One: Professional Standing
Component Three: Cognitive Expertise
A diplomate is expected to maintain the core knowledge fundamental to the safe and effective practice of diagnostic radiology.* 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 four of five clinical examination modules. The fifth module is designated by the ABR and contains general content (non-interpretive skills) deemed important for every practicing diagnostic radiologist to know. The examination thus consists of:
20% non-interpretive skills content (designated by the ABR)
80% clinical content (self-selected by the diplomate)
Non-interpretive skills content includes topics 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. Diplomates may choose one to four clinical content areas.
Clinical content categories are:
- Breast
- Cardiac
- Gastrointestinal
- Genitourinary
- Musculoskeletal
- Neurological
- Nuclear
- Pediatric
- Thoracic
- Ultrasound
- Vascular and Interventional
Study guides for clinical and non-interpretive skills content are available on the ABR website 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. Four hours are allotted for the exam.
*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
