PURPOSE:The study contained herein used the database of the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery to demonstrate trends in colorectal practice from 1989 to 1996 and to compare the one‐year technical experience of a colorectal resident with the five‐year totals of a general surgery resident.METHODS:Complete case lists from applicants for the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery's qualifying examination have been entered into a database. Similar data have been compiled from the Residency Review Committee for Surgery.RESULTS:From 1989 through 1996, 446,082 procedures have been listed by 417 colorectal residents, an average of 1,060 cases per resident. When contrasted with the operative experience of a general surgery resident, the colorectal resident performs substantially more anorectal operations, more endoscopic procedures, and more index abdominal operations in one year than the average general surgery resident performs in five years.CONCLUSIONS:When added to the required general surgery experience, one year of training in colorectal surgery trains a true subspecialist with unique expertise in the treatment of disorders of the colon, rectum, and anus.