Assessment Guide

About CAQ Assessments

CAQ assessments are multiple-choice and can be accessed from your Learning Plan page between September 1 and August 31 once your 100-qualification-point requirement is approved. Assessments focus on advanced clinical knowledge, differential diagnosis and patient management.

Taking the Assessment

CAQ assessments may be taken at your convenience through your Learning Plan page. Candidates will accept a non-disclosure agreement prior to beginning the assessment and may not consult with any other individual while answering questions. Questions must be answered in the order given and answers may not be revised once submitted. Scores will be immediately displayed upon completion of the assessment. Assessments must be completed prior to December 31 of a calendar year in order to be enrolled in a focused MOC path the following year.

Assessment Outline

Coming Soon

Assessment Scoring and Retake Policy

CAQ assessments will have a set passing score specific to each CAQ. This score can be found in the Overview section of the assessment. Final scores will be displayed immediately upon completion of the assessment. Candidates may retake a CAQ assessment once within 12 months, after a 60 day waiting period. 

I passed the assessment. Now what?

Congratulations! Upon successful completion of the assessment, you are awarded a Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) in your chosen area and enrolled in a focused Maintenance of Certification program. ABO’s maintenance of certification program is known as CAP; each cycle is 4 years in length and must be completed in order to keep your board certification status “Current.” CAP cycles will renew every 4 years upon successful completion of all requirements.