1. Evidence of Professional StandingYou will be required to submit proof of licensure to practice medicine in the U.S., its territories or Canadian province. You are also required to maintain a current and valid license at all times throughout the 10-year cycle. License information must be kept current with the ABO in order to access an MOC component.
2. Evaluation of Practice Performance
You will be required to perform an Office Record Review (ORR), a self-review of clinical practice. The self-review utilizes modules that encompass the standards of care and practice patterns related to different diagnoses (ORR modules). This must be completed once during the 10-year MOC cycle.
3. Evidence of Commitment to Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment
The following requirements must be met over the 10-year MOC cycle:
- Continuing Medical Education (CME): An average of 30 AMA PRA Category 1 CME CreditsTM per year
- Ethics: Three hours of ethics CME. See Academy resources for Ethics CME.
- Periodic Ophthalmic Review Tests (PORT): You must take two 50-item, Web-based self-review tests - one in Core Ophthalmic Knowledge and one in a practice emphasis area of choice.
4. Evidence of Cognitive Expertise
The Demonstration of Ophthalmic Cognitive Knowledge (DOCK) is a proctored, closed-book, 150-item examination. The DOCK, which must be completed once during the MOC cycle, consists of three 50-item sections (one in Core Ophthalmic Knowledge, and two on your choice of a maximum of two practice emphasis areas).
Although participation in MOC is currently open to all Board Certified ophthalmologists on a voluntary basis, ophthalmologists who were Board Certified after July 1, 1992 are required to participate in this process. The schedule of requirements and timelines will vary for ophthalmologists according to year most recently certified or recertified. For a detailed schedule of requirements, check the
ABO's Web site.
The MOC process started in 2006. Depending on the year you were certified or recertified, your schedule may vary. Visit the
ABO's Web site for more comprehensive information on the transition from recertification to MOC.
The DOCK and PORT exam questions are based on the
Practicing Ophthalmologists Curriculum (POC), a knowledge base of information developed by teams of practicing ophthalmologists. The POC comprises the clinically relevant information a practicing ophthalmologist needs to know to remain certified, and is organized by practice emphasis area (i.e., subspecialty). This information also forms the basis for the Academy's Maintenance of Certification products and services.
MOC Study Resources. Products to help you meet MOC requirements, earn CME credits and prepare for the MOC examinations. Products are based on the Practicing Ophthalmologists Curriculum (POC)—the same content the ABO will use for its exam questions.
- MOC Exam Study Kit™: Now free to members and available exclusively online! Includes a comprehensive study outline, study questions and timed exams organized by 10 practice emphasis areas and Core Ophthalmic Knowledge, a required DOCK module.
