Skip to content

MOC Mythbusting: How well do you know ABIM’s MOC program?

June 28, 2018  |  Posted by ABIM  |  Assessments for MOC, MOC

There’s been a lot of physician-led change happening at the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) within the past few years. If it’s been a while since the last time you engaged with us, you might have questions about some of these changes, and you may have even heard some misinformation about the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program and what you need to do. So, we want to help you understand the program to ensure that you’re set up for success. Below, you’ll find some of the most common myths we’ve heard, along with some fact checking. 

MOC Assessments

Myth: Now that the Knowledge Check-In is available, I have to begin taking it right away, even if I recently passed the MOC exam.

Fact Check: Your due date for an assessment is 10 years from the last time you passed an MOC exam. You do not need to pass another assessment until the due date shown on the home page of your ABIM Physician Portal.  You can choose between the Knowledge Check-In or the traditional 10-year exam for meeting your assessment requirement based on availability and your eligibility for each.

Learn More: https://www.abim.org/WhenToTry



Myth: I have to take both the Knowledge Check-In and the traditional 10-year MOC exam.

Fact Check: You can choose which assessment pathway works best for you. You can decide to take either the Knowledge Check-In every two years or the traditional MOC exam every 10 years.

Learn More: https://www.abim.org/options 


Myth: I can take the Knowledge Check-In at any date or time.

Fact Check: The Knowledge Check-In is not offered on-demand. If you register early, you have a better chance of securing your preferred testing day and appointment time.

Learn More: https://www.abim.org/IMexam  


Myth: If I take the Knowledge Check-In to maintain one of my certifications, I have to take it for all of my certifications.

Fact Check: You can choose different assessment pathways for different certifications. Choose the option that works best for your individual situation.

Learn More: https://www.abim.org/options 

MOC Points

Myth: Taking the Knowledge Check-In is a replacement for the point requirements.

Fact Check: You still need to complete any approved activity (of any point value) every two years and accumulate 100 MOC points every five years no matter which assessment option you choose. Taking the Knowledge Check-In every two years, however, would meet your two-year requirement. 

Learn More: https://www.abim.org/requirements


Myth: You have to earn all of your MOC points before you can take an assessment.

Fact Check: You can earn your MOC points at any time, before or after you take an assessment. As long as you complete the activities by the deadlines shown in your portal, you will be meeting your MOC requirements. Note: Taking an assessment will earn you MOC points.

Learn More: https://www.abim.org/points


Myth: If I have multiple certifications, I need to earn 100 points for each one.

Fact Check: You only have one MOC program. The MOC points that you earn apply to all of the certifications you are maintaining. You also just pay one program fee that covers all of the certifications you choose to maintain.

Learn More: https://www.abim.org/points


Myth: I need to send a CME certificate to ABIM for them to grant me MOC points for CME activities I completed.

Fact Check: You do not need to submit a CME certificate. In fact, ABIM is not able to grant MOC points based on the CME certificate.  You earn MOC points for CME activities when the provider of the activity registers it for MOC in ACCME’s system and submits your completion data to ACCME. 

Learn More: https://www.abim.org/cme-faq