Background on Maintenance of Certification®

The development of Maintenance of Certification^® is a professional response to the need for public accountability and transparency.  Through Maintenance of Certification^®, physicians demonstrate that they can assess the quality of care they provide compared to peers and national benchmarks, and then apply the best evidence or consensus recommendations to improve that care. 

Through a program of lifelong learning and on-going self-assessment, board certified physicians demonstrate their commitment to achieving quality clinical outcomes for patients in a responsive, patient-focused setting.

That is why in 2000, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and 24 Member Boards of the ABMS agreed to evolve their recertification program to be a continuous professional development program - The Maintenance of Certification^® (MOC^®).  The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is one of the 24 approved Member Boards of the ABMS.  The primary function of each of these boards is to evaluate candidates in its primary specialty and subspecialty areas who voluntarily appear for review and to certify those qualified as "diplomates" or "subspecialists" of that board.  This is accomplished through a comprehensive process involving educational requirements, professional peer evaluation and examination.  In 2006, all Member Boards received approval of their ABMS MOC^® program plans, and are now implementing the

Four-part Process for Continuous Learning:

Part I: Licensure and Professional Standing: Hold a valid, unrestricted medical licensure. 

Part II: Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment: Educational and self-assessment programs determined by your Member Board - the American Board of Plastic Surgeons (ABPS)

Part III: Cognitive Expertise: Demonstrate your specialty-specific skills and knowledge. 

Part IV: Practice Performance Assessment:  Demonstrate your use of best evidence and practices compared to peers and national benchmarks. 

within the

Six Core Competencies for Quality Patient Care:

Important Contacts

Melissa Karch Seven Penn Center 1635 Market Street, Suite 400 Philadelphia, PA 19103-2204 Telephone: 215-587-9322 www.abplsurg.org