Component One: Professional Standing

Diplomates are required to maintain active, current, valid, and unrestricted licenses relevant to all locations of practice.

All current licenses will be checked at the time the diplomate registers for the computer-based examination.

Throughout the Maintenance of Certification process, diplomates must hold an unrestricted license to practice medicine in at least one jurisdiction in the United States, its territories or Canada. If licenses are held in more than one jurisdiction, all licenses held by a physician must meet this requirement. Please notify the Board immediately of any restrictions taken by a licensing board regarding your state medical license(s).

Please remember to keep the ABR apprised of any change in contact information or licensure.

These changes can be made securely at any time using your MOC Personal Database (PDB).

Policy on Professional Standing (Licensure) Requirements for Diplomates Practicing Outside the U.S. and Canada
Adopted October 2007, MOC Coordinating Committee

The ABR recognizes that some of its diplomates may practice outside of the U.S. and Canada, but wish to maintain ABR certification. For those diplomates practicing outside of the U.S. and Canada, the professional standing component will be recognized if the diplomate holds and submits documentation of unrestricted licensure in the country in which he/she is practicing. Documentation of unrestricted licensure must be submitted in the fifth and tenth year of each MOC cycle. As with U.S. and Canadian practitioners, diplomates practicing outside of the U.S. and Canada are required to report any license restrictions to the ABR within 60 days of their imposition. This policy applies to all physician diplomates, and to medical physicist diplomates practicing in any country that licenses medical physicists.

For international diplomates who also hold licensure in the U.S. and/or Canada, the ABR will continually monitor licensure actions reported through DANS (Disciplinary Action Notification Service) based upon the Federation of State Medical Boards' database. If U.S. or Canadian licensure is revoked or suspended (or surrendered in lieu of investigation/action), the ABR will pursue withdrawal of the certificate according to its due process policy (even if there is continued unrestricted licensure in the country of practice). The Board may also pursue withdrawal of the certificate if the diplomate's license has been placed on probation (unexpired) or put under special conditions/requirements if, upon review according to Board policy, the Board deems the restriction is of such nature and extent as to preclude continued certification during the time of the restrictions. Reinstatement will be considered when the license is returned to current and unrestricted status.