2-year MOC point requirement is eliminated

[DrMetal]

Physicians spoke and ABIM listened: 2-year MOC point requirement is eliminated | ABIM.org

A step in the right direction. How 'bout we get rid of MOC altogether?!

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[Prehealth1011]

Let’s give them something to keep them quiet for a while.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Let’s give them something to keep them quiet for a while.

Exactly. This was by far the least burdensome aspect of their “board certification”.

They still haven’t reduced the fees, made the recurrent testing more reasonable, etc.

The MOC points were basically redundant anyway - because if you were doing the CME that most states require, you were already “doing MOC”.

 

[pishicat]

I just finished taking the ABIM moc in October, this is my second recerrt . It is nerve wracking , waiting for the results to be posted. They still have not released them. Going into the holidays, wondering if I have to take the stupid thing again.

 

[pishicat]

And don’t forget you get 5% off if you pre-pay the yearly mock fee. Ridiculous. Watch them increase the yearly price on that too.

 

[DrMetal]

I just finished taking the ABIM moc in October, this is my second recerrt . It is nerve wracking , waiting for the results to be posted. They still have not released them. Going into the holidays, wondering if I have to take the stupid thing again.

Absolutely ridiculous. So you've taken the test 3 times now (once out of residency, twice recert)?

I beg you all, join NBPAS, let's push for the end of MOC. You take your BC exam once (out of residency), and you're done with it.

 

[ItsDistended]

I just finished taking the ABIM moc in October, this is my second recerrt . It is nerve wracking , waiting for the results to be posted. They still have not released them. Going into the holidays, wondering if I have to take the stupid thing again.

I took the MOC October 15th as well and am still anxiously awaiting my score. It was my first MOC and I didnt know what to expect. I missed the deadline to register for the LKA so had to bite the bullet and cram for the long test.

 

[DrMetal]

Boggles the mind how so many of us are just ok with this abuse. We're great lemmings.

 

[pishicat]

Absolutely ridiculous. So you've taken the test 3 times now (once out of residency, twice recert)?

I beg you all, join NBPAS, let's push for the end of MOC. You take your BC exam once (out of residency), and you're done with it.

once out of residency - then 10 years later, and now the one in October . If i fail this , then will have to take it again in April 2025 - because not sure if I can enroll anymore in that LKA 5yr deal

 

[pishicat]

I took the MOC October 15th as well and am still anxiously awaiting my score. It was my first MOC and I didnt know what to expect. I missed the deadline to register for the LKA so had to bite the bullet and cram for the long test.

well , we’ll either celebrate virtually together- or you’ll celebrate and i’ll cry . This is super dumb . I feel like I am in college waiting for semester grades to be posted. 🙄

 

[pishicat]

Today i found out i didnt pass. 😥. i was 8 points away from minimum required points to pass.
I took the Awesome Review course by Dr. Rahman. Studied for six months in between work, and family obligations.
Make matters worse I found out that my father passed away today. He was ill and to be expected, but it’s a gut punch to get these results today and my father passing on same day.

For those of you that have taken other material or study courses, any suggestions? PLEASE. Uworld Q bank? Buy The whole mksap series?


I guess they give you 1 yr grace period before uncertifying you. I have to take the one in April 2025 i guess.

 

[dgdg]

I'm saddened to hear about all you have been through.

I assume you took the General Internal Medicine MOC exam? There is a large thread in these forums about studying for ABIM certification/recertification. Lot's of good advice there, so I won't post here. Eventually you'll see some trends to put it all together. I've made several contributions as well which I recommend you review FWIW (of course 🙂).

Your studying for the next MOC exam starts today! The past is just that. I suggest you aim to spend 60 minutes most every day.

Do make sure you review your exam performance report which itemizes the areas where you did less well than others. As part of your overall study program, you need to spend proportionately more time in these areas where you had the most wrong answers. Some areas may have relatively few(er) questions represented on the blue print, so make sure you are maximizing your knowledge base specifically for this exam.

There is an alternative board certification body, can't recall the name. Is that something that would work for your employment requirements? You could pursue that in tandem possibly.

 

[DrMetal]

There is an alternative board certification body, can't recall the name.

NBPAS. Not yet universally accepted, but gaining steam. only requires iBC (initial BC), no MOC.

 

[pishicat]

I'm saddened to hear about all you have been through.

I assume you took the General Internal Medicine MOC exam? There is a large thread in these forums about studying for ABIM certification/recertification. Lot's of good advice there, so I won't post here. Eventually you'll see some trends to put it all together. I've made several contributions as well which I recommend you review FWIW (of course 🙂).

