American Board Of Internal Medicine

SEE SCHEDULE O.THE AMERICAN BOARD OF INTERNAL MEDICINE (ABIM) SEEKS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE BY CERTIFYING INTERNISTS AND SUBSPECIALISTS WHO DEMONSTRATE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ATTITUDES ESSENTIAL FOR EXCELLENT PATIENT CARE.

ABIM BOARD CERTIFICATION DEMONSTRATES THAT PHYSICIANS HAVE COMPLETED INTERNAL MEDICINE AND SUBSPECIALTY TRAINING AND HAVE MET RIGOROUS STANDARDS THROUGH INTENSIVE STUDY, SELF-ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION. ADDITIONALLY, CERTIFICATION ENCOMPASSES THE SIX GENERAL COMPETENCIES ESTABLISHED BY THE ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION (ACGME) AND SETS THE STAGE FOR CONTINUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH VALUES CENTERED ON LIFELONG LEARNING.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.IN ORDER TO BE CERTIFIED, A PHYSICIAN MUST:* COMPLETE THE REQUISITE PRE-DOCTORAL MEDICAL EDUCATION* MEET SPECIFIC TRAINING REQUIREMENTS* MEET LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS* PASS A CERTIFICATION EXAMINATIONABIM ADMINISTERS ITS CERTIFICATION PROCESS BY: (1) ESTABLISHING REQUIREMENTS FOR TRAINING AND SELF-EVALUATION; (2) ASSESSING THE PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS OF CANDIDATES; (3) OBTAINING SUBSTANTIATION BY APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES OF THE CLINICAL COMPETENCE AND PROFESSIONAL STANDING OF CANDIDATES; AND (4) DEVELOPING AND CONDUCTING EXAMINATIONS AND OTHER ASSESSMENTS.INITIAL CERTIFICATION BY ABIM SIGNIFIES A PHYSICIAN IS READY TO PRACTICE IN INTERNAL MEDICINE OR ONE OF ITS SUBSPECIALTIES.

ABIM'S MAINTENANCE OF CERTIFICATION (MOC) CREDENTIAL MEANS SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM INITIAL CERTIFICATION. IT SPEAKS TO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT AN INTERNIST IS STAYING CURRENT WITH KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE IN HIS/HER DISCIPLINE. ABIM ISSUES A BINARY CONSEQUENTIAL MOC CREDENTIAL THAT IS ANCHORED IN WHETHER A PHYSICIAN IS MEETING A PERFORMANCE STANDARD. ABIM ISSUES THAT CREDENTIAL BASED UPON OBJECTIVE, FAIR, DEFENSIBLE PSYCHOMETRICALLY RIGOROUS STANDARDS. PARTICIPATION IN MOC MEANS THAT A PHYSICIAN IS DEMONSTRATING THAT S/HE IS ENGAGED IN CERTAIN CONTINUOUS LEARNING AND EDUCATION ACTIVITIES. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.DIPLOMATES PARTICIPATING IN ABIM'S MOC PROGRAM ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE AND PASS AN ASSESSMENT EVERY 10 YEARS TO REMAIN CERTIFIED. THEY CAN DO THIS BY PASSING A POINT-IN-TIME ASSESSMENT CALLED THE TRADITIONAL, 10-YEAR MOC EXAM, OR ACHIEVING A PASSING SCORE AT THE CONCLUSION OF THEIR 5-YEAR LKA CYCLE. DIPLOMATES HOLDING CERTIFICATION IN CARDIOLOGY MAY ALSO BE ABLE TO SATISFY THIS REQUIREMENT BY ACHIEVING A PASSING SCORE IN THE COLLABORATIVE MAINTENANCE PATHWAY, AN ASSESSMENT PRODUCT JOINTLY CREATED AND ADMINISTERED BY ABIM AND THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY. MOST DIPLOMATES CERTIFIED PRIOR TO 1990 ARE STRONGLY URGED TO PARTICIPATE IN MOC BUT ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO SO TO REMAIN CERTIFIED. FOR ALL DIPLOMATES, IN ADDITION TO REPORTING BOARD CERTIFICATION, ABIM WILL REPORT IF THEY ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE MOC PROGRAM (I.E., ENGAGING IN MOC ACTIVITIES FREQUENTLY).PARTICIPATION IN MOC AND CONTINUED CERTIFICATION BY ABIM SIGNIFIES A PHYSICIAN IS STAYING CURRENT IN HIS OR HER DISCIPLINE.