The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
MOC
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Frequently Asked Questions 2. What is the difference between initial Board Certification and MOC? 3. When do I earn CME for MOC? 4. What kind of CME is acceptable? 5. How can I receive documentation of CME credits? 6. How do I provide documentation of my CME credits to the ABOS? 7. What is the SAE (self-assessment examination) requirement? 9. What will the ABOS do with my case list? 10. What is a secure examination? 11. What is the earliest that a diplomate may take the secure examination? 12. How does a diplomate apply to take the recertification exam? 14. What are the pathways for evaluation of Cognitive Expertise? 15. How does the ABOS MOC process evaluate a non-operating or non-practicing diplomate? 16. What if a diplomate has a certificate with no expiration date, i.e. a life-time certificate? 18. How does MOC affect state licensure? 21. How does the diplomate receive notification that materials submitted have been received by ABOS? 22. How would a diplomate obtain assistance with login information? 23. How would a diplomate obtain technical support? Maintenance of Certification (MOC) is the process through which diplomates of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery can maintain their primary Certificate in Orthopaedic Surgery. The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the governing organization for all 24 medical specialty certifying boards, has mandated that a diplomate participate in an MOC process to maintain their Board Certification. 2. What is the difference between initial Board Certification and MOC? Initial Board Certification is acquired through the completion of Part I and Part II application and examination processes. MOC is the process of life-long learning during each 10-year certification period and includes the earning and submitting of continuing medical education (CME) and self-assessment examination (SAE) credits. 3. When do I earn CME/SAE for MOC? Newly certified diplomates may begin to earn CME/SAE for MOC beginning on January 1st of the calendar year following passing their Part II examination. Diplomates who have just passed their recertification examination may begin to earn CME/SAE for MOC beginning on the effective date of their recertifcation. This date will always be January 1st. 4. What kind of CME is acceptable? Category 1 CME that is topically related to orthopaedics or orthopaedic subspecialties is acceptable to meet the MOC requirements. These CME topics may include, but are not limited to infection, medical management of orthopaedic complications, risk management. For a list of examples of acceptable and unacceptable CME activities, click here. As of October 1, 2015, the ABOS will no longer accept CME that the AMA may have granted pertaining to ABOS certification or recertification. 5. How can I receive documentation of CME credits? The CME provider provides verification of participation to attendees after the completion of a CME activity. 6. How do I provide documentation of my CME credits to the ABOS? Credits earned through the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) may be imported to the ABOS CME summary page by clicking on the "Get CME data from AAOS" button once you have logged in to the Password Protected Portal. All other CME and SAEs earned must be manually entered with the certificates and/or transcripts scanned and uploaded to the CME Summary. Credits earned through the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) may be imported to the ABOS CME summary page by clicking on the "Get CME data from AAOS" button. All other CME and SAEs earned must be manually entered with the certificates and/or transcripts scanned and uploaded to the CME Summary. The AAOS import does not include non-AAOS self-reported credit and unclaimed credit in your AAOS Transcript. To view and update your AAOS CME credits please visit the AAOS Transcript page. You will need to use your AAOS login to access this page. If you have questions about the AAOS Transcript, you need to contact AAOS. ABOS does not have access to the AAOS Transcript. 7. What is the SAE (self-assessment examination) requirement? A minimum of 40 scored and recorded SAE credits is required. 8. How can I get ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education) Category 1 credits for SAE? The organizations that offer and have been approved by ABOS can be found here. 9. What will the ABOS do with my case list? The case list is reviewed by the Credentials Committee. This provides a reference for the competency level of the diplomate in providing quality surgical and patient care management in the practice setting. The Credentials Committee, upon review of the case lists, may accept, defer, or deny a diplomate’s application to take a recertification examination based on their findings. They may also require an oral recertifying examination to evaluate performance in practice. The case list will also provide a means for a diplomate to review their own performance against their profession’s best practices and will serve as baseline for improvement while participating in ongoing MOC. This is accomplished through a case list feedback program--each diploamte receives a report based on their case list, comparing them to their peers. 