Maintaining Certification FAQ

Download the 2010 Recertification Examination Candidate Application (PDF format)

IS PARTICIPATION MANDATORY?
Participation is mandatory for diplomates who want to maintain their certification. Their certificates are valid for 10 years, through December 31 of the tenth year following certification. Thus, a diplomate certified on January 20, 1998, must complete MOC requirements by December 31, 2008.

WHAT HAPPENS TO MY CERTIFICATE IF I DON’T PARTICIPATE IN THE MOC PROGRAM OR I FAIL TO MEET MOC REQUIREMENTS?
Time-limited certificates will expire if MOC program requirements are not met by their expiration date. At that time, inquiries at the board office about a surgeon’s status will be answered by stating the date of his or her original certificate and its expiration date.

A surgeon whose certificate has expired because he/she simply did not apply to the MOC program may apply at any time. There is no time limit on regaining certification status through MOC. Once a former diplomate passes the MOC examination, he or she will regain certification status.

A surgeon whose certificate has expired because he/she failed to meet MOC requirements may continue efforts to meet those requirements. There is no limit on the number of times the examination may be repeated.

WILL CERTIFICATES ISSUED THROUGH THE MOC PROGRAM ALSO BE TIME-LIMITED?
Yes, MOC certificates will be good for a 10 year period, from the date the current certificate expires until December 31 in the 10th year to follow - except that if a surgeon holding a time-limited certificate completes MOC requirements more than two years in advance of his or her certificate’s expiration date, the new certificate will be valid for 10 years from the date the program is completed.

Further, MOC certificates may be revoked for cause.

WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC COMPONENTS OF THE MOC PROGRAM?
The ABHRS endorses the four principles approved by the ABMS, including evaluation of professional standing, evidence of lifelong learning, demonstration of cognitive expertise, assessment of practice performance.

HOW WILL PROFESSIONAL STANDING BE EVALUATED?
Professional standing will be assessed in a number of ways, including:

•	Possession of a valid ABHRS or IBHRS certificate;
•	Possession of a current, valid, unrestricted M.D. or D.O. license to practice medicine from the appropriate authority in the Jurisdiction of the surgeon’s practice;
•	Acceptable responses to a questionnaire regarding past or pending adverse actions by state medical boards, hospital privileging committees, employers, medical societies, courts of law, disciplinary boards, etc.;
•	Satisfactory status with the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Practitioners Data Bank, if applicable;
•	If the surgeon has a history of chemical dependency, documentation of successful completion of a treatment program, attestation to being drug/alcohol free, and submission of a state medical board statement that he/she is physically and mentally able to satisfactorily discharge the responsibilities of practice;
•	Attestation to compliance with the ABHRS Code of Ethics.

HOW MUCH CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION WILL BE REQUIREDS?
From the date of this policy’s promulgation forward, candidates for re-certification must complete 100 hours of continuing medical education every three years. All CME must be AMA PRA Category 1 Credits and 50% of the hours must be specifically hair related (activities sponsored by the ISHRS are recommended).

It is each diplomate’s responsibility to maintain his or her CME records.

CME - per 3 years

At least 100 verifiable educational hours/credits* - at least 50% must be specifically hair related (activities sponsored by the ISHRS are recommended).
1. ABHRS
  1. All 100 credits must be AMA PRA Category I Credits (i.e., from programs approved under the auspices of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education - the ACCME);
  2. At least 50% of the above hours must be ISHRS sponsored Category I hair related credits or AMA PRA Category I Credits which are directly hair related;
  3. The remaining 50 (or less) hours may be any AMA PRA Category I Credits.
2. IBHRS
  1. At least 30 hours must be ISHRS sponsored Category I hair related credits;
  2. The remaining credits (in order to reach 50 hair related hours) may be any AMA PRA Category I hair related credits or any hair related hours from programs put on by member societies of the Global Council of Hair Restoration Surgery Societies** (the ISHRS is included in this Council);
  3. The remaining 50 (or less) hours to reach the needed 100 hours must be verifiable educational credits (hours) which may or may not be hair related.
At least one ISHRS Annual Meeting must be attended (this is required for both ABHRS and IBHRS).
In addition to another ISHRS sponsored hair related meeting must be attended (this may include another ISHRS Annual Meeting).

^*Programs must provide documentation of attendance and hours (and content if being used for hair related credits). Credits and hours are synonymous in this context.

^**See ISHRS web site (www.ISHRS.org ) for list of member societies.

HOW WILL COGNITIVE EXPERTISE BE DEMONSTRATED?
Candidates mush achieve a passing score on proctored written examination that is psychometrically validated and scored on an absolute standard.

The MOC exams will be administered in conjunction with the ISHRS annual meeting and in conjunction with the primary examination. The MOC examination will be proctored by ABHRS selected personnel to ensure the integrity of the examination process and to safeguard exam materials.

Evidence of Cognitive Expertise (Recertification Exam)
Taken at 8, 9 or 10 years after original exam or last recertification exam
If a Diplomate does not re-certify by the end of the tenth year, that board certification shall lapse;
A Physician whose certification has lapsed will have their name removed from the Directory of Diplomates;
Physicians whose certification has lapsed must remove all ABHRS credentials or reference from their letterhead, website and all promotional materials;
Physicians whose certification has lapsed may be reinstated at any time by applying for and passing the recertification examination and meeting all then current maintenance of certification requirements; and
Physicians whose certification has lapsed are not required to pay sustaining dues while their certification is lapsed, however, they must pay full annual sustaining dues for the year in which they are reinstated, even if it is a partial year.

HOW WILL PRACTICE PERFORMANCE BE ASSESSED?
To ensure high practice performance standards, candidates:

Must submit patient records performed on 20 patients during the first six years of the MOC program.
May submit such other evidence of successful practice performance as the candidate believes demonstrates the caliber of his/her practice, including but not limited to patient satisfactory surveys risk management and quality assurance programs performed in the candidate’s office, and outcomes research documentation.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO PREPARE FOR THE MOC EXAM?
The exam is based on multiple sources, so there is no one course of study, but rather it is best to keep up with the general literature in the specialty. These study materials are recommended:

•	Courses offered by ISHRS
•	ABHRS Reading List
•	General literature in the field

HOW MUCH WILL THE PROGRAM COST?
Cost was a major consideration in the ABHRS Board of Directors’ discussion about how to implement the MOC program. The cost of the 2010 Recertification Examination, per diplomate, which is $1,300.00 ($400.00 application fee, $750.00 examination fee and certificate fee of $150.00) is designed to include the administrative costs of the MOC Program. The cost of the 2011 Recertification Examination, per diplomate, is $1,400.00 ($450.00 application fee, $800.00 examination fee and certificate fee of $150.00).

ONCE I ENTER THE PROGRAM, HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO COMPLETE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS?
Candidates must register to enter the MOC program, then complete all MOC requirements within two years. Documentation of professional standards, CMEs, and practice performance will be required in addition to passing the re-certification examination.

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