Dec. 15, 2008, is the deadline to satisfy key MOC requirements for diplomates who plan on taking the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) Maintenance of Certification™ (MOC) exam in 2010. Documentation of 120 AMA PRA Category 1 Continuing Medical Education (CME) Credits™ (including 20 credits from one or two scored and recorded self-assessment examinations) must be submitted to the ABOS by the Dec. 15 deadline.

If you choose the written examination pathway, you must submit a 3-month surgical case list, or a maximum of 75 consecutive cases, by Dec. 15, 2008. If you choose the oral examination pathway, you have until Dec. 15, 2009, to submit a 6-month list of surgical cases you performed during 6 consecutive months in 2008–2009.

If your board certification expires in 2009 and you missed the May 1, 2008, application deadline for the recertification exam, you must meet the reporting deadline of Dec. 15, 2008, to enroll in MOC. The exam application is due May 1, 2009. You will not be allowed to complete an application if you do not meet the Dec. 15, 2008, deadline for reporting CME and self-assessment credits and submitting your case list.

If you are short of the required 120 CME credits or the 20 credits in scored and recorded self-assessment examinations, the Academy offers a wide range of resources that can help you obtain credits. Visit www.aaos.org and click on the “Physician Education” tab, followed by the “Maintenance of Certification™ (MOC™)” link to learn more.

For information about the MOC deadlines you must follow and to learn about each MOC component, visit the ABOS online at www.abos.org and click on the “Diplomates” tab; then, select the year your certificate will expire from a drop-down menu. You may also call the ABOS at (919) 929-7103.

Jennie McKee is a staff writer for AAOS Now. She can be reached at mckee@aaos.org