ABPN Provides Update on MOC
The ABPN continuous Maintenance of Certification (C-MOC) Program helps keep you up to date on meeting MOC requirements.
It’s easier than ever to keep up with requirements of the Continuous Maintenance of Certification
(C-MOC) Program of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). As of 2012, diplomates who certify or recertify are enrolled in the C-MOC Program. Diplomates who were certified prior to 2012, including lifetime certificate holders, may elect to participate in the program through their Physician Folio.
Diplomates must accomplish MOC requirements in three-year cycles or stages. Every three years, diplomates must document in their Physician Folio completion of the following:
Continuous unrestricted medical license
24 CME credits of self-assessment (average eight per year)
90 Category 1 CME credits (including those from self-assessment)
One Performance in Practice Unit
Payment of annual MOC Program fee
While passing a cognitive examination is still required at least every 10 years, a diplomate’s certification status is dependent upon fulfillment of all four MOC program components (Professional Standing, Self-Assessment and Continuing Medical Education, Cognitive Expertise, and Performance in Practice), along with annually logging completed MOC activities into ABPN’s Physician Folios and payment of the annual MOC registration fee.
Instead of a single fee at the time of the MOC examination, participants in the C-MOC Program pay an annual fee. This fee covers participation in ABPN Physician Folios and includes one MOC cognitive examination in a 10-year period. Less than 10 years of participation or applying for a combined examination requires an additional fee.
The C-MOC Program is organized through the use of ABPN Physician Folios. Using the link at the top of the opening page of the ABPN website (www.abpn.com/folios), physicians can create accounts that will enable them to keep their demographic and license information up to date, track their MOC activities, locate ABPN-approved MOC products, stay apprised of any changes in the program, pay fees, and apply for examinations. Physicians must activate an ABPN Physician Folios account on the ABPN website to begin the MOC process and gain the benefits of the program.
Modifying MOC
As of 2012, the ABPN gives MOC credit for completing an ACGME-accredited subspecialty fellowship and passing an ABPN subspecialty examination. One three-year block of self-assessment, CME, and PIP requirements will be waived.
Diplomates with “lifetime” certificates may now join the Continuous MOC Program in two ways: Passing the MOC examination and registering for the Continuous MOC Program, completing three years of required MOC activities, and passing the MOC examination within three years.
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is reviewing MOC Program requirements for all 24 medical specialty boards. With input from all member boards, the ABMS is working to develop a new “MOC 2015 Standards” document. The ABPN will communicate any MOC Program changes to its diplomates as soon as this process is finalized. It is the hope of the ABPN that any changes to the program will be flexible and reasonable.
Summary
The C-MOC Program will assist diplomates in complying with MOC requirements and timeframes. The program will also facilitate the required annual recording of progress required of diplomates and reporting of diplomate participation to the ABMS.
There are several advantages C-MOC program participants gain:
Annual fee instead of a larger fee at the time of application
Personalized list of MOC activities that can be provided to employers, hospitals, licensing boards, and so on
Reminders from the ABPN regarding MOC requirements that are due to be completed
Easy-to-use system to track individual requirements
Easy-to-use interface (ABPN Physician Folios)
We encourage you to activate your ABPN Physician Folio page at http://www.abpn.com/folios. The folios provide a place for diplomates to record their MOC activities and allow them to compare their MOC activities with the requirements for their MOC exam year. It’s a personalized webpage that diplomates find very helpful for understanding MOC requirements.
Please note that if you were certified in 2011 or earlier, activate your folios account and refer to the ABPN 10-Year MOC Program on the ABPN website at http://www.abpn.com/moc_10yrmoc.html.
To help psychiatrists meet MOC requirements, APA publishes FOCUS: The Journal of Lifelong Learning. In one subscription, FOCUS provides a comprehensive review of current clinical practice based on the content outlined by the ABPN recertification exam. Subscribe now at http://focus.psychiatryonline.org/journal.aspx?journalid=21.
Biographies
Larry Faulkner, M.D., is president and CEO of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
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Published online: 27 August 2013
Published in print: August 17, 2013 – September 6, 2013
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