In 2006, all members of the Boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) entered a new era, that of Maintenance of Certification. This is a further evolution in the process of Board certification.

When Board certification in surgery was first established more than 60 years ago, certificates were for unlimited duration. About 30 years ago, the ABMS began to adopt a policy of time limited certification and in the mid-1970s, this was applied to all certificates issued by the American Board of Surgery (ABS). Time limited certificates were valid for a 10-year period and renewal included a written examination.

Most recently the ABMS and its member Boards have taken the next step to add value to the certification process, Maintenance of Certification. This process will be required of all certificates issued after 2005 (including those certificates issued in the recertification process). It is, therefore, of utmost importance that all physicians holding any certificate issued by the ABS, familiarize themselves with, and participate in, this process.

The following PowerPoint presentations are valuable resources to help you further understand Maintenance of Certification.

Maintenance of Certification - From Concept to Practice

Maintenance of Certification - What it Means to You
John Ricotta, MD, Washington, DC

MOC Part 2 - Learning and Self Assessment - What is Available
Donald Jacobs, MD, St. Louis, MO

MOC Part 4 -Tools for Practice Assessment
David Gillespie, MD, Rochester, NY

Practice Assessment, the Michigan Experience
Ashraf Mansour, MD, Grand Rapids, MI

Posted June 2010