Several factors, including reduced resident work hours and concerns for patient safety, have led to the introduction of dedicated skills laboratories and a more widespread belief in the value of time spent in skills training. The American College of Surgeons and the Association of Program Directors in Surgery established a three-phase skills curriculum for all surgery residents. Phase 1 involves basic surgical skills instructional modules and a Verification of Proficiency assessment. After undergoing teaching and practice sessions in the authors’ skills lab, all first-year surgical residents (post graduate year 1 residents) from general surgery and four surgical specialty programs are tested on 11 non-specialty specific basic surgical skills before performing these in clinical situations.