Your studying for the next MOC exam starts today! The past is just that. I suggest you aim to spend 60 minutes most every day.

Do make sure you review your exam performance report which itemizes the areas where you did less well than others. As part of your overall study program, you need to spend proportionately more time in these areas where you had the most wrong answers. Some areas may have relatively few(er) questions represented on the blue print, so make sure you are maximizing your knowledge base specifically for this exam.

There is an alternative board certification body, can't recall the name. Is that something that would work for your employment requirements? You could pursue that in tandem possibly.

Thank you for these words of encouragement. I was somebody that took it in October, the MOC. And I got my results last week on the same day that my father passed away. Worst day of my life. I failed it said by 8 points. This is such a wonderful forum,. I used awesome review as my sole source of studying for almost 8 months. The teacher of that course said the notes are all that is necessary to review. I also suffer from test anxiety, so not sure if that played a role. I took 0.5 clonazepam and 25 mg hydroxizine the night before to sleep, based on my PCP’s instructions. Probably won’t do that again next time.
I have now bought UWorld and Mksap19 and I am now going to focus on those and try the May 1, 2025 exam again . Not sure if enough time to go through everything.

 

[dgdg]

Thank you for these words of encouragement. I was somebody that took it in October, the MOC. And I got my results last week on the same day that my father passed away. Worst day of my life. I failed it said by 8 points. This is such a wonderful forum,. I used awesome review as my sole source of studying for almost 8 months. The teacher of that course said the notes are all that is necessary to review. I also suffer from test anxiety, so not sure if that played a role. I took 0.5 clonazepam and 25 mg hydroxizine the night before to sleep, based on my PCP’s instructions. Probably won’t do that again next time.
I have now bought UWorld and Mksap19 and I am now going to focus on those and try the May 1, 2025 exam again . Not sure if enough time to go through everything.

Can you take the exam in the Fall instead? Sounds like you need more time.

 

[DrMetal]

Is anybody ok with this? That we have to do MOC, that we have to repeatedly take a test that we've passed several times before? That now a practicing physician, such as @pishicat , has to take time away from clinical practice, to study for a multiple guess test? (meanwhile a PA or NP is allowed to do essentially the same job)

I'm just curious, does anybody think these are positive attributes of a profession? Do we need just strife? Are we all such good lemmings that we succumb to any ridiculous thing we're asked to do?

 

[pishicat]

Can you take the exam in the Fall instead? Sounds like you need more time.

thanks for the reply. I truly appreciate ALL of you on this forum. I feel defeated. I definitely can take the fall exam , but I thought it won’t hurt to take the May. If I fail, I have one more attempt which is the fall. I guess if I fail again in spring, they’ll still give me a 50% discount for the fall exam. After that, they’re gonna report me as not certified. And then I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I guess there won’t allow you to retake it for a minimum of one year? I don’t know if anyone knows. Can you enroll in that LKA? Or have you given up your options once you become not certified. i hate this 🥺

 

[pishicat]

Is anybody ok with this? That we have to do MOC, that we have to repeatedly take a test that we've passed several times before? That now a practicing physician, such as @pishicat , has to take time away from clinical practice, to study for a multiple guess test? (meanwhile a PA or NP is allowed to do essentially the same job)

I'm just curious, does anybody think these are positive attributes of a profession? Do we need just strife? Are we all such good lemmings that we succumb to any ridiculous thing we're asked to do?

I am definitely not OK with this. I vote ABIM off the island. sucks going into the holidays, honestly. But I have to jump back on the horse. I’ve taken everyone’s advice bought more books and practice questions. The funny thing is, nothing on that ABIM exam is job related. Nothing. I’m internal medicine, but I do law-enforcement fit for duty exams; occupational health. But the agency requires board certification.

 

[Splenda88]

Is anybody ok with this? That we have to do MOC, that we have to repeatedly take a test that we've passed several times before? That now a practicing physician, such as @pishicat , has to take time away from clinical practice, to study for a multiple guess test? (meanwhile a PA or NP is allowed to do essentially the same job)

I'm just curious, does anybody think these are positive attributes of a profession? Do we need just strife? Are we all such good lemmings that we succumb to any ridiculous thing we're asked to do?

We are not ok with it. We need to get rid of ABIM.

 

[dgdg]

thanks for the reply. I truly appreciate ALL of you on this forum. I feel defeated. I definitely can take the fall exam , but I thought it won’t hurt to take the May. If I fail, I have one more attempt which is the fall. I guess if I fail again in spring, they’ll still give me a 50% discount for the fall exam. After that, they’re gonna report me as not certified. And then I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I guess there won’t allow you to retake it for a minimum of one year? I don’t know if anyone knows. Can you enroll in that LKA? Or have you given up your options once you become not certified. i hate this 🥺

It ain't about how hard you're hit, it's about how you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.
Get up!
- Rocky Balboa


Get up off the ground, study, and pass that exam. Don't focus anymore on how you feel defeated. Focus on a winning strategy starting now!

