ABIM previously announced that, beginning in 2018, physicians taking the Knowledge Check-In in 2018 would get another chance to take it in 2 years if they were unsuccessful, even if they were due to pass the maintenance of certification (MOC) exam later that year. In 2018, Knowledge Check-Ins will be offered in internal medicine and nephrology.
“Based on feedback ABIM has received from the physician community, we are happy to let you know that we are extending this policy to include all other internal medicine subspecialties in the future,” ABIM said in a Dec. 4 announcement on its website. “This means that if a physician takes the Knowledge Check-In in the first year it is offered in their subspecialty and is unsuccessful, they will get at least one additional opportunity to take and pass it 2 years later.”
The Knowledge Check-In is an alternative to the traditional MOC process, and is administered every 2 years rather than the standard decade between MOC exams. ABIM noted that a single failure on a Knowledge Check-In will not result in a status change to a physician’s certification status.
Separately, ABIM also announced that it will continue to make practice assessment activities (part IV of the MOC program) a part of the portfolio of options that can be used to satisfy MOC requirements but that practice assessment is not a required part of maintenance of certification.
“Our intent is to support physicians completing MOC activities that are most meaningful to their practice, including those that enhance and improve medical knowledge, as well as many existing quality improvement activities, and those that blend both,” ABIM said in its announcement.
AGA will continue to work with ABIM and advocate for a recertification pathway that reduces the burden of recertifying, emphasizes learning over testing and assesses diplomates in their areas of practice.
