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MOC Modifications

Recertification

Maintenance of Certification Modifications

The Board of Directors of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS), after careful consideration and in keeping with its mission and vision, has modified the ABOS Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program. The changes will be effective beginning January 1, 2024, and are meant to provide an ABOS MOC Program that is meaningful and valuable to ABOS Diplomates. The modifications will help to advance the ABOS’ mission to ensure the safe, ethical, and effective practice of orthopaedic surgery for the benefit of our patients and the public. In addition, these changes meet new Standards for Continuing Certification from the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).

What’s Not Changing

  • The ABOS MOC Program for Board Certification will continue to be on a 10-year cycle
  • Diplomates will still need to maintain an unrestricted medical license
  • Diplomates will still submit 240 CME credits, of which 40 are SAE credits, for each 10-year ABOS MOC cycle
  • Diplomates will still submit an Application and Case List once every 10 years
  • Diplomates will still be able to choose from the same Knowledge Assessment Pathways (ABOS WLA, Computer-Based Recertification Examination, Oral Recertification Examination)
  • Diplomates can still take an ABOS Computer-Based Recertification Examination in years 5-10

What’s New

  • The ABOS is working with the ACCME, AAOS, and other CME providers to automatically transfer CME credits to the ABOS—there will be no need to remember to save and upload CME certificates
  • The Application will be called the Professional Standing Update and will be submitted with a Case List in years 7, 8, or 9
  • Diplomates can take an ABOS Computer-Based Recertification Examination prior to submitting their Professional Standing Update
  • Diplomates can submit their Professional Standing Update prior to meeting the CME/SAE requirements
  • Diplomates earn ABOS Recertification after all aspects of the ABOS MOC Program are complete during their 10-year MOC cycle. Separating these requirements will allow for greater flexibility to complete each step in a timeframe that works with each Diplomate’s unique circumstances.

What’s New (Diplomates whose ABOS Board Certification expire in 2031 or later)

  • Diplomates must earn half of their CME credits (120 CME credits, of which 20 are SAEs), by December 31st of year 5 (earned in the first 5 years of the 10-year cycle)
  • Diplomates who do not meet the requirement by December 31 of year 5 will have their ABOS Board Certification revoked
  • Diplomates must earn the remaining half of their CME credits by December 31st of year 10 of the 10-year cycle or their ABOS Board Certification will be revoked
  • CME/SAE collection is no longer cumulative. Diplomates must earn 120/20 CME in years 1-5 AND 120/20 in years 6-10

The ABOS Board of Directors has decided to keep ABOS Board Certification on a 10-year cycle. Moving the CME/SAE requirement to the end of year 5—which is currently being met by a majority of ABOS Diplomates by the end of year 3—will help to distribute continuing medical education throughout the 10-year cycle and will allow the ABOS to meet the new ABMS Standards. These changes emphasize the ABOS mission of protecting the public. The automatic transfer of CME credits to the ABOS from the ACCME as CME credits are earned will streamline this process for ABOS Diplomates.

MOC Modifications FAQ

The MOC changes are effective January 1, 2024.

The expiration date of your ABOS Board Certification is displayed at the top of your ABOS Dashboard. Just below that information, the “Your Current Status” section states the year of your current 10-year cycle. Log in at www.abos.org. If you recertify early, your next 10-year MOC cycle does not begin until your previous ABOS Certificate expired.

Currently, Diplomates can submit an Application in years 4-9 and must submit it prior to sitting for an ABOS Computer-Based Recertification Examination or ABOS Oral Recertification Examination. Starting in 2024, the Application will be renamed the ABOS Professional Standing Update and that will only be submitted in years 7-9. However, starting in 2024, a Diplomate can submit the Professional Standing Update either before or after completing a Knowledge Assessment (with the exception of the ABOS Oral Recertification Examination). The MOC requirements are met by successfully completing all four parts of the ABOS MOC Program during your 10-year MOC Cycle.

Currently, that happens if an ABOS Diplomate has not met the 120 CME/20 SAE requirement after December 31 of year 3. Starting January 1, 2024, all Diplomates who have a current ABOS Board Certification will be listed as ABOS Board Certified, Participating in MOC: Yes. There will be no three-year requirement. However, for those ABOS Diplomates whose Certificates expire in 2031 or later and who do not meet the 120/20 requirement by the end of year 5, they will have their Certificate revoked.

Yes, ABOS Board Certification will be revoked for those Diplomates who have not met the CME/SAE requirement by December 31 of year 5. There is no grace period. However, the ABOS will regularly send reminder emails to Diplomates to encourage them to complete the requirement. As most ABOS Diplomates currently meet the 120/20 requirement after 3 years, the Board believes that most ABOS Diplomates should not have a problem meeting it after 5 years. Please make sure your ABOS Dashboard has your correct email address. You can also add an alternate email address.

For ABOS Diplomates whose ABOS Board Certification expires in 2031 or later, there are two unique cycles of CME/SAE. You must earn 120/20 any time from January 1 of year 1 to December 31 of year 5. If you do not earn the 120/20, your ABOS Board Certification will expire. You must earn an additional 120/20 from January 1 of year 6 to December 31 of year 10. You can earn it any time during that time period. You cannot move any additional CME over from the first cycle to the second. This group can submit an ABOS Professional Standing Update prior to completing the second 120/20 cycle. For those whose ABOS Board Certification expires in 2030 or earlier, you must earn the 240/40 prior to submitting an ABOS Professional Standing Update. The total number of required CMEs/SAEs has not changed, just the time frame in which they can be earned. Any CME/SAE earned before January 1 of year 1 (if you recertified early) has not counted for ABOS MOC requirements in the past and will not count in the future.

ABOS Diplomates whose Board Certification expires in 2030 or earlier: ABOS CME/SAE requirements must be met by December 31st of Year 10.

ABOS Diplomates whose Board Certification expires in 2031 or later: Half of the ABOS CME/SAE requirements must be met by December 31 of year 5 and the other half must be met in years 5 through 10 (by December 31 or earlier). If you have not met the total CME/SAE requirement by the end of year 10 (in addition to the other parts of MOC), your certification will lapse on its expiration date. There is no grace period. However, the ABOS will regularly send reminder emails to Diplomates, encouraging them to complete the requirement. Please make sure your ABOS Dashboard has your correct email address. You can also add an alternate email address.

Yes. However, you will not be recertified until you have met the other parts of the ABOS MOC Program.

No matter what year your ABOS Board Certification expires, you must maintain an unrestricted state medical license. If you retire and you do not renew your medical license, your ABOS Board Certification will be revoked. An ABOS Diplomate whose ABOS Board Certification expires in 2030 or earlier will keep their ABOS Board Certification until it is set to expire even if they have not met the CME/SAE requirements, assuming they keep their state medical license. For those whose ABOS Board Certification expires in 2031 or later, they must meet the 120/20 requirement by year 5 or their certificate will be revoked. If they meet that requirement, then they will keep their ABOS Board Certification through the expiration date and do not have to earn any additional CME/SAE as long as their medical license as not expired. Alternatively, they can apply for the ABOS Retired Status.

Recertification

American Board of
Orthopaedic Surgery

400 Silver Cedar Court, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Phone: (919) 929-7103 • Fax: (919) 942-8988

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