Maintenance of Certification:
Fellows and Early Career Neonatologists
Patrick Carroll, MD, MPH
Dmitry Dukhovny, MD, MPH
Adapted with permission from slides provided
by Carl Bose, MD, FAAP
Last updated November 2011
AAP and ABP

AAP – Role in MOC is merely to support
physicians completing requirements.

ABP – Independent Certifying Board
that sets Board Certification (MOC)
requirements.
What is MOC?

Maintenance of Certification
 A fancy abbreviation that encompasses the
four steps to maintaining board certification.
 Each step is independent of the others.
Part 1

Professional Standing
 Maintain a valid, unrestricted medical license
in at least one state in the U.S., its territories
or Canada.
 CME credits are specific to maintaining state
license.
Part 2

Self Assessment
 Educational and self-assessment programs
that meet specialty-specific standards.
 Independent of CME credits, though Part 2
activities may provide CME credit.
 At least 40 points required every 5 years.
 Approved programs are listed on the ABP
website. Some are restricted to affiliates of
sponsoring organization.
Part 2 – Menu of Options
ABP sponsored
2 options for
completion
Sponsored by other
organization
Part 2 Examples
NeoReviews Plus
 PREP Self-assessment
 Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine SelfAssessment
 Working on NeoReviews

Part 3

Cognitive Expertise
 “The test”
 Must be passed every 10 years. (previously
every 7 years)
Part 4

Practice Performance Assessment
 Essentially completing an approved Quality
Improvement (QI) project.
 At least 40 points required every 5 years.
 Three options
○ Submit a QI project for approval
○ Complete an online module (ABP website)
○ Complete an approved project (ABP website)
Part 4: Submit a QI Project for
Approval

ABP approves projects that meet the
ABP Standards
 Complete application describing project
 $500 application fee

Some hospitals are portfolio sponsors
and can approve their own projects.
 Talk to hospital QI leadership or call ABP to
find out if your hospital is a portfolio sponsor.
 AAP Section of Perinatology is exploring
portfolio sponsorship.
Part 4: Complete an Online
Module
Link to these directly from the ABP
website.
 No charge for modules developed by the
ABP though very few exist.

Part 4: Complete an Approved
Project
Listed on the ABP website
 You must be a member of the
sponsoring organization to participate in
most cases.

Parts 2 and 4: How it adds up

A total of 100 points is required per 5-year MOC cycle.
40 points – Part 2 activities
+
40 points – Part 4 activities
+
20 points – Your choice (Part 2 or 4 activities)
100 required points per 5-year MOC cycle
I am finishing fellowship and taking the
initial certifying examination next year.
 Your 5-year MOC cycle will begin when you pass
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine certifying
examination.
 You have five years to accumulate 100 points in
Parts 2 and 4.*
 If you do not pass the exam, you must maintain
your General Pediatric certificate.
*40 points minimum in both Part 2 and Part 4 and 20 in either Part
I am finishing fellowship and taking the
initial certifying examination next year.
 Pass the secure exam every 10 years (your next
neonatal exam in 2022).
 If you wish to maintain your general pediatrics
certificate you will need to pass the GP secure
exam every 10 years as well.
I want to maintain my General Pediatric
certification. (Not required for NPM cert)
 Do everything you would do to maintain your
neonatal certificate,
 AND pass the GP secure exam every 10 years.
Initial Peds Initial Neo
Exam
Exam
Passed
Passed
Peds
Exam
Due
Neo
Exam
Due
MOC Enrollment Cycle
100 points
Re-enroll
(Part 2 & 4)
in MOC
Due
2005
2008
2015
2018
Must complete one Part 2 and one Part 4 Activity and re-enroll prior to
the end of current MOC cycle 2012
2017
2017
2005
2010
2015
2020
Automatically Enrolled into next MOC cycle upon passing Neo Exam
2015
2015
2005
2012
2015
2022
Automatically Enrolled into next MOC cycle upon passing Neo Exam
2017
2017
2006
2010
2016
2020
Automatically Enrolled into next MOC cycle upon passing Neo Exam
2015
2015
2006
2012
2016
2022
Automatically Enrolled into next MOC cycle upon passing Neo Exam
2017
2017
2007
2012
2017
2022
Automatically Enrolled into next MOC cycle upon passing Neo Exam
2017
2017
2007
2014
2017
2024
Automatically Enrolled into next MOC cycle upon passing Neo Exam
2019
2019
2019
2019
2007
2016
2017
2026
Must complete one Part 2 and one Part 4 Activity and re-enroll prior to
the end of current MOC cycle 2014
2008
2012
2018
2022
Automatically Enrolled into next MOC cycle upon passing Neo Exam
2017
2017
2008
2014
2018
2024
Automatically Enrolled into next MOC cycle upon passing Neo Exam
2019
2019
2008
2016
2018
2026
Must complete one Part 2 and one Part 4 Activity and re-enroll prior to
the end of current MOC cycle 2015
2020
2020
2009
2012
2019
2022
Automatically Enrolled into next MOC cycle upon passing Neo Exam
2017
2017
2009
2014
2019
2024
Automatically Enrolled into next MOC cycle upon passing Neo Exam
2019
2019
2009
2016
2019
2026
Automatically Enrolled into next MOC cycle upon passing Neo Exam
2021
2021
2010*
2012
2020
2022
Automatically Enrolled into an MOC cycle upon passing Peds Exam
2017
2017
2010*
2014
2020
2024
Automatically Enrolled into an MOC cycle upon passing Peds Exam
2019
2019
* If you have transitioned into continuous MOC it may be possible
to earn 10 points in each Part 2 & Part 4 for a year of fellowship.
MOC Requirements
Do not rely on advice from friends or family
regarding MOC (that includes this slideshow,
though we believe it is correct).
Three options for questions:
- ABP Newsletter 3/2011
(https://www.abp.org/abpwebsite/publicat/dipnews.pdf)
- Call the ABP at 919-929-0461
- Email the ABP:
 Initial Pediatric Certification: gpcert@abpeds.org
 Subspecialty Certification: sscert@abpeds.org
 Maintenance of Certification: moc@abpeds.org