MOCA cost

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urge said:
That’s some hefty inflation.
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Could be worse. Those of us boarded in 2004/2005 got the worst of it.

Had to take the re certification exam for $2100

Those who were boarded in 2000-2003 if they were smart and took the re certification exam before 2010 (u had option to take recertification exam in year 7 of ur 10 year cycle) so those boarded in 2000 could have taken it in 2007

Those who took it before 2010 got to eliminate 50 questions of out of 250 questions. Essentially gurantee a 99% aba passing rate

But aba changed it for 2011 and started scoring all 250 question

U youngsters do not even know this little maneuver by the ABA. They noticed the passing rate dropped dramatically to 88% passing rate by 2014.

So ABA made the drastic change in 2015 switching to Moca minutes. Due to the attendings not studying for the recertification exam.

So those boarded in 2006 and newer never had to take the ABA recertification exam

Only those boarded in 2004/2005 had to take the fully graded 250 question exams

Those boarded in 2001-2003 when didn’t take the board exam by 2010 also had to take the fully graded 250 question exam

Just a little tidbit for those complaining about a mere $350 annual fee plus subspeciality $100 fee

I’m sure most would gladly pay the $350/450 annual fee than study for a 250 question exam and waste 4-5 hrs at a testing center on a Saturday.
 
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Although $350 x 10 years is $3500 as opposed to the lower $$ for the 10 year recertification exam.
The extra $100 is a bargain compared to the double charge if you have a certificate sponsored by ABA but administered by a different board (there are several). They charge you the $100 plus $150 pass through charge from the administering board (so $600 per year). The ABA still adds their $100 for doing nothing plus your MOC requirements are doubled because the other board still has their own processes with 120 questions per year, whereas, an ABA administered subspecialty is factored into the MOC questions so they are combined for 120 TOTAL per year (not 240 per year or $6000 total for a ten year period).
They shortened the intervals to five years to make it even more laborious.
 
Gern Blansten said:
Although $350 x 10 years is $3500 as opposed to the lower $$ for the 10 year recertification exam.
The extra $100 is a bargain compared to the double charge if you have a certificate sponsored by ABA but administered by a different board (there are several). They charge you the $100 plus $150 pass through charge from the administering board (so $600 per year). The ABA still adds their $100 for doing nothing plus your MOC requirements are doubled because the other board still has their own processes with 120 questions per year, whereas, an ABA administered subspecialty is factored into the MOC questions so they are combined for 120 TOTAL per year (not 240 per year or $6000 total for a ten year period).
They shortened the intervals to five years to make it even more laborious.
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The 5 year cycle pisses me off more.

Those whose certificate expired 2022 and now renewed to 2032.

Yet those those certificate expired 2023. Gotta renew 2028. Does that make sense to you guys?

It’s dumb crap like this. My certificate expired 2025. Renews to 2030. I wasn’t planning to renew it because I thought the next 10 year cycle puts me at 2035. I’d be long gone from clinical practice by 2035.

But 2030 puts me right at age 56. My grey zone of retirement/part time work. Completely F’d up my vision/plans.
 
aneftp said:
Could be worse. Those of us boarded in 2004/2005 got the worst of it.

Had to take the re certification exam for $2100

Those who were boarded in 2000-2003 if they were smart and took the re certification exam before 2010 (u had option to take recertification exam in year 7 of ur 10 year cycle) so those boarded in 2000 could have taken it in 2007

Those who took it before 2010 got to eliminate 50 questions of out of 250 questions. Essentially gurantee a 99% aba passing rate

But aba changed it for 2011 and started scoring all 250 question

U youngsters do not even know this little maneuver by the ABA. They noticed the passing rate dropped dramatically to 88% passing rate by 2014.

So ABA made the drastic change in 2015 switching to Moca minutes. Due to the attendings not studying for the recertification exam.

