Competency exams for licensed physicians every three years?

[Dr_Smooth]

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I have heard that all new doctors, as well as those graduating within the last 10 years, must take competency examinations every three years, in order to remain licensed as practicing physicians. Those who have been practicing for more than 10 years are "grandfathered" into this new policy, and are not required to take such examinations. Does anyone know any details on this matter? I guess we have exams the rest of our lives. 😱

 

[MErc44]

i'm pretty sure it is every 10 years you take a licensing exam, that is what an ortho surgeon told me two years ago. I think residents in surgical specialties have to take a test every year, but I hope you are wrong.

 

[Smurfette]

From what I have learned, it varies by specialty. All practicing physicians are required to fulfill a certain amount of CME (continuing medical education) credits every year, and take licensing exams on a regular basis (which varies by state and/or specialty). Being "board certified" is a little different (for example, surgeons who are licensed in a given state can practice but do not have to be "board certified", just "board eligible") and is done every so many years as determined by the board of that specialty. I don't know if certain specialties require all practicing that given specialty to also be board certified or not...

Most residents take a test every year (gen surg--ABSITE, ortho--OITE, etc.) in their given specialty to allow programs to assess the resident education and identify weaknesses in their program. Some programs may require a certain score to be attained to allow a resident to advance to the next year, but from what I have seen only a few programs OFFICIALLY do this.

 

[Seaglass]

The ABMS has passed a resolution requiring every specialty to adopt a continuous certification process yearly with a re-exam every 10 years. AFAIK Emed was the first to comply with yearly literature based examinations.

 

[edfig99]

ABFP has a 7 year "Maintenance of Certification" Program.
It's a competency based recertification process that is being phased in -- the first group in it is my group -- those who board certified or re-certified in 2003. you can read about it at www.abfp.org

ABFP was the first specialty to require periodic board-recertification -- our cycle is 7 years. Other disciplines followed suit, but most have 10 year cycles.

the competency stuff, though, is more "chronic" and long term since you really can't examine competencies. it's stuff that has to occur prospectively.