Maintenance of Certification

Introduction

During its first 50 years, the ABOS issued certificates that were good for life. However, from the very earliest days of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), there was discussion of the need for periodic recertification, based on the idea that medical knowledge and practice change over time. The first 10 year (time-limited) certificates were issued by the ABOS in 1986.

In early 2000, the member boards of ABMS, agreed to evolve their recertification programs into a new concept called Maintenance of Certification or MOC. This path was taken in response to public and state legislative pressure to evaluate physician competence on a more frequent schedule. All ABMS Boards have adopted the MOC program.

There are currently 28,650 Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Maintenance of Certification

All ABOS diplomates with time-limited certificates who wish to remain Board Certified will be allowed to do so by complying with requirements of the MOC program established by the ABOS. MOC is also available to time-unlimited (lifetime) certificate holders who wish to voluntarily participate in the MOC process, including recertification. The MOC program has four components.

• Part I: Evidence of Professional Standing, which is assessed with peer review, confirmation of full and unrestricted licensure in all jurisdictions where a license is held, and hospital credentials.
• Part II: Evidence of Life-Long Learning and Self-Assessment, which is addressed through 240 credits of Category 1 Continuing Medical Education (CME) that include a minimum of 40 CME credits of Self-Assessment Examinations (SAE).
• Part III: Evidence of Cognitive Expertise, which occurs through a secure recertification examination pathway and required at 10 year intervals.
• Part IV: Evidence of Performance in Practice, focuses on quality improvement model that includes a stringent peer review process and submission of case lists. The Board will obtain peer review of the candidate from certified orthopaedic surgeons who are familiar with their work, and get evaluations from the hospital chief of staff, chief of orthopaedics, surgery, anesthesia, and nursing staff in the operating room and orthopaedic wards. This information is reviewed by the credentials committee of the ABOS, who will decide which applicants are admitted to sit for the recertification examination.

A Diplomate’s certification may be subject, in accordance with the ABOS Rules and Procedures, to a Credentials Committee review prior to the expiration of your ten-year period of certification where the Credentials Committee concludes that such review is necessary for an adequate evaluation of whether your practice adheres to accepted professional standards and you have satisfactorily adhered to the MOC Professional Standing requirements. The Credentials Committee may take action against your certification, up to and including termination of your certification, prior to the expiration of the ten-year term based on the results of its review.

Diplomates are eligible to take the examination up to two years prior to their Board Certification expiring. For example, if your certificate expires in 2021, you can take the 2019, 2020, or 2020 examination. If you pass the 2017 examination, your new certificate will not expire until 2031.

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