
Frequently Asked Questions
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Frequently Asked Questions: Maintenance of Certification
Report CMEs as required by your state; you should maintain a minimum of 25 credits per year, even if your state requires less than 25 per annually. You may report a maximum of 50 per year.
Diplomates are exempt if they hold retired, inactive, or disabled status.
All Diplomates may document and upload their CME's, which will be validated by Board HQ before they will be accepted.
Acceptable CMEs are outlined on your member dashboard.
Re-credentialing is completed through the MOC, which provides diplomates with a self-study, self-assessment process to improve and maintain clinical knowledge and skills in delivering quality patient care.
All members are required to be enrolled in the MOC the year after they become certified.
MOC is a 10-year cycle and the Diplomate will receive a new certificate the first quarter of the following year.
The enrollment fee is $200.00 annually with the option to pay off your remaining balance of $1635.00 within 5 years at the request of the member.
https://www.abpmed.org/pages/members/moc
Individuals who achieve board certification are granted this classification for a 10-year period with the following provision:
· Enrollment and Participation in the ABPM Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program.
· The program outlines the re-credentialing requirements over the duration of the Diplomate’s 10-year cycle.
· The Diplomate is required to pay annual dues and fees associated with the MOC process.
· Enrollment begins the calendar year following certification.
Upon achieving board certification individuals are required to pay re-registration fees on an annual basis to maintain their board status.
In addition, they are required to enroll in the ABPM Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program. The program outlines the re-credentialing requirements over the duration of the Diplomate’s 10-year cycle. The new Diplomate will receive further enrollment information for the MOC program. Details and requirements of the program are available at the ABPM website. Enrollment begins the calendar year following the year in which the individual achieved board certification.
As of 2007 self-assessment is required of active Diplomates, regardless of age, who hold lifetime certificates (certificates issued prior to 1994) and who are in the10th year of their re-credentialing cycle.
As of 2011 Lifetime certificate holders may continue to re-credential through the self-assessment examination specified in the Re-credentialing Information Document, or may elect to enter the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process as described in the Re-credentialing Information Document.
The Maintenance of Certification (MOC) is a critical component of board certification which:
- Runs on a traditional 10-year cycle
- Provides proof of professional standing
- Provides proof of Continued Medical Education (CME)
- Allows for the assessment of up to date medical knowledge to help continue to improve patient care, communication skills and identify knowledge gaps to allow for remediation
- Eliminates a ten-year high stakes exam (which can lead to loss of certification)
- The MOC Dashboard on the ABPM member portal allows for ease of completion with automatic feedback and reminders
- Provides added Convenience and serves as a more cost-effective solution
Enrolling is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
- Enroll into the MOC through your Members Dashboard and make your intial $200.00 payment. (Note: A form requesting to pay off the 10 year $1635.00 balance is available on your dashboard to pay off within a 5 year period)
- Upload/verify your current state license
- Upload/verify your current CME credit certificates
- Maintain 2 MOC points annually from the list provided on your dashboard.
Yes, enrollment into the MOC program is mandatory upon becoming board certified with ABPM
Participation in the MOC program must begin the following year.
Failure to enroll into the MOC program will result in suspension and possible revocation of your Diplomate status.
- If you have not participated in the MOC you are required to take the ABPM Competency Assessment exam at the end of your current 10-year cycle.
- Enroll into the MOC program, choose your payment option, and begin reporting CMEs, licensure, and components.
The ABPM Competency Assessment exam is a 100 question, multiple choice exam, administered on your Members dashboard, taken in either your home or office.
The Competency Assessment exam is $750.00
Participation in MOC is voluntary for all Lifetime Diplomates. Lifetime Diplomates are required to verify their professional standing through providing their license status and CME annually.
All Lifetime Diplomates are required to pay the re-credentialing fees and complete the Self-Assessment Exam every 10 years. Diplomates are exempt if they hold retired, inactive, or disabled status.
Fees: Self-Assessment Exam $750 (every 10 years)
After enrolling in the MOC, Diplomates who are re-credentialing will receive a new certificate the first quarter of the following year. In the interim, an updated pdf of your certificate can be sent from board headquarters upon request.
If utilizing the $200.00 annual payment plan option, an unframed certificate will be provided.
If making the $1635.00 payment in full, an updated framed certificate will be provided.
Continued participation in the MOC program (must complete Part 1 and Part 2 to be MOC compliant)
Fees: $200 per year or $1635 one-time payment (every 10 years)
COMPONENTS OF THE MOC PROCESS include 3 parts:
PART 1: Evidence of professional standing (required to provide annually):
• Maintain state licensure (provide verification of state licensure or registration)
PART 2: Maintaining Continuing Education Credits
• Report CMEs as required by your state; you should maintain an average of 25 credits per year, even if your state requires less than 25 per annually. You may report a maximum of 50 per year (therefore, 250 credits total for the 10-year cycle).
Part 3: Providing Evidence of Cognitive Expertise Specific to the Field of Podiatric Medicine and Orthopedics (2 categories; fulfillment required in only 1 of the 2 categories)
Note:
Each year you are enrolled in MOC, you must report two (2) total points from the below categories.
This policy is effective in 2020.
The available options may change periodically.
Each year you are enrolled in MOC, you must report two (2) total points from the below categories.
This policy is effective in 2020.
The available options may change periodically.
