Changes to Maintenance of Certification: New Pathways for Assessment
Clifford A. Hudis, MD, FACP, FASCO
As you know, for more than 2 years, ASCO has been working closely with the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) to shape the future of maintenance of certification (MOC) and assessment for our specialty. The ASCO MOC Task Force was charged by ASCO’s membership to make the process for maintaining certification less burdensome and more reflective of current oncology practice. ASCO is pleased to inform you of some changes to MOC that are a direct result of your input and an open, transparent collaboration with the ABIM.
Beginning in 2020, oncologists will be able to choose from two different assessment pathways, providing you with more flexibility. Here are the details:
- Oncologists have the option to complete the traditional, high-stakes ABIM exam every 10 years or a shorter assessment every 2 years.
- The shorter, 2-year assessments are not high stakes in that everyone has two attempts to pass.
- Assessments will be developed jointly by ASCO and ABIM, resulting in a test that keeps pace with rapidly evolving cancer science, research, and oncology practice.
- The shorter assessment pathway will replace the ABIM’s 2-year Knowledge Check-In for Medical Oncology that had been planned for 2020.
- The MOC pathway will include periodic summative assessments and a continuous learning component that includes content recommendations based on identified knowledge gaps.
- The ABIM will continue to set performance standards, issue certifications, and administer the assessment process.
Our shared goal is to co-create assessment options that uphold standards that patients can trust while recognizing oncologists for their demonstration of continued expertise.— Clifford A. Hudis, MD, FACP, FASCO
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The ASCO/ABIM collaboration is ongoing as we work to improve lifelong learning activities for oncologists.
Our shared goal is to co-create assessment options that uphold standards that patients can trust while recognizing oncologists for their demonstration of continued expertise.
If you have additional questions about MOC, please contact ascou@asco.org. ■
© 2018. American Society of Clinical Oncology. All rights reserved.
