Practice-Profiled Exam

Component Three: Cognitive Expertise

A diplomate is expected to maintain the core knowledge fundamental to safe and effective subspecialty practice. Documentation of cognitive expertise requires a passing score on a computer-based, practice-profiled exam, taken within the last three years of the 10-year MOC cycle. The exam may be taken multiple times if necessary. A diplomate is eligible to take the exam regardless of completion of MOC Component Two and/or Component Four.

The Practice-Profiled Examination - What to Expect

As technology has advanced and the field of diagnostic radiology has become increasingly sub-specialized, it has also become nearly impossible for individual diagnostic radiologists to be masters of the entire domain. Data from a practice analysis survey conducted by the ABR and corroborated by the ACR recognizes that 94% of radiologists concentrate their practices on four or fewer areas within the field.

With this in mind, the ABR's practice-profiled MOC examination was designed to be modular, allowing each diplomate to self-select a portion of his or her exam content. ¹ The examination thus consists of:

Non-interpretive skills content (designated by the ABR)

Clinical content (self-selected by the diplomate)

Non-interpretive skills content includes topics deemed important for every practicing radiologist to know, such as patient safety, life support, professionalisms/ethics, and principles of image quality.

Clinical content is determined by each diplomate's self-selected practice profile which is completed during the exam registration process. Diplomates declare their practice profile through their online personal database (PDB), allowing each individual to specify the clinical areas in which he/she wishes to be examined.

¹ Diplomates with certification in one subspecialty may choose to have all four clinical content modules in that subspecialty. Alternatively, they may select multiple categories, but at least two modules must be in their subspecialty category. Four hours are allotted for the exam.

¹ Diplomates with certification in two or three subspecialty categories will be examined on a total of six clinical content modules. About six hours are allotted for the exam, which is divided into two exam sessions that may be taken in one or two days.

Diplomates maintaining certification in two subspecialty categories may choose to have all clinical content represent their subspecialties (three modules in each subspecialty category). Alternatively, they may select multiple clinical categories provided that no less than two modules represent each subspecialty.

Diplomates maintaining certification in three subspecialty categories will have two modules of clinical content in each subspecialty category.

Clinical content categories are:

Study guides for clinical and non-interpretive skills content are available here and serve as one option for exam preparation. However, because clinical exam content is image-rich and practice-relevant, the majority of currently practicing diagnostic radiologists will find that knowledge gained in daily practice and through customary means of keeping up-to-date (literature, courses, etc.) will serve as adequate preparation.

On exam day, the diplomate scheduled to participate in the examination according to ABR records must confirm his/her identity by presenting a valid government-issued photo I.D.

* Diplomates who have additional certification in the subspecialties should check the following areas of the website for specific information related to these cognitive exams:

   Neuroradiology
   Nuclear Radiology
   Pediatric Radiology
   Vascular and Interventional Radiology