Category 1 (satisfy a minimum of 1 component listed below annually (worth 2 points):
· Residency Faculty
· Fellowship Faculty
· Residency Faculty
Education
- Pass the Cert Exam for ABPM
- Pass the Cert Exam for CWS
- Complete a UHMS 40-hour HBOT Safety Course
- Attempt the ABPM CAQ Examination
- Complete the ABPM Competency Assessment
- ABPM Exam Committee Member
- NBPME Exam Committee Member
*additional components will be added periodically and will be visible on the Member dashboard
OR
Category 2 (satisfy a minimum of 2 points listed below annually):
Publish
- Publish a paper in a peer reviewed journal in the specialty of Podiatric Medicine
- Author or Co-Author a chapter in a medical text in the specialty of Podiatric Medicine
Lecture
- Lecture on the specialty of Podiatric Medicine at a CME approved conference
- Contribute a lecture in the ACPM e-Learning POD program
Complete:
· One or two approved learning resources (= 2points per year)
*additional components will be added periodically and will be visible on the Member dashboard
After becoming Board Certified with ABPM, all Diplomates are required to enroll into the MOC program the following year as the form of re-credentialing through a 10-year cycle. Part of enrollment includes two payment options.
- A onetime payment of $1635 for the 10-year cycle or
- Payments of $200 per year for the 10-year cycle.
The MOC program is in place to enhance your certification credential through the process of lifelong learning (versus paying $1750.00 to take a high stakes examination every 10 years to recertify). MOC fees cover the costs of developing, providing, and administering MOC activities that promote lifelong learning with self-assessment and quality improvement.
Although the Board’s primary functions are conducting national examinations in the specialty of podiatric orthopedics and podiatric medicine and evaluating the ongoing competency of its membership, there are other tasks in which the Board is involved to provide prudent stewardship of the organization and preserve the value of the diplomates’ certificates. Our profession’s size and internal structure compel the major entities associated with it to be involved in other areas essential to the profession’s growth and ongoing success. The ABPM has both a direct responsibility to its members and an indirect responsibility through its input on various national committees working toward the betterment of the profession.
MOC payments can be made by logging into your Members Dashboard and will show as an outstanding invoice.
Mastercard, Visa and American Express card payments are accepted. E-checks payments may also be made on your members dashboard.
Failure to pay by the deadline date posted on your dashboard may result in suspension of status and possible revocation of board certification.
The MOC fee covers administrative fees, certificate fees (framed/unframed where applicable with recredentialing), web development, dashboard maintenance, marketing, committee meetings, and prevents recertification exam and fees.
Yes, most Allopathic boards require continued participation in an MOC process.
At this time, all CME certificates may be uploaded on the member dashboard.
Diplomates who fail to comply may be put on suspension and if not remedied will have Diplomate status revoked.
Report CMEs as required by your state; you must maintain a minimum of 25 credits per year, even if your state requires less than 25 per annually. You may report a maximum of 50 per year.All Diplomates shall complete no less than 25 CME credits per year or 75 credits every 3 years.
All Diplomates may document and upload their CME's, which will be validated by Board HQ before they will be accepted.
Diplomates are exempt if they hold retired, inactive, or disabled status.
Yes, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to revoke a member for the following reasons:
- Failure to pay the annual registration dues and or MOC fees plus any late fee by the date indicated on the final notice.
- Conviction for an offense which causes the member’s license to practice podiatry to be revoked in any state. Any of the following actions against a Diplomate's medical license may be cause for loss of diplomate status:
1. Involuntary suspension by any appropriate medical board and/or governmental agency.
2. Revocation by any appropriate medical board and/or governmental agency; or
3. Voluntary suspension due to negotiated settlement with any appropriate medical board and/or governmental agency for a violation of a statute or accepted medical standards.
- Failure to adhere to the requirements for re-evaluation as set forth in the “Re-evaluation of Diplomates” section of this document.
- Misrepresentation of facts, or evidence of providing false information, in connection with the application for certification or other related documents.
- Failure to adhere to the advertising guidelines as outlined in these policies.
- Failure to adhere to the Code of Ethics as adopted by the Board of Directors.
Items A, B and C are cause for immediate revocation of status without benefit of a hearing. Items D, E and F are subject to revocation following a hearing.
If you are a time limited certificate holder you will be required to enter the MOC during your next recredentialing cycle.
If you were in the MOC and failed to complete the requirements your Diplomate status may be suspended or revoked and will have to contact HQ to begin the process of remediation.
Diplomates are exempt if they hold retired, inactive, or disabled status.
No, Diplomates in alternative practice circumstances (e.g. medical administrator, research based, teaching capacities) with little or no patient care activity are still able to meet the requirements of MOC.
ABPM requires your current contact information, including your mailing address, e-mail address and telephone number. Please contact ABPM as soon as possible if any of your addresses change (mailing, email, etc.) as this is our primary means of communicating important information to you. You may update your address, phone number and e-mail online. Log into the ABPM Member Profile section and select “View or Update Member Profile.”
Name changes in the system must be made by headquarters staff. Please notify ABPM Headquarters in writing (admin@ABPMed.org) for a name change. ABPM uses your full official name in its records. ABPM requires a copy of the legal document indicating the change (e.g. marriage certificate, naturalization papers, court order of name change, etc.) to be provided before any changes are made.
No, Lifetime Diplomates are NOT required to enroll in the MOC program BUT:
- Must complete Self-Assessment exam at the end of 10 yr. cycle (not pass or fail)
- Maintain a State licensure (provide verification of state licensure or registration)
- Report CMEs as required by your state; you must maintain a minimum of 25 credits per year, even if your state requires less than 25 per annually. You may report a maximum of 50 per year.
Diplomates must complete a total of two points each year to remain compliant from the options listed on the Category 1 or Category 2 section located on their member dashboard.