Spine Surgery Fellowship Match Overview
There are more than 100 positions for spine fellowships throughout the United States and Canada.
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Spine Surgery Fellowship Match
The Spine Surgery Fellowship Match (SFM) was established in 2008. Its goal is to coordinate fellowship
appointments, thus relieving the pressure of uncoordinated appointments and forced early choices. The
participating programs will not make any appointments until the match has been completed.
Sponsorship
The North American Spine Society (NASS) sponsors the matching process and is responsible for enforcement of
applicable rules. The SF Match office does not sponsor or approve any of the participating programs. The function
of the Matching Program is strictly limited to processing of the match. Listing or not listing of any program in the
directory does not imply any form of approval, disapproval or endorsement.
About the Match
The Match takes place in April and will be used to process all applicants who want to start their fellowship training in
August of the following year. Applicants and programs must abide by the
Code of Conduct AND the Spine Surgery Fellowship Match
Participation Agreement. By applying to the
Match, you are agreeing to abide by the Code of Conduct and Spine Surgery Fellowship Match Participation Agreement.
Registration
There is a $150 non-refundable applicant registration fee that covers registration and matching. Once registered,
applicants can manage their account by logging into their account profile. To register, click on “Register” and follow
the steps. Registration fee can be paid with a Visa or a MasterCard. All match participants must agree and abide by
the SF Match rules and policies as well as any additional rules stated by the sponsoring group. Please review the
Rules page prior to registering.
Eligibility
Applicants must be eligible for Board Certification in Orthopaedic Surgery or Neurosurgery. Certain programs only
accept applications from physicians who are eligible for US or Canadian Board Certification. Other programs also
accept applications from those who are eligible for Orthopaedic Surgery or Neurosurgery Board Certification in
other countries. Please check each individual program description for determination of eligibility for that particular
program.
Central Application Service (CAS)
SF Match’s Central Application Service (CAS) distributes complete applications to programs electronically. The use
of CAS is mandatory for both programs and applicants. For more information, visit the Central Application Service
(CAS) tab.
Applicants Registered in More Than One Match
Applicants who have registered for more than one orthopaedic fellowship match must be aware that upon
successfully matching to an orthopaedic specialty, he/she will be withdrawn from all other specialty matches. The
fees paid to register/apply to other specialties are not refundable once the applicant has matched.
Please read the information on this website and contact SF Match if you need assistance.
For questions arising
after you have matched to a program,
especially if there are any issues regarding the
possibility of not fulfilling your match commitment
, contact the Match Committee immediately, simultaneous with or
preferably before communicating with the program with which you matched (see
Match Rules).
Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine (ISMM) Overview
There has been a growing demand for well-trained interventional spine and non-surgical musculoskeletal specialists.
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NASS is the world’s largest spine society representing surgical and non-surgical specialties. There has been a growing demand for well-trained interventional spine and non-surgical musculoskeletal specialists. To address this, NASS developed criteria to officially recognize ISMM fellowship programs that meet a standard of academic and educational rigor agreed upon by the NASS ISMM Fellowship Committee. A core curriculum has been developed to provide high quality, consistent clinical and procedural education for all matriculating trainees.
What Distinguishes NASS ISMM Fellowships From Pain Fellowships?
The primary focus of NASS-recognized ISMM fellowships is the clinical assessment and treatment of patients with spine and musculoskeletal conditions. The fellowships are unique from ACGME Pain Medicine fellowships, which require training in inpatient acute pain management, palliative care, psychiatry, pediatric pain management, and intubation.
Spine Physical Therapy Fellowship Overview
Spine physical therapy fellowship programs were created to provide advanced training in spine care and decrease unwarranted variation in clinical practice to improve patient outcomes.
Program Eligibility Requirements
- ✔ Be fully accredited and in good standing by the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency
and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE).
- ✔ All core faculty and fellows-in-training are active members of NASS.
- ✔ At least 51% of core faculty maintain American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS)
certification.
- ✔ The core faculty must maintain a combined score of >200 using the Spine Physical Therapy
Fellowship Program Points Qualification System.
Required Documents
- 📄 Spine Physical Therapy Program Points Qualification System
- 📄 Program Template to have your program listed in the online directory
- 📄 Current CVs for the Program Director(s) and Core Faculty
Application Deadline
July and January 31st, 2026
Applications are reviewed twice per year with deadlines of July 31st and January
31st
to submit all materials.
Learn More and Apply
Spine pain continues to be a leading cause of global disability. Approximately 71% of spine pain can be successfully managed by conservative care alone, including physical therapy. Spine physical therapy fellowship programs were created to provide advanced training in spine care and decrease unwarranted variation in clinical practice to improve patient outcomes. Due to the growing demand for well-trained physical therapists who specialize in spine care, NASS developed criteria to officially recognize advanced training programs in spine physical therapy that produce experts who express their education through excellence and leadership in clinical practice, teaching and research to make a lasting contribution to society through service to their community and profession. A core curriculum has been developed based on the American Board of Physical Therapy Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE) Description of Spine Fellowship Practice to provide high quality, consistent clinical and procedural education for all trainees.
