Chicago, IL, August 30, 2019 – The American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM) announced today that, as a first-step toward a comprehensive overhaul of its Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program, the ABPM Board of Directors has approved a revision to its current MOC Part II requirement by combining MOC Part IIA, Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment (LLSA) and MOC Part IIB, Continuing Medical Education (CME) into a single, comprehensive MOC Part II requirement.

Specifically, diplomates will no longer be required to complete a minimum number of ABPM-approved LLSA credits in order to complete MOC Part II. Instead, beginning on February 1, 2020 and during each ten-year Certification Cycle, a Diplomate’s total of 250 MOC Part II credits can include any combination of LLSA and AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits (or their equivalent). 

In announcing this new policy, the ABPM’s Board Chair Hernando “Joe” Ortega, Jr., MD, MPH, said “The ABPM is pleased to offer our Diplomates a simplified and less burdensome MOC Part II requirement.”  Dr. Ortega went on to say that “Since there will be no required minimums for either type of credit, Diplomates will have the flexibility to choose between and amongst the various LLSA and AMA PRA Category 1 CME credits that best fits their practice.  Our doctors can select the CME offerings that will be most effective and impactful in achieving their individual learning goals.  This is a small, but important step on the ABPM’s journey toward a Continuing Certification program that incorporates the recommendations of the ABMS Vision Commission and, more importantly, is responsive to feedback from our Diplomates.”

The process by which Diplomates will be able to obtain MOC Part II credit from the ABPM will remain unchanged.  Diplomates must forward certificates/transcripts for completed LLSA and/or CME credits to the ABPM office at moc@theabpm.org. 

Any questions about this updated policy can be directed to the ABPM Staff at abpm@theabpm.org. 

The ABPM is a Member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Founded in 1948, ABPM works with the ABMS in the development of standards for the ongoing assessment and certification of over 12,000 physicians certified by the ABPM in the Specialties of Aerospace Medicine, Occupational Medicine, and Public Health and General Preventive Medicine, and in the Subspecialties of Addiction Medicine, Clinical Informatics, Medical Toxicology and Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine.