
2
Grow Your Indications Knowledge
SANS Indications is your best preparation tool. The oral board is fundamentally a test of operative judgment.
3
Manage Complications Confidently
Know what you would do when things go wrong intraoperatively. Complication scenarios are standard on the exam. Have a clear, rehearsed response.
4
Reinforce Learning Across Resources
The Review Course, SANS Indications, webinars, and CNS+ App are designed as an integrated system. Using one without the others leaves gaps.
Study Anywhere with the CNS+ App
SANS Indications, subspecialty webinars, and clinical guidelines are all available in the CNS+ App for iOS and Android. Subspecialty filtering surfaces your track. Guidelines available offline. Resume SANS questions from where you left off.
SANS Indications Offline
Guidelines
Subspecialty Webinars
Subspecialty Filtering
Progress Sync
Formative Learning Disclaimer
These resources are formative educational tools designed to support exam preparation. They are not predictors of ABNS examination outcomes.
We’re Here to Help