Changes to MOC Requirements Beginning 2023

Last May, over 700 ABO Diplomates completed a survey providing feedback on ABO’s Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process. An ad hoc committee consisting of 6 Diplomates and 2 board members reviewed the survey results and made recommendations for improvements to the program. The committee’s recommendations focused on simplifying the MOC process while maintaining the high standards and educational value of the current program.

ABO’s Board of Directors approved the committee’s recommendations and ABO staff are working with the Learning Builder team to execute these improvements quickly.

We’re excited to announce that several key changes will be implemented in early 2023. These changes simplify the MOC program and streamline the learning plan page significantly. Beginning in 2023, there will be only 2 required elements in the MOC program: 100 hours of CE and passing 7/9 CAP assessments.

While 100 hours of CE are still required, more opportunities will be available to earn Category 2 CE credits (up to 50 of the 100 CE hours may be Category 2). The self-assessment modules (SAMs) are being eliminated as a separate requirement, but SAMs will still be available and will be awarded Category 2 CE credit. Diplomates will receive CE credit for any SAMs they’ve completed during their current MOC cycles.

ABO will also begin to offer shorter self-guided learning modules based on clinical cases, journal articles and videos. These modules will also earn Category 2 CE credits and provide more learning opportunities for Diplomates.  

The quality improvement activity (QIA) is being eliminated as a separate requirement. However, improving the quality of patient care is the ultimate goal of board certification programs and a critical component of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) MOC model on which ABO’s program is modeled. To keep this goal at the forefront of the MOC program, in the survey following each CAP assessment, Diplomates will be encouraged to reflect on improvements to their patient care or clinical practice based on their newly-acquired knowledge. This approach will fulfill the “Improving Health and Health Care” standard in the ABMS model while prompting Diplomates to initiate quality improvements on a more continuous basis.   

The committee will reconvene in 2023 to continue its discussion of the CAP assessments. In the Diplomate survey, 84% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “I find the CAP assessments to be a valuable learning tool,” while only 6% disagreed. Given the positive responses to this MOC element, the committee prioritized modifications to other areas of the program before reevaluating the format of the CAP assessments.

Diplomates can expect to see these changes when logging in to their Learning Plans in late January to mid-February. An announcement will be sent via email when implementation is complete. We thank all the Diplomates who responded to our survey and the Diplomates who devoted time to serving on the MOC ad hoc committee. The simplified MOC process and streamlined Learning Plan page are a direct result of your feedback and engagement. We hope these changes create a more efficient and effective educational experience for all our Diplomates.