So those boarded in 2006 and newer never had to take the ABA recertification exam

Only those boarded in 2004/2005 had to take the fully graded 250 question exams

Those boarded in 2001-2003 when didn’t take the board exam by 2010 also had to take the fully graded 250 question exam

Just a little tidbit for those complaining about a mere $350 annual fee plus subspeciality $100 fee

I’m sure most would gladly pay the $350/450 annual fee than study for a 250 question exam and waste 4-5 hrs at a testing center on a Saturday.
Click to expand...
They had to change away from the exam if they were going to be failing 12% of the previously board certified anesthesiologists. If that continued, there would’ve been an uprising that no one would be participating. When you see perfectly competent colleagues with maybe decades of experience failing you know that something is not right. I think the MOCA Minute is stupid as well for the record. If they made you do questions regarding new information or studies that came out that non-academic people probably aren’t reading, or stuff out of specialty societies that would actually be helpful. But then you couldn’t grade it and you couldn’t get your 98 percent pass rate.
 
IlDestriero said:
They had to change away from the exam if they were going to be failing 12% of the previously board certified anesthesiologists. If that continued, there would’ve been an uprising that no one would be participating. When you see perfectly competent colleagues with maybe decades of experience failing you know that something is not right. I think the MOCA Minute is stupid as well for the record. If they made you do questions regarding new information or studies that came out that non-academic people probably aren’t reading, or stuff out of specialty societies that would actually be helpful. But then you couldn’t grade it and you couldn’t get your 98 percent pass rate.
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and I disagree with this bs Moca question this q1 2026 quarter

“Which of the following factors MOST significantly impacts compensation for anesthesiologists?”

The choices were
1. Academic rank
2. Gender
3. Years in practice

We know what the answer should be in real life (it’s academic rank) so more senior faculty members do get paid more. It’s so obvious by checking public state compensation records

But nope. The ABA must still be operating under the DEI days and said gender bias

Because the two women anesthesiologists I know where I do locums at who are on salary are the highest paid anesthesiologists and it’s the old 60 year old white guys who are getting paid 200k less than the women.

Gender does not matter in anesthesia anymore. And the ABA still has its head stuck in the sand.
 
aneftp said:
and I disagree with this bs Moca question this q1 2026 quarter

“Which of the following factors MOST significantly impacts compensation for anesthesiologists?”

The choices were
1. Academic rank
2. Gender
3. Years in practice
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They forgot

“4. Childcare obligations”
 
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cittykat said:
They forgot

“4. Childcare obligations”
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Ha ha. Definitely. More by choice. But I turned down work Friday. Just to drive the carpool for the 8th grade girls to school and back.

Would have been cheaper for me to send the girls on an uber to school and pick them up.

But honestly we need to anesthesia is one of the specialities where women can work even part time and pro rated by hourly pay. They still make the same as men

The ABA Moca question for 2026 is so reverse of things. It’s literally Misandry.
 
aneftp said:
and I disagree with this bs Moca question this q1 2026 quarter

“Which of the following factors MOST significantly impacts compensation for anesthesiologists?”

The choices were
1. Academic rank
2. Gender
3. Years in practice

We know what the answer should be in real life (it’s academic rank) so more senior faculty members do get paid more. It’s so obvious by checking public state compensation records

But nope. The ABA must still be operating under the DEI days and said gender bias

Because the two women anesthesiologists I know where I do locums at who are on salary are the highest paid anesthesiologists and it’s the old 60 year old white guys who are getting paid 200k less than the women.

Gender does not matter in anesthesia anymore. And the ABA still has its head stuck in the sand.
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I’ve never worked anywhere where different members of a group were given different contracts for reasons aside from bonafide credentials eg. fellowship. So at the very least it calls into question the generalizability of the study.

Furthermore, if someone chooses to work less and get paid commensurate to their work, it is not an injustice. Good for them for having that flexibility in their workplace.
 
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are you guys getting any pushback from hospitals with credentialing with the alternatives?
 
Guillemot said:
I’ve never worked anywhere where different members of a group were given different contracts for reasons aside from bonafide credentials eg. fellowship. So at the very least it calls into question the generalizability of the study.

Furthermore, if someone chooses to work less and get paid commensurate to their work, it is not an injustice. Good for them for having that flexibility in their workplace.
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This question made me ask my medical director when I’m getting the gender addendum in my contract so I can be paid more than the women at work.
 
linkin06 said:
are you guys getting any pushback from hospitals with credentialing with the alternatives?
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They wanted my Moca certificates or letter from ur aba portal. Not worth the hassle to use alternative methods.
 
Asa along with its ABA partners gotta make up their real estate losses in Illinois.

