Background information on Maintenance of Certification

The ABR’s new Maintenance of Certification (MOC) process will replace current re-certification requirements in 2006. Developed according to standards established by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the umbrella organization of 24 medical specialty boards, MOC is designed for practicing radiologists, including vascular and interventional radiology sub-specialists to complete over a 10-year period. All medical specialties are completing a similar process.

Frequently asked questions:

Who is affected?

Radiologists who were Board Certified after 2001 are required to participate in MOC as diagnostic certificates issues from that date forward are time-limited with expiration after 10 years. Additionally, all Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ) have had a 10-year time limit since their inception in 1994. The schedule of requirements and timelines will vary for radiologists according to the year most recently certified or re-certified. For a detailed schedule of requirements check the ABR Web Site.

What will be required of me?

The ABR has established requirements to take place over the 10-year MOC cycle. These requirements fall into four broad areas:

1. Evidence of Professional Standing – You will be required to submit proof of active, current, valid, unrestricted and unqualified licensure to practice medicine in all locations of practice at the time of registration for the computer-based examination. Random sample checks of licensure status may occur at other times.

2. Evidence of Commitment to Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment – The following requirements must be met over the 10-year MOC cycle:

  • Continuing Medical Education (CME): A minimum of 250 CME credit hours are required over the 10-year cycle, all of which must be in Category 1. Of the 250 hours, a minimum of 70% must be in specialty-specific or related areas. The remaining 30% can include additional specialty-specific material as well as clinically related areas or relevant topics such as risk management, ethics, statistics, the processes of continuous quality improvement, methodologies of outcome of measurement, etc. "Specialty-specific" means any credit related to the specialty of radiology, and also to the areas related to the radiologist's specific practice, such as neurology for the neuroradiologist, urology for the genitourinary radiologist, orthopedics for the musculoskeletal radiologist.
  • Self Assessment: This requirement may be satisfied by completing self-assessment modules (SAMs). These are educational venues (refresher courses, workshops, reading assignments, etc.) that have been ABR-qualified. In a full 10-year cycle, you will be responsible for documenting successful completion of the equivalent of 20 or more SAMs but an individual can only receive credit for up to 3 SAMs per year. Thus participation in SAMs needs to be spread out over the 10 year cycle. All SAMs are also qualified as Category 1 CME, and can serve to fill the CME requirement.

3. Evidence of Cognitive Expertise – You will be expected to maintain the essentials of core knowledge fundamental to specialty practice. This will require completion of a computer-based examination within the last three years of the 10-year MOC cycle. An exam will be offered by the ABR at least once a year. This four-hour examination is a comprehensive test covering the knowledge base required for the practice of vascular and interventional radiology.

4. Evaluation of Practice Performance – Practice Performance will be founded on evidence-based guidelines, expert consensus, or normative peer comparison, and will focus on practice improvements. You will select one of five practice performance projects, and evaluate your progress three times over the 10-year cycle. The ABR has submitted proposals for this project development to the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). When approval of these projects has been awarded, specific details will be available. For further information, go to the ABR Web Site.

The ABR recently reviewed its Practice Quality Improvement (PQI) project requirements and made a change. Here is what you need to know:

  • The new requirement is to complete three PQI projects during the 10-year MOC cycle.
  • This change does NOT affect your current cycle; you are still required to complete only one PQI project for your current MOC cycle.
  • The change to three required PQI projects is effective once you enter your second MOC cycle.
  • Although the number of compulsory projects will change from one to three in your new MOC cycle, the requirements for any individual project will remain the same. These requirements can be found on the ABR website by clicking here.
  • Please see your specific requirements at www.theabr.org. Click on the Timelines and Fees link (found on the MOC page for your specialty, in the blue box to the right).

How do I report participation in PQI to the ABR?

To attest to your PQI participation, log in to your Personal Database (PDB) at www.abronline.org (first time users, see instructions below). Once logged in, click on "Part 4: Practice Quality Improvement." Then click on "View/Edit PQI Timeline & Milestone Tracking" to attest to your PQI participation progress for the current year.

First-time users will need: ABR ID # (shown on your ABR certificate), date of birth, confirmation # (request at https://www.abronline.org/requestConfirm.cfm). Go to https://www.abronline.org/firstlogin.cfm, enter the information listed above, and click on "Create My Account."

For questions please contact the MOC Services Division by at 520-519-2152 or  e-mail abrmocp@theabr.org. Thank you for your cooperation in this effort to continuously improve safety and quality of care.

When does it begin?

The new MOC process begins in 2006. Depending on the year you were certified or re-certified, your schedule may vary. Visit the ABR’s Web Site for more comprehensive information on the transition from re-certification to MOC, exam schedules, timelines and fees.

What is SIR doing to assist members?

SIR will be launching text based and Web based SAMs on its Website early in 2006 and will continue to present new modules periodically. In addition, there will be "in-person" SAMs offered at the SIR Annual Scientific Meeting each spring.

This information is not intended to be comprehensive. If you have questions contact SIR (MOC@SIRweb.org) or the American Board of Radiology.