 |
|
|
MOC Components
American Board of Ophthalmology Maintenance of Certification (MOC) is one of 24 specialty-specific MOC programs recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties and can be broken down into four parts:
- Professional Standing
- Lifelong Learning and Self Assessment
- Cognitive Expertise
- Practice Performance Assessment
- Professional Standing
To satisfy the Professional Standing element of MOC, diplomates must hold a valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States, its territories or Canadian provinces where their practice of medicine is regularly conducted and in each other place in which they practice or have practiced, at all times.
Diplomates are asked to submit current licensure information when registering for MOC components. The American Board of Medical Specialties, in conjunction with the Federation of State Medical Licensing Boards, provides all Boards with disciplinary action status on all Candidates and diplomates. Therefore, the ABO will monitor the electronic notification of disciplinary sanctions imposed on the licenses of diplomates.
- Lifelong Learning and Self Assessment
To satisfy the Lifelong Learning and Self Assessment element of MOC, diplomates must complete the following components:
Continuing Medical Education
Diplomates are asked to acquire an average of 30 Category 1 CME credits per year from an Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) approved organization throughout the 10-year MOC cycle. Of the total 300 CME, three credit hours in ethics must be obtained once per cycle and 80 percent of all credits must be in ophthalmology. CMEs may be submitted at any time through the Online Services Center on a diplomate’s MOC Status Page using the CME Tracking Tool.
For complete details on CME, click here.
Periodic Ophthalmic Review Tests (PORTs)
A PORT is a 50-item, self-review test available online, on-demand. PORTs are available in core ophthalmic knowledge (knowledge considered fundamental to the practice of ophthalmology) and 10 different Practice Emphasis Areas (PEAs). All diplomates complete two PORTs during the MOC cycle: one in core ophthalmic knowledge and one in the practice emphasis area of their choice. PORTs are completed prior to registration for the cognitive examination, unless otherwise noted in the MOC timeline. PORTs serve as precursors for the Demonstration of Ophthalmic Cognitive Knowledge (DOCK) examination and reflect the content of this exam. Participation in PORTs is designed to help gauge strengths and weaknesses prior to sitting for the closed-book DOCK exam.
For complete details on the PORTs, click here.
- Cognitive Expertise
To satisfy the Cognitive Expertise element of MOC, diplomates must pass the Demonstration of Ophthalmic Cognitive Knowledge (DOCK) examination. The DOCK is a secure, proctored, 150-item examination administered at nationally-distributed computerized testing centers each September 1-30. DOCK consists of one 50-item module in core ophthalmic knowledge and two 50-item modules self-selected from 10 practice emphasis areas. Diplomates complete the DOCK once during the MOC cycle.
For complete details on the DOCK, click here.
- Practice Performance Assessment
The Practice Performance Assessment element of MOC is satisfied through completion of the Office Record Review (ORR). The ORR is a self-review of clinical practice utilizing 15 current patient records. The ORR consists of 41 modules that encompass practice patterns related to different ophthalmic diagnoses (ORR modules). To complete the ORR, diplomates select and complete three ORR modules (five patient records per module). This self-review assesses the quality of practice via documentation of appropriate measurements, diagnosis, management, treatment and follow-up. The ORR is available to eligible diplomates online, on-demand.
For complete details about the ORR, click here.
Timeframe
The four parts of MOC are satisfied through the components listed above, which are designed to be completed in a specific order and timeframe during the 10-year MOC cycle. The components and their required timeframe may vary for each group of diplomates. Please refer to the MOC timeframe chart.
Additional Information
Over the 10-year MOC cycle, completion of the entire MOC process costs diplomates an average of approximately $155 per year. For specific fees, procedures, policies and exam dates and deadlines, please refer to the current MOC Brochure.
|
|