Have anyone of u guys been to the asa headquarters in Illinois. Apparently they designed it horribly for over 20 million? Like a round shape with center core? Not conducive to office space. Now the valuation of the building is down to 5 million.
 
OB1🤙 said:
NBPAS my friends. Just say no to MOCA extortion. Requires primary ABA cert.
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Your hospital or group dosent cover the MOCA costs? I just submit mine for reimbursement under licensing/credentialing. As the hospital requires board certification to retain privileges it seems legit. They always reimburse without question…,
 
dannyboy1 said:
Your hospital or group dosent cover the MOCA costs? I just submit mine for reimbursement under licensing/credentialing. As the hospital requires board certification to retain privileges it seems legit. They always reimburse without question…,
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Are you hospital employed? In physician owned groups the money always comes out of collections and stipends. It’s money that could have gone to your paycheck. Nothing is free.
 
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cittykat said:
Are you hospital employed? In physician owned groups the money always comes out of collections and stipends. It’s money that could have gone to your paycheck. Nothing is free.
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Employed. Are there so many physician owned groups left out there?
 
pgg said:
Just wait until those idiotic clowns roll out the OSCE modules for MOCA.
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It’s a money grub. They don’t want to add anything that requires effort.

But I did google orthopedics and neurosurgery and I think they are still at 10 year cycles

So i don’t know why the ABA went to 5 years
 
aneftp said:
It’s a money grub. They don’t want to add anything that requires effort.

But I did google orthopedics and neurosurgery and I think they are still at 10 year cycles

So i don’t know why the ABA went to 5 years
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They can capture more people with the 5 years. Most people not going to do MOCA in the few years of practice if its ten years but if its 5 they may.
 
NPJR said:
They can capture more people with the 5 years. Most people not going to do MOCA in the few years of practice if its ten years but if its 5 they may.
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Yes. That’s me now. Probably will work 5, won’t work more than 10. I wouldn’t be doing the MOCA BS anymore.
 
My ortho friend says his Moca is 10 years. So this 5 year Moca is all bs.
 
gator2886 said:
I am seriously considering not even maintaining certification. Do the hospitals/centers even care? I dropped being an ASA member long ago for some of the same stupid crap.
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Nobody cares right now because it is so hard to find people. I suppose it depends on where one is in their career. The younger docs should maintain certification because there will be a downturn in the job market at some point, and then it will matter.
 
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mpatel1080 said:
Nobody cares right now because it is so hard to find people. I suppose it depends on where one is in their career. The younger docs should maintain certification because there will be a downturn in the job market at some point, and then it will matter.
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This is a silly discussion. MOCA is quick and painless pay to play. It costs 350/year and the average salary approaches 350/hr. There are bigger fish to fry. Move on…
 
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dannyboy1 said:
This is a silly discussion. MOCA is quick and painless pay to play. It costs 350/year and the average salary approaches 350/hr. There are bigger fish to fry. Move on…
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You are correct. $350 is nothing

It’s the 5 year Moca that has me more annoyed

They promised those who got certified pre 2000 lifetime certificates. And Moca suppose to be 10 years now they change the rules to 5 years. Ok. Change the rules but be consistent. How about those boarded before 2023 stay at 10 years Moca cycle. That would be more consistent with their previously exemptions.
 
aneftp said:
You are correct. $350 is nothing

It’s the 5 year Moca that has me more annoyed

They promised those who got certified pre 2000 lifetime certificates. And Moca suppose to be 10 years now they change the rules to 5 years. Ok. Change the rules but be consistent. How about those boarded before 2023 stay at 10 years Moca cycle. That would be more consistent with their previously exemptions.
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It’s the same price. Only issue is if you were planning on definitely retiring in 10 years but not sure about 5. Either way, when you retire you can just stop participating.
 
aneftp said:
You are correct. $350 is nothing

It’s the 5 year Moca that has me more annoyed

They promised those who got certified pre 2000 lifetime certificates. And Moca suppose to be 10 years now they change the rules to 5 years. Ok. Change the rules but be consistent. How about those boarded before 2023 stay at 10 years Moca cycle. That would be more consistent with their previously exemptions.
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can you ELI5 what exactly is different between 5 and 10 year cycle? isn't it just the overall CME requirement the same?
 
