MOC FAQs

When does the MOC requirements "clock" start ticking?

Each diplomate's MOC program begins on January 1 of the year following initial certification. However, any CME, SA-CME, or other relevant MOC participation requirements completed after attainment of your initial certification will count toward your requirements.

I am a physician in an administrative position, and my direct patient care activity is very limited or nonexistent. Does this exclude me from the MOC process?

A medical administrator, dean, or practitioner who has limited direct patient care activity, or someone who is engaged in research or taking a hiatus from practice, may have special circumstances. The ABR has resolved to formulate tracks to meet various career paths. While a diplomate in an administrative position may not have practice data for a Practice Quality Improvement (PQI) project, that individual may be able to meet the requirement within the learning activities in Part 2, Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Self-Assessment CME (SA-CME). Therefore, there is great benefit for any diplomate to participate in the MOC process, even those in administrative positions.

Do all diplomates with time-limited or continuous certificates have to participate in MOC in order to maintain certification?

Yes. Diplomates with a continuous certificate (any certificate issued in 2012 and thereafter) must participate in MOC in order to maintain certification. Diplomates with time-limited certificates may opt not participate in MOC, and that certificate will remain valid until its expiration date.

When did time-limited certification start?

Time-limited certificates were first issued as follows:

I plan to retire before the expiration of my current certificate, which has a “valid through” date. Do I have to participate in MOC?

Yes, if you want to maintain your MOC status of “meeting the requirements of MOC" during your certified period. In that case, you must participate in MOC.

No, if you do not wish to maintain your MOC status of “meeting the requirements” of MOC during your certified period. In that case, even if you do not participate, your present certificate is valid through its expiration date, but you will be listed as “not meeting the requirements of MOC."

If you plan to work part-time after retirement or you might want to go back to work for a period of time, the best way to ensure that you have the certification you may need until the time you fully retire is to participate in MOC now. Ongoing participation is required to maintain your MOC status of “meeting the requirements of MOC.”

On the other hand, if at any time during your MOC participation you make a definite decision that you do not need to maintain certification after your present certificate expires, you may inform the ABR that you no longer wish to participate in MOC and stop all payments and recording of activities at that point.

What happens to a time-limited certificate, or a continuous certificate issued in 2012 and thereafter, if all MOC requirements are not satisfied?

A diplomate who fails to meet the requirements in one or more of the four parts of MOC for the first time at an annual review is reported on the ABR website as “not meeting” the requirements of MOC. This status persists until the diplomate has met the requirements in all four parts of MOC or one year has elapsed, whichever comes first.

If the MOC requirement deficiencies are not remedied by the time of the next annual review a year later, and you have a continuous certificate, your MOC participation for that certificate will end and the certificate becomes invalid (reported as "lapsed"). If the MOC requirement deficiencies are not remedied by the time of the next annual review, and you have a time-limited certificate, your MOC participation for that certificate will end, however, the certificate will remain valid until its expiration date.

What if I get behind on my CME, SA-CME, or PQI requirements? Can I lose my certificate?

Yes, if you get too far behind, your MOC public reporting status and certificate may be affected.

How will I know if I'm behind on my requirements?

You can visit myABR and see your current certificate and MOC status.

If I have more than one time-limited and/or continuous certificate, issued in 2012 and thereafter, what do I need to do? Are my requirements and fees doubled?

No, your requirements and fees are not doubled if you hold two time-limited and/or continuous certificates, nor tripled for three. The MOC program is designed so that your overall participation requirements and fees remain the same, regardless of how many certificates you hold.

If I have a restriction applied to my license/certificate to practice, what must I do?

Diplomates have the obligation to notify the ABR of any and all restrictions placed on any of their medical licenses, and to provide the ABR with complete information concerning such restrictions within 60 days after their imposition. The ABR will also receive notification from the Federation of State Medical Boards. The ABR considers revocation, suspension, and surrender in lieu of further state investigation/action to be serious actions, and they may be grounds for revocation of the ABR certificate. Other state actions, including probation and restricted licensure, are also of concern to the ABR and may be followed up by the ABR in terms of potential consequences for certification.