 

[pishicat]

It ain't about how hard you're hit, it's about how you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.
Get up!
- Rocky Balboa


Get up off the ground, study, and pass that exam. Don't focus anymore on how you feel defeated. Focus on a winning strategy starting now!

Awesome advice! Thanks for the pep talk . 🙏

 

[pishicat]

Well, 3 weeks left- gonna go at it again - MOC on May 1st 🙄. Wish me luck. this time I did the U World questions, took the advice of this forum. Thank you everyone for your input. I hope I pass this time.

 

[MD46]

Well, 3 weeks left- gonna go at it again - MOC on May 1st 🙄. Wish me luck. this time I did the U World questions, took the advice of this forum. Thank you everyone for your input. I hope I pass this time.

Good luck!!

 

[dgdg]

Well, 3 weeks left- gonna go at it again - MOC on May 1st 🙄. Wish me luck. this time I did the U World questions, took the advice of this forum. Thank you everyone for your input. I hope I pass this time.

You go get'em!!!

 

[dgdg]

MOC 10 year enchilada is a tortoise wins the race.
For your final week, I suggest you stop studying. You won't gain any extra points of significance, but you may be frazzled.
Rest, sleep, exercise, eat healthy, and have some fun. You need to feel well for the exam. That will get you some extra points instead of less.

 

[DrMetal]

MOC 10 year enchilada is a tortoise wins the race.
For your final week, I suggest you stop studying. You won't gain any extra points of significance, but you may be frazzled.
Rest, sleep, exercise, eat healthy, and have some fun. You need to feel well for the exam. That will get you some extra points instead of less.

I suggest you don't take it at all. Get BC'd vis NBPAS, which is quickly picking up steam. It'll be a wonderful day when NBPAS is expected everywhere, and we can ditch ABIM/ABMS!

 

[LoudBark]

I suggest you don't take it at all. Get BC'd vis NBPAS, which is quickly picking up steam. It'll be a wonderful day when NBPAS is expected everywhere, and we can ditch ABIM/ABMS!

Here lies the problem: Only a small handful of hospitals in the United States even recognize the NBPAS as board certification. Almost all hospitals in major cities only recognize the ABIM as legitimate board certification. If you are hospital employed and the hospital requires certification, you are out of luck, just ABIM or you are not hired.

 

[DrMetal]

Here lies the problem: Only a small handful of hospitals in the United States even recognize the NBPAS as board certification. Almost all hospitals in major cities only recognize the ABIM as legitimate board certification. If you are hospital employed and the hospital requires certification, you are out of luck, just ABIM or you are not hired.

I hear ya, you're right. I'm hoping NBPAS picks up more steam and reverses that. Maybe just wishful thinking, but they do seem to be gaining momentum (I'm bc'd by both . . .would love to give up my ABIM someday).

 

[dgdg]

I think it is important for others to carry the torch on this one and other health care reforms as best we can. Sometimes the change occurs for the next generation (certainly not mine), or the one that follows, not ours. Sometimes change goes backwards, losing ground.
Persistence is the only way to erode certain perceived wrongs to bring fairness and balance.

As an example, I was reading about Woman's suffrage recently which consisted of multiple generations of advocates. Only one of the women at the Seneca Falls convention lived to legally vote, and that is because she was 19 at the time. In 1920, she voted at age 91! Talk about persistence.

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

I hear ya, you're right. I'm hoping NBPAS picks up more steam and reverses that. Maybe just wishful thinking, but they do seem to be gaining momentum (I'm bc'd by both . . .would love to give up my ABIM someday).

So slight devil's advocate here. If the ABIM goes away, what will the NBPAS use as their initial board certification exam?

 

[DrMetal]

So slight devil's advocate here. If the ABIM goes away, what will the NBPAS use as their initial board certification exam?

I don't think ABIM will ever completely go away. I think there will always be an iBC (initial board certification). NBPAS recognizes that as well.

The main point of NBPAS is to eliminate the need for MOC. If you get your iBC, you should be good to go! That's how it was in the beginning.

I'd love to see a day when all of 'Board Certification' is eradicated. It's a meaningless credential that we physicians made up to harass to each other with. Patient's don't care. (If we need to test graduating residents or fellows to prove they know their stuff, do that while they're still trainees and let it be run by ACGME).