FAQs for 2010-2015 Certificate Expirees

When do I have to take an exam?

The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) has moved to a 10-year exam cycle. Your examination requirements are extended by 3 years if you currently are in a seven-year exam cycle.

Is there an extension to my certification?

No. In order to remain certified you must enroll in Maintenance of Certification (MOC) the year your current certificate expires.

Will you remind me when I need to sign up for my exam?

Yes, we will send communication via U.S. mail, email and through your ABP Portfolio.

What is the cost?

MOC fees include the tools needed to complete MOC. The exam fee is now included in your MOC fees so there is no additional charge for the examination if you take it the year in which it is due. There may be additional fees for ABP-approved activities that were developed by other organizations.

Why do I have to complete MOC but my partner, who holds a permanent certificate, doesn't?

Prior to 1988, the ABP awarded certificates without time limits and ABP policy is that these certificates will be honored. Since then, ABP and other organizations developed MOC in order to meet the demand for more transparency in physician education and evaluation.

The ABP strongly encourages permanent certificate holders to take advantage of MOC in order to maintain their knowledge and meet credentialing requirements. We anticipate that it will become increasingly necessary for permanent certificate holders to engage in MOC as it becomes the standard for defining competence by payers, hospitals, credentialing agencies, and others.

Why is the ABP awarding certificates without an end date?

The goal of MOC is to be a continuous quality process that is incorporated into your daily practice. This idea of CONTINUOUS certification is consistent with the expectations of external organizations, including payers and regulatory and accrediting organizations. MOC was not intended to be a series of "hoops" to jump through but a complement to quality control initiatives already in place.

When do I need to get started and what do I have to do to complete the MOC program?

Requirements are linked to your current certificate. The BEST way to find out WHAT you need to do and WHEN, is to register and log on to My ABP Portfolio. Your personal Website account will be automatically updated with your requirements. In addition, the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) will send automated e-mails to remind you at appropriate times of your MOC requirements.

Can I get Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit for completing MOC?

Absolutely. Many Part 2 and 4 activities are approved for CME.

COST: If you are a member of the AAP or a subscriber to Pedialink there are no fees when claiming CME. However, there is a small processing fee for non-AAP members or non-subscribers to Pedialink to claim CME through the AAP. There is also a small processing fee to claim CME through the AMA.

I am a subspecialist. Do I have to maintain my general pediatrics AND my subspecialty certificates?

No. However, Maintenance of Certification (MOC) is designed to reduce the time and expense of maintaining multiple certificates. To maintain multiple certificates, you need to fulfill MOC requirements. When your next certificate expires and you enroll in MOC, your MOC requirements and MOC cycles for all certificates convert to align with your subspecialty certificate cycle and requirements. If you are a Board-certified subspecialist and choose not to maintain your general pediatrics certification, your listing in the Verify Certification will be your subspecialty certification. For your personal requirements, log on to My ABP Portfolio.

What if there is no Quality Improvement (QI) activity that meets my practice needs?

The ABP is working with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other external groups to ensure a robust menu of QI activities by 2011. We anticipate enough activities so that diplomates can easily satisfy their requirements for Part 4.

I am involved in a local QI initiative - can I get MOC credit for my participation?

Possibly. If you are involved in a local, regional, or national QI initiative, it may already be approved for Part 4 credit. If it is NOT approved, your local institution can apply for approval using the ABP standards.

Why do I have to take a secure examination?

The security of the examination is a matter of public trust. The American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) has a responsibility to assure the public (including patients, parents, payers, hospitals, and regulatory agencies) that the physician taking the examination presents appropriate identification documents. Knowledge is vital to quality care. Therefore, it is a priority of the ABP to ensure that diplomates maintain knowledge competency and attest to it on a periodic basis. The secure examination is offered in many conveniently-located testing centers.

Is the MOC examination the same examination that I took for initial certification?

No. The ABP Board of Directors decided to make the MOC examination more clinically focused rather than on topics that can be found in standard reference materials. Approximately 1,000 pediatricians provided input regarding the design and content of the general pediatric examination.

How often do I have to take the secure examination?

The new MOC program (beginning in 2010) requires you to take and pass the examination once every 10 years. At that time, the examination will no longer be linked to the certificate cycle. In other words, the examination will be a "free-standing" requirement similar to your medical license (i.e., this requirement must be up-to-date in order to maintain certification).

When will I get my examination results?

General Pediatrics: You should expect to receive notification of your results via e-mail within 60 days after taking the examination. If you have NOT received this e-mail notification within 60 days of the examination, please contact us at MOC@abpeds.org.

Subspecialties: If you take your examination in March, you should receive notification of your results via e-mail by late June. If you take your examination in October, you should receive notification of your results via e-mail by late January of the following year. If you have NOT received this e-mail notification within this time period after the examination, please contact us at MOC@abpeds.org.

Is MOC the same for general pediatricians and subspecialists?

Right now, requirements for generalists and subspecialists vary only slightly based on specific program requirements. With the new MOC process in 2010, requirements will be identical for both. To see your requirements, log on to your Physician Portfolio.

What if I am not seeing patients? How do I participate in the Part 4 QI activities?

Diplomates who are not engaged in clinical practice - to the extent that it is NOT possible to satisfy Part 4 activities - have options to receive full credit for Part 4; in some cases, a requirement (e.g., patient surveys) may need to be waived. For instance, the Web-based Patient Safety module is a good solution for the clinically-inactive diplomate. You can use this Web-based module to engage in QI efforts that do not require patient data, but still help you to evaluate and improve your knowledge and skill around pertinent patient safety issues.

What if there is no QI activity that meets my practice needs?

The ABP is working with the AAP and other external groups to ensure a robust menu of QI activities by 2011. We anticipate enough activities so that diplomates can easily satisfy their requirements for Part 4.

I am involved in a local Quality Improvement (QI) initiative - can I get Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credit for my participation?

Possibly. If you are involved in a local, regional, or national QI initiative, it may already be approved for Part 4 credit. If it is NOT approved, your local institution can apply for approval using the ABP standards.

What is the best way for me to contact the ABP if I have questions?

First - visit your personal Web account, the Physician Portfolio for answers to most of your questions.

Second - e-mail our customer service staff with your questions at MOC@abpeds.org. The customer service staff is available Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.