buddababa said:
can you ELI5 what exactly is different between 5 and 10 year cycle? isn't it just the overall CME requirement the same?
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The difference is I planned on retiring before 2036 (age 61) by that time and not renewing with this current cycle that started Jan 1 2026. I should have gone to Dec 31 2035 near my retirement she

No my certificate expires Dec 31 2031 (age 57)
 
dannyboy1 said:
This is a silly discussion. MOCA is quick and painless pay to play. It costs 350/year and the average salary approaches 350/hr. There are bigger fish to fry. Move on…
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Exactly. You can easily knock out all questions per quarter doing one a day on the can in a month. Much better than paying a couple grand to cram for a test every 10 years and potentially failing it as alluded to above
 
I'm more pissed off that my ASA+CSA yearly membership is now just under $1600/year, with them both harassing me to donate to the ASA-PAC. ABA MOCA is also painful, but ASA is at a whole different level.
 
kidthor said:
I'm more pissed off that my ASA+CSA yearly membership is now just under $1600/year, with them both harassing me to donate to the ASA-PAC. ABA MOCA is also painful, but ASA is at a whole different level.
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Unless you’re in academics and / or very active in the society, I can see why membership is questionable. I’d complain less if ACE questions were free instead of discounted. I can’t put a finger on anything where being a member of ASA directly benefited my career again outside of saving a few buck here or there on CME. If I were an academic, I’m sure a presentation or running a PBLD can help with promotion
 
Twiggidy said:
Unless you’re in academics and / or very active in the society, I can see why membership is questionable. I’d complain less if ACE questions were free instead of discounted. I can’t put a finger on anything where being a member of ASA directly benefited my career again outside of saving a few buck here or there on CME. If I were an academic, I’m sure a presentation or running a PBLD can help with promotion
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Agreed.

I'm on a couple of committees and usually give a yearly talk at ASA, so it makes sense for me to be a member. But I tell them yearly that their fees are out of control.

The ASA also has a condescending attitude that anesthesiologists who aren't members are free loaders. They never self-reflect to think about why people might not be members (e.g. exorbitant fees and the society not representing member interests)... and they are way too excited to support corporate practice of medicine over individual member interests.
 
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kidthor said:
Agreed.

I'm on a couple of committees and usually give a yearly talk at ASA, so it makes sense for me to be a member. But I tell them yearly that their fees are out of control.

The ASA also hash a condescending attitude that anesthesiologists who aren't members are free loaders. They never self-reflect to think about why people might not be members (e.g. exorbitant fees and the society not representing member interests)... and they are way too excited to support corporate practice of medicine over individual member interests.
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I have paid my Asa dues probably 21 out of 26 years since I have been a resident to attending.

It’s costly but I really do it for the ace 60 cme discount or the patient safety cme discount.
 
aneftp said:
I have paid my Asa dues probably 21 out of 26 years since I have been a resident to attending.

It’s costly but I really do it for the ace 60 cme discount or the patient safety cme discount.
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just do medscape, free
 
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kidthor said:
Agreed.

I'm on a couple of committees and usually give a yearly talk at ASA, so it makes sense for me to be a member. But I tell them yearly that their fees are out of control.

The ASA also has a condescending attitude that anesthesiologists who aren't members are free loaders. They never self-reflect to think about why people might not be members (e.g. exorbitant fees and the society not representing member interests)... and they are way too excited to support corporate practice of medicine over individual member interests.
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All of these are big reasons. Granted, I'm a member, but I'm so tired of them favoring PE and not helping private practice. They aren't even great with educating the public about why having an MD is important.

The state societies I've found to be better than the main ASA. I had been more active in some if the state societies i belonged to.
 
I’ll just add one my point about encouraging people to do MOCA. The more people opt not to do it it wouldn’t surprise me if the ABA just said “Fine we’ll go back to a sit down test” people aren’t doing MOCA. I’m not stanning for ABA but to put MOCA together (website maintenance, question writing, etc) takes time, effort, and yes money and in the grand scheme of things asking for a couple hundred bucks to do 120 questions over 365 days isn’t the biggest ask

I’m only ranting because I personally want to maintain my certification but don’t want to have to cram for a test every 5 years to do so
 
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