10. What is a secure examination? A secure examination, either computer-based or oral, is closed book and given in a secure location. Computer examinations are given at Prometric Testing Centers at a day and time chosen by the diplomate. The oral examination is given in Chicago during the month of July. 11. What is the earliest that a diplomate may take the secure examination? Diplomates of the ABOS who have met the requirements for MOC are eligible to apply to take the recertification examination. Eligible diplomates may take the exam one or two years early, resulting in three opportunities to pass the examination prior to expiration of their Board Certification. This does not result in a change in the end date of the 10-year MOC cycle. 12. How does a diplomate apply to take the recertification exam? All applications are online at abos.org. Diplomates must log in to their Password Protected Portal. The CME/SAE and case list are separate from the actual application to sit for recertification exam. Completion and documentation of CME/SAE are required before submitting an application for recertification to the ABOS. Upon receipt of the MOC application, the ABOS will begin a formal credentialing process. Following the successful completion of the credentialing process, the applicant will be notified by email of admission to take the examination. 13. What happens if a diplomate fails to complete all of the requirements for MOC to take the secure examination before expiration of Board Certification? Failure to complete and/or document requirements will delay the application process and testing and may result in lapse of Board Certification. Failure to pass the examination also counts as failure to complete MOC requirements and requires an oral examination the next time the diplomate takes the examination. 14. What are the pathways for evaluation of Cognitive Expertise? Information on the examinations can be found here. 15. How does the ABOS MOC process evaluate a non-operating or non-practicing diplomate? The non-operating and non-practicing orthopaedist is required to participate in the MOC process. Please contact the ABOS for further information. 16. What if a diplomate has a certificate with no expiration date, i.e. a life-time certificate? Lifetime certificates will always be honored. Holders of these can still volunteer to participate in the MOC process, but are not required to participate to maintain their Board Certification status. 17. Will there be an emeritus recertification classification? ( after a certain age will recertification no longer be time-limited?) There is no emeritus recertification classification. 18. How does MOC affect state licensure? The MOC program is a program administered by the member boards of the ABMS. The ABOS does not have and does not seek any authority over state licensing decisions. State Licensure is a governmental regulatory activity administered by State Boards of Medical Examiners, many of which require evidence of ongoing professional education, development and could include requirements for participation in maintenance of certification program. Please refer to individual State Board of Medical Examiners for particulars. 19. What happens if a State Board of Medical Examiners takes disciplinary action against a diplomate? Loss of or restrictions to a diplomate’s state medical license is reportable to the ABOS. License revocation constitutes grounds for revocation of Board Certification, and will result in a review by the ABOS Credentials Committee. 20. Will the ABOS create specialty computer based exams for MOC in areas currently not covered – e.g., foot/ankle, oncology, trauma, etc.? Practice Profiled Examinations in the subspecialties of Orthopaedic Trauma, Pediatric Orthopaedics Surgery, and Foot and Ankle Surgery are being created and will be available in 2018. In addition, starting in 2017, diplomates will be permitted to take the subspecialty recertification examinations in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and Hand Surgery without holding the Subspecialty Certificate in those fields. 21. How does the diplomate receive notification that materials submitted have been received by ABOS? Email is the connection between ABOS and the diplomate. Keep your contact information updated. The diplomate will be notified by email when requirements have been met for CME, SAE, and the case list. You can update your email address through your Password Protected Portal. The ABOS staff is available when necessary to offer assistance. 22. How would a diplomate obtain assistance with login information? A current updated email address with ABOS is required. The diplomate will click on “I forgot username” and/or “I forgot password” and the system will email information to the email address within the diplomate’s profile. Login information is not communicated by phone for security purposes. 23. How would a diplomate obtain technical support? For immediate assistance call 312-944-0642 (9 am-5 pm M-F CT). Questions not considered urgent may be addressed by completing and submitting the “Tech Support” link at the bottom of the main page at abos.org. |
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