- Email: [email protected]
Time-limited certification in pathology
HUMAN PATHOLOGY
Volume 31.
Certification of Pathologists The American Board of Pathology is the certifying agency for pathologists in the United States. Certification is a 4-step process that documents that a candidate has successfully completed each of the following: • • • •
a course of professional education approved residency training the application process the certification examinations
The candidate must successfully complete the course of study in a medical/osteopathic school accredited by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association or accepted by The American Board of Pathology and must be awarded the doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathic medicine degree. The candidate must then successfully complete residency training in a program accredited for pathology training by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or by the Roya 1 College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The interaction with the program director is critical to this phase of the process, because the program director must endorse the candidate as qualified to sit for the examinationsl
The application process begins with a written request by the candidate and continues until the candidate has been declared qualified to take the examinations. This process documents the candidate's successful completion of medical education, which includes a copy of a valid, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or osteopathy issued by one of the licensing agencies of the United States or Canada. Letters of reference are required from persons who can attest to the candidate's character, abilities, and level of proficiency in the discipline. In addition, the program director must review and sign the application form, thereby verifying that the applicant successfully completed the residency training program and supporting the candidate's request for certification. The certification examination is the final step in the process. In order to be successful, the candidate must demonstrate adequate knowledge in the discipline by achieving a passing score in the written and practical examinations. Successful completion of the course of study, the approved residency training, the application process, and the certifying examinations results in the awarding of a certificate attesting to the diplomate status of the candidate.
Time-Limited Certification in Pathology In response to increasing public pressure for evidence that physicians are maintaining their practice competence, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) established a Task Force on Competence in 1998. Its recommendations were presented to the ABMS Assembly in March 2000, which voted to require that all m e m b e r Boards evolve their recertification processes into programs of maintenance of certification (MOC). This MOC structure was defined by four components: (1) Evidence of professional standing (2) Evidence of commitment of lifelong learning and involvement in periodic self-assessment (3) Evidence of cognitive expertise (4) Evidence of evaluation of performance in practice The ABMS Task Force also r e c o m m e n d e d that: (A) The ABMS takes a clear public position that member Boards have the responsibility to set standards for, and assess the continuing competence of their diplomates. (B) The ABMS member Boards enlist the cooperation and support of their cooperating specialty societies in the development and implementation of continuing clinical competence assessment programs.
1~
In response to this ABMS initiative, The American Board of Pathology (ABP) established a Maintenance of Certification committe in 1999 to initiate a discussion and planning process with its cooperating societies. An outgrowth of these discussions was the recognition that an effective program of maintenance of certification in pathology requires that initial Board certification be for a limited period of t i m e - - a s it currently is for every other medical specialty. Therefore, beginning in 2006, The American Board of Pathology will issue time-limited primary and subspecialty certificates of 10 years duration. While the maintenance of certification process must be completed no later that 10 years after the initial time-limited certification, it may be completed as soon as the 8th year if desired. The timelimited certification will apply to all residents entering 4-year A P / C P pathology training programs in 2001. Pathologists holding certificates, which are not timelimited, are encouraged to participate in the current voluntary Maintenance of Certification (AKA Recertification) program. Ross Zumwalt, MD President ABP
David B. Troxel, MD Chair, ABP MOC Committee
Volume 31.
Certification of Pathologists The American Board of Pathology is the certifying agency for pathologists in the United States. Certification is a 4-step process that documents that a candidate has successfully completed each of the following: • • • •
a course of professional education approved residency training the application process the certification examinations
The candidate must successfully complete the course of study in a medical/osteopathic school accredited by the Liaison Committee for Medical Education or the American Osteopathic Association or accepted by The American Board of Pathology and must be awarded the doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathic medicine degree. The candidate must then successfully complete residency training in a program accredited for pathology training by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or by the Roya 1 College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The interaction with the program director is critical to this phase of the process, because the program director must endorse the candidate as qualified to sit for the examinationsl
The application process begins with a written request by the candidate and continues until the candidate has been declared qualified to take the examinations. This process documents the candidate's successful completion of medical education, which includes a copy of a valid, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or osteopathy issued by one of the licensing agencies of the United States or Canada. Letters of reference are required from persons who can attest to the candidate's character, abilities, and level of proficiency in the discipline. In addition, the program director must review and sign the application form, thereby verifying that the applicant successfully completed the residency training program and supporting the candidate's request for certification. The certification examination is the final step in the process. In order to be successful, the candidate must demonstrate adequate knowledge in the discipline by achieving a passing score in the written and practical examinations. Successful completion of the course of study, the approved residency training, the application process, and the certifying examinations results in the awarding of a certificate attesting to the diplomate status of the candidate.
Time-Limited Certification in Pathology In response to increasing public pressure for evidence that physicians are maintaining their practice competence, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) established a Task Force on Competence in 1998. Its recommendations were presented to the ABMS Assembly in March 2000, which voted to require that all m e m b e r Boards evolve their recertification processes into programs of maintenance of certification (MOC). This MOC structure was defined by four components: (1) Evidence of professional standing (2) Evidence of commitment of lifelong learning and involvement in periodic self-assessment (3) Evidence of cognitive expertise (4) Evidence of evaluation of performance in practice The ABMS Task Force also r e c o m m e n d e d that: (A) The ABMS takes a clear public position that member Boards have the responsibility to set standards for, and assess the continuing competence of their diplomates. (B) The ABMS member Boards enlist the cooperation and support of their cooperating specialty societies in the development and implementation of continuing clinical competence assessment programs.
1~
In response to this ABMS initiative, The American Board of Pathology (ABP) established a Maintenance of Certification committe in 1999 to initiate a discussion and planning process with its cooperating societies. An outgrowth of these discussions was the recognition that an effective program of maintenance of certification in pathology requires that initial Board certification be for a limited period of t i m e - - a s it currently is for every other medical specialty. Therefore, beginning in 2006, The American Board of Pathology will issue time-limited primary and subspecialty certificates of 10 years duration. While the maintenance of certification process must be completed no later that 10 years after the initial time-limited certification, it may be completed as soon as the 8th year if desired. The timelimited certification will apply to all residents entering 4-year A P / C P pathology training programs in 2001. Pathologists holding certificates, which are not timelimited, are encouraged to participate in the current voluntary Maintenance of Certification (AKA Recertification) program. Ross Zumwalt, MD President ABP
David B. Troxel, MD Chair, ABP MOC Committee