New 2024 ABMS Standards for Continuing Certification
View the video below to hear Board Director and chair of our Continuing Certification Committee, Stephanie Jones, M.D., share more about the upcoming cycle and what it means for diplomates. View the video below to hear Board Director Stephanie Jones, M.D., share more about the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) Standards for Continuing Certification and what it means for diplomates.
What this means for our diplomates
In practice, this change will have minimal impact on ABA diplomates as our current continuing certification program already requires completion of continuing medical education (CME) credits and quality improvement (QI) activities every five years and requires annual completion of MOCA Minute questions.
We anticipate a seamless transition to these new standards and do not expect a noticeable impact to diplomates’ existing MOCA requirements.
Once your current certification expires, you will enter on a five-year cycle. Learn how to check your certification expiration date in ABA GO here.


Implementing new ABMS standards
The ABMS created the Continuing Board Education: Vision for the Future Commission (Commission), an independent advisory body, to critically examine current ABMS continuing certification standards. ABMS and Member Boards received feedback from the Commission that a 10-year cycle is too long to ensure diplomates are able to maintain the currency of their knowledge and skills.
As a result of the report and recommendations from the Commission, ABMS drafted the new Standards for Continuing Certification and held a 80-day public comment period for key stakeholders and the public prior to finalizing.

Value of certification
With the rapid growth of scientific knowledge and the advancement of technical capabilities, the need for increased ongoing engagement in learning and new knowledge development has emerged. When initial certification is awarded based on a comprehensive assessment process and followed up with continuing certification programs that are meaningful, engaging and relevant to their practices, both diplomates and the public benefit.
In an effort to improve the quality of care for patients and ensure rigorous standards for physicians, we regularly implement critical evaluation of our certification process to maintain the highest standards of board certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is the certification cycle changing?
- Who is impacted by the new continuing certification standards?
- How and why were the standards created?
- Who was involved in invoking this change?
- Who is the ABMS? Why is the ABA conforming to their standards?
- What does the cycle length change mean for my current certificates?
- Do I need to do anything to ensure I switch to a five-year cycle?
- Will the new standards increase the amount of work I’ll need to do?
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ABMS Standards for Continuing Certification
ABMS announces new standards for continuing certification