For Physical Therapist Programs:
For Physical Therapist Candidates:
International Traveling Fellowship NEW
NASS is proud to partner with the Brazilian Spine Society (BSS) to connect fellows with esteemed mentors and institutions throughout Brazil.
Eligibility Requirements
- ✔ Only U.S.-based members of the North American Spine Society (NASS) can apply.
- ✔ Commitment to institutions throughout Brazil at approved Spine Centers.
- ✔ Complete 2-4 week Fellowship in 2026/2027.
- ✔ Cannot have previously received a NASS fellowship.
Required Documents
Application Deadline
April 12, 2026
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM CDT.
Note: Funding for the Fellowship is restricted to NASS members based in the U.S., who have been formally accepted into the program by the International Strategic Growth Committee. Funding is not guaranteed; however, accepted participants will have the opportunity to apply for available
funding opportunities.
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To further strengthen collaborative relationships between NASS and leading international spine societies, we are excited to launch the
International Traveling Fellowship Program—a dynamic new initiative designed to build global partnerships, enhance clinical expertise, and support professional growth across borders.
This program facilitates the exchange of fellows between institutions worldwide, encouraging meaningful professional connections, cross-cultural learning, and the sharing of cutting-edge knowledge, techniques, and innovations in spine care.
As part of this effort, NASS is proud to partner with the
Brazilian Spine Society (BSS) to connect fellows with esteemed mentors and institutions throughout Brazil.
We invite you to take advantage of this unique opportunity to participate in an international observership in
Brazil during 2026/2027 at our premier partner
Spine Centers. The Fellowship spans at least two to four weeks.
Participating fellows will have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a new clinical setting, gaining first-hand experience with diverse patient populations, treatment philosophies, surgical approaches, and healthcare systems. In addition to clinical exposure, fellows may engage in research collaborations, attend academic events, and participate in case discussions with international leaders in spine care.
Applicants are required to be a NASS member in good standing. Membership in good standing is defined as having no outstanding dues, nor restrictions to participation within NASS. Funding opportunities through NASS are available after you have been notified of acceptance.
The International Traveling Fellowship Program is a testament to NASS’s vision of a globally connected spine community, working together to elevate patient outcomes and professional standards worldwide.
Recipients will be required to write an article for
SpineLine, the
NASS magazine, following the conclusion of their Fellowship to report on their experiences to NASS Membership.
If you are interested in participating in an observership in Brazil, please complete the application:
Independent Traveling Fellowships
Clinical Traveling Fellowship
The Clinical Traveling Fellowship spans at least one month to be spent in three to five different medical centers
studying spine techniques. The centers selected by the applicant should agree in writing to accept the applicant if
they receive the Fellowship. The Fellowship primarily covers the costs of travel and housing and typically ranges from
$3,000-$7,000. Recipients will be required to write an article for
SpineLine, the
NASS magazine, following the conclusion of their fellowship to
report their experiences to the NASS Membership.
Eligibility Requirements
- ✔ Not eligible if you already received a NASS traveling fellowship.
- ✔ NASS Membership not required.
- ✔ Provide narrative description of goals for the fellowship, including your area(s) of spinal interest, and a weekly schedule of proposed activities/project milestones for each participating Medical Center.
Required Documents
- 📄 Completed Online Application
- 📄 Curriculum Vitae: Abbreviated to no more than 3 pages of
relevant experience
- 📄 Updated NASS Online Disclosure
- 📄 Letters of Acceptance from each Medical Center (must be
dated for current year)
- 📄 Three Letters of Recommendation (must be dated for
current year)
- 📄 Budget: formatted in a table with itemized breakdowns
of amounts requested in USD and totaled overall
Application Deadline
May 11, 2026
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM CDT.
Research Traveling Fellowship
The Research Traveling Fellowship spans at least five months at one medical center (other than the facility at which
the applicant currently practices) to participate in a research project. The center selected by the applicant should
have appropriate research facilities and agree in writing to accept the applicant if they receive the Fellowship. The
Fellowship primarily covers the costs of travel and housing and typically ranges from $3,000-$7,000. If funding for
the actual research project is needed, please apply for one of the research grants. Recipients will be required to write an article for
SpineLine, the NASS magazine, following the conclusion of their fellowship to report their experiences to the NASS Membership.
Eligibility Requirements
- ✔ Not eligible if you already received a NASS traveling fellowship.
- ✔ NASS Membership not required.
- ✔ Provide narrative description of the research project, including methodologies and/or techniques to be studied.
- ✔ Define Applicant’s roles and responsibilities within the project, including proposed activities and project milestones.
Required Documents
- 📄 Completed Online Application
- 📄 Curriculum Vitae: Abbreviated to no more than 3 pages of
relevant experience
- 📄 Updated NASS Online Disclosure
- 📄 Letters of Acceptance from each Medical Center (must be
dated for current year)
- 📄 Three Letters of Recommendation (must be dated for
current year)
- 📄 Budget: formatted in a table with itemized breakdowns
of amounts requested in USD and totaled overall
Application Deadline
May 11, 2026
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM CDT.
Apply for funding for the Clinical or Research Traveling Fellowship: