ABMS Portfolio Program: Requirements and Credit Translation for Continuing Certification
This table identifies the ABMS Member Boards’ and the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants’ (NCCPA) requirements for meeting continuing certification (MOC) through the ABMS Portfolio Program.
Evidence of participation must be submitted according to the ABMS Portfolio Program meaningful participation requirements. ABMS Portfolio Program Sponsors review and approve team-based internal QI/PI and patient safety activities according to the requirements established by the ABMS Portfolio Program.
Email questions to PortfolioProgram@abms.org.
Updated May 2021
| Certifying Body: American Board of … | General Improvement in Medical Practice Requirements | What do diplomates receive for documented participation in an ABMS Portfolio Program project? | Can resident QI/PI work be submitted through the ABMS Portfolio Program? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anesthesiology (ABA) | 25 Points of Practice Assessment/QI Activities every FIVE years Link to IMP/Part IV info | —Traditional MOCA: ONE Part IV Case Evaluation —MOCA 2.0: 20 points for standard participation, 25 for leaders | No |
| Dermatology (ABD) | ONE Practice Assessment/QI Activity every FIVE years Link to IMP/Part IV info | ONE Practice Assessment/QI Activity | No |
| Emergency Medicine (ABEM) | ONE Practice Improvement (PI) Activity every FIVE years Link to IMP/Part IV info | ONE PI Activity | No |
| Family Medicine (ABFM) | ONE Improvement in Medical Practice Module every THREE years Link to IMP/Part IV info | ONE Improvement in Medical Practice Module | Yes – PI credit is applied to resident portfolio |
| Internal Medicine (ABIM) | Optional; Incentive for participation in approved activities Link to IMP/Part IV info | 30 Practice Assessment Points | No |
| Medical Genetics and Genomics (AGMGG) | ONE Improvement in Medical Practice Module every THREE years Link to IMP/Part IV info | ONE Improvement in Medical Practice Module | No |
| Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) | Yearly participation in an Improvement in Medical Practice Activity Link to IMP/Part IV info | ONE Improvement in Medical Practice Activity | No |
| Ophthalmology (ABOp) | Completion of the first improvement activity by year 5 and the second activity by year 8 is recommended, but not required. Both activities are required by end of year 10 Link to IMP/Part IV info | ONE Practice Improvement Activity | No |
| Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (ABOHNS) | Under development Link to IMP/Part IV info | ONE Performance Improvement Module | No |
| Pathology (ABPath) | Yearly: Evidence of (1) Laboratory Accreditation, (2) Laboratory Quality Assurance, and (3) ONE Practice Assessment/QI Activity Link to IMP/Part IV info | ONE Practice Assessment/QI Activity | No |
| Pediatrics (ABP) | Obtaining a minimum of 40 Improvement in Medical Practice points every FIVE years Link to IMP/Part IV info | 25 Improvement in Medical Practice Points | Yes – QI points will be applied towards first MOC cycle |
| Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ABPMR) | ONE Practice Assessment/QI Activity every FIVE years Link to IMP/Part IV info | ONE Practice Assessment/QI Activity | Yes – QI points will be applied towards first MOC cycle |
| Preventive Medicine (ABPM) | ONE IMP Activity every FIVE years (TWO per 10-year cycle); Clinical Informatics diplomates must complete THREE per 10-year cycle Link to IMP/Part IV info | ONE IMP Activity | No |
| Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) | ONE Practice Assessment/QI Activity every THREE years Link to IMP/Part IV info | ONE Practice Assessment/QI Activity | No |
| Radiology (ABR) | ONE Practice Quality Improvement (PQI) Project or Participatory Activity every THREE years —Link to IMP/Part IV info – Radiation Oncology — Link to IMP/Part IV info – Interventional Radiology — Link to IMP/Part IV info – Diagnostic Radiology | ONE PQI project | No |
| Surgery (ABS) | Required participation in a local, regional or national outcomes registry or quality assessment program Link to IMP/Part IV info | ONE Quality Assessment Program | No |
| Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) | ONE Practice Assessment/QI Activity every FIVE years Link to IMP/Part IV info | ONE Practice Assessment/QI Activity | No |
| Urology (ABU) | Completion of a Practice Assessment Protocol (PAP) every TWO years; case log review Link to IMP/Part IV info | ONE PAP Activity | No |
| National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) | 100 CME credits per two-year cycle, including at least 50 Category I CME credits Link to IMP/Part IV info | 30 PI-CME Credits (NCCPA doubles the first 20 PI-CME credits earned for each PA per CME logging cycle